Welcome to the Bass Pro Shops blog from Clarksville, IN! My name is Brian Eickholtz, and I will be posting blogs about hunting, fishing, and various other outdoor activities that we all love. Deer, turkey, and waterfowl hunting as well as bass fishing are the activities that I'm involved in the most. I look forward to bringing you great information on these topics and many more in the future!
Bass Pro Shops, Clarksville, Indiana and the Jeffersonville Indiana Fire Department recently joined forces to conduct the first ever River Rumble Bass Fishing Tournament on April 15, 2012. The main purpose of this tournament was to help to raise money for the Crusade for Children.
The April morning started out beautifully, but soon turned into a very windy day at Duffy’s Landing, the boat ramp chosen to conduct this tournament! At approximately 7 a.m., the twenty three, two man teams left the ramp to endure the waves of the mighty Ohio River! In the meantime, the other volunteers and spectators hung around and helped to cook food, hold down the tent, and feel the fine breeze on shore! The tournament weigh-in time was at 4 p.m. Those of us who were at the weigh-in site, managed to stay land bound, and were not blown away, although some of our hair dos had that “backlash fishing line effect” at the end of the day!
As the two man teams started coming back with their catches of the day, it was clear, the wind and waves in no way affected the catches of the day. There were some very nice fish caught, with the winning team having a total weight of 13.83 pounds! That winning team consisted of Alex Dillon and Justin Brown. Might we say, that Alex is the Fishing Manager at the Clarksville store, so if you need any good tips on fishing the Ohio River near the Louisville area, he is a “very good source of information”!
There was a two way tie for the big fish of the day with the teams of Tony Masingo and Robert Sumerlot, along with Eugene Seals and Doug Gettings with the two big fish weighing in at 4.17 pounds!
Mayhem was in attendance that day also, as one of our teams called and reported they were taking on water….needless to say Fire and Rescue was on the way and all turned out well! Perhaps this would be the time to buy a new Nitro from our Tracker Department ?
This tournament helped to raise approximately $1500 for the Crusade for Children! Next year, they hope to double or triple that! There are great ideas in the works to make this a bigger and better tournament! A big thanks goes to Michael Osborne of the Jeffersonville Fire Department who helped to organize this tournament and was the official “weigher”!
A great big thank you to all the Jeffersonville Fire Department volunteers who helped make this a very successfully event! Community involvement with such a worthy cause only confirms the great camaraderie in the sporting industry!
Til next year…….the challenge is on to “beat” the Fishing Manager!
Article by Tina Tucker, Special Events Coordinator, Clarksville, Indiana
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has revised its archery season to now include the use of crossbows throughout the regular archery season. The season has also been revised to run from October 1st to January 6th with no week-long break after gun season as there has been in the past. I, along with the entire Bass Pro Shops team, am very excited about these changes. Hunters will now have more options for harvesting deer and I believe that a crossbow is a great way to get kids and
other beginners involved in the outdoors. Crossbows are easier to shoot and take less practice than compound bows. Additionally, October offers some great weather to accommodate those beginners that might not have the best equipment for when it gets cold. We all know how miserable it can get in the woods when you end up cold!
In response to these changes, our Archery Department will be offering a seminar on crossbow training in the coming weeks and months. Crossbows are very easy to use, but can become very dangerous if used inappropriately. Therefore, they will go over all of the safety aspects of using a crossbow and offer hands on experience with several different styles and brands of bows. This will include having the chance to cock, load, and shoot various crossbows that we have available here at Bass Pro Shops! Additionally, they will explain how to properly maintain your bow so that you get the most out of your investment.
The first seminar is scheduled for May 12th and will be every Saturday until the final one on June 2nd. All of the seminars will start at 2:00 p.m. and last until 4:00 p.m.. The first part of the seminar will deal with safety, maintenance, and other tips for using your crossbow. They will also familiarize you with the crossbows that are available at Bass Pro Shops and show you some of the accessories that can add to your success with a one. The best part is that the rest of the seminar will be dedicated to offering everyone hands on experience with these bows. We have an outstanding range set up and nothing can replace actually getting to handle and fire the bows.
Finally, I would like to reach out to all of the traditional archery and compound bow shooters. Some of us, including myself, were fortunate enough to be introduced to the outdoors at a young age. I got my first "real" compound bow that could pull the proper weight for hunting when I was 9 and harvested my first deer with it when I was 12. I will never forget the excitement tied to that experience as I drew on that 8 point buck standing mere feet away. Absolutely nothing could compare to it. Now, nearly 15 years later, you will still catch me in the woods wearing hunters orange toting a compound bow even
during our gun season. Being able to observe, elude, and harvest an animal like the whitetail deer or even a wild turkey with a bow is an unexplainable feeling. The close proximity to your quarry sends your stomach to your throat and your knees close to buckling, not to mention the emotions that overcome you after you shoot. Thousands of archers have had the opportunity to experience this and crossbows will be a gateway for people who haven't had these experiences. Additionally, anyone who is disabled or unable to use a regular compound will now have the opportunity to go back to doing what they love. I, myself, love shooting crossbows. They have a level of power to them that is surprising for a couple sticks and a string. The wallop they pack when they hit the target is motivating to say the least. I would highly recommend you guys coming up here and trying one of these out if you never have before. You might be surprised by how much you like it, and you may find another way to diversify your archery hunting or shooting.
To sign up for the seminar please call Bass Pro Shops at 812-218-5500. Tell the operator that you would like to sign up and they will get your name in! Again, the seminars are every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. starting May 12, 2012 and lasting until June 2, 2012. They will be held at our Clarksville, IN store upstairs in the archery range. Ask for Wayne in the Archery Department if you have any additional questions.
-Brian Eickholtz
Come join us at your Clarksville Bass Pro Shops for these informative seminars at our "Set Your Sights Event" May 4, 5, and 6, 2012!
Friday, May 4
6pm - “Guns and Accessories for your Modern Sporting Rifle Project”
7pm - “Conceal-Carry – A discussion of Laws, Permits, and Equipment”
8pm - “Reloading Basics” Why should you reload? Learn all about selecting equipment, proper reloading techniques, and tips and tricks to ensure success.
Saturday, May 5 & Sunday, May 6
1pm - “Guns and Accessories for your Modern Sporting Rifle Project”
2pm - “Conceal-Carry – A discussion of Laws, Permits, and Equipment”
3pm - “Reloading Basics” Why should you reload? Learn all about selecting equipment, proper reloading techniques, and tips and tricks to ensure success.
4pm - “What Is CCW?” Learn what you should expect from a Conceal and Carry Weapons class, what it costs, who is eligible to get a CCW permit, and how to sign up for a class.
Giveaways – Drawing Giveaways- 2 winners per store
(1) Bass Pro Shops exclusive Remington (www.remington.com) 700 ADL rifle -1 rifle per winner drawn
(1) Otis Technology Elite Gun Cleaning System (www.otisgun.com) - 1 system per winner drawn per store.
No purchase necessary to enter. You must be 21 years of age or older at time of entry.
Double Rewards Points during this event! Gift Card drawings at each seminar!
Seminars will be conducted by our expert staff and local law enforcement personnel.
Questions? Call 812-218-5500 and ask about the "Set Your Sights Event" or go to www.basspro.com!.
Hurry in to the Tracker Marine Dealership here in Clarksville, IN before the springtime deals are gone. Just like previous years, we are still giving you one of our boat VIP cards on qualifying boat purchases.
Get either a $500 or a $1000 Bass Pro Shops gift card on qualifying boats in stock before April 15, 2012. What a great deal to have this type of gift card to be able to purchase your favorite items for your needs after your boat purchase. Whether you need a new Bass Pro Shops Carbonlite Reel to go on that Carbonlite Rod, or an additional Lowrance or Humminbird Fishfinder on your Tracker Marine Boat.
Give us a call here at 812-218-5337 so we can tell you how it works.
Thanks for visiting us,
Bob Crane
BPS / Tracker Marine
The faint sound of a turkey gobbling shatters the morning silence as you cut the engine and prepare to drop the trolling motor in your favorite cove. The sun lingers below the horizon as the light cloud cover is blown from the morning sky by the cool breeze. A look at your electronics reveals that the water temperature is hovering in the low 60's. Perfect. Absolutely perfect conditions to catch that lunker largemouth that has spent so much time in your dreams over the last several months. As the clouds diminish and the sun sinks its rays further out over the lake, your anticipation starts to diminish and frustration starts to develop. Reports have guys whacking 20 pound stringers on a daily basis out here and now you're just praying for a bite.
Like many fisherman, the above scenario has presented itself to me many times. Often, I have loaded the boat on the trailer wondering if there were any fish in the lake to begin with. Like any other time, though, it's all about locating the fish. Remember the fish will generally rise and fall with the water temperature and level. Bass seem to be oriented close to a channel or ditch of some type this time of year. This allows them quick access from shallow to deep(er) water so that they can adapt to the conditions presented to them. Sometimes this change in water depth may be slight, but it offers a travel corridor to the main channel. With that in mind, try using search baits like squarebill crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and Carolina rigs to help you locate a group of fish. Conditions will dictate which search bait that I will gravitate towards. On a calm, sunny day a squarebill or Carolina rig may be the ticket. On a breezy day I will generally pick up a spinnerbait, and I like a lipless crank for an all around search bait. Once you start catching a fish or two, assume more fish are in the area, because they are. Take note of the water depth the fish came from and the current conditions as well. Most of the time they will hang tighter to cover the brighter it is outside. You can expect to catch them away from the cover on overcast days, however.
Color is an important factor when choosing a lure. I like to use something with chrome or some sort of flash on bright days. If the water is extremely murky, you would be better off with a bold, solid color like chartreuse, though. On overcast days, a solid shad colored bait seems to work well. A red crawfish pattern is a good all around color for this time of year. Don't be afraid to try different colors, this could make a big difference in your catch for the day. Cutting off your shad colored bait because the sun came out and switching to a chrome bait or vice-versa may keep the bites coming for you. A specific instance I had came on a recent trip to Lake Fork in Texas. My partner and I were catching them good on a spinnerbait. Nothing fancy, just a tandem chartreuse and white spinnerbait with a white trailer and a gold willowleaf. That afternoon, a storm blew in and filled the areas we were catching them with muddy water. We started with the spinnerbait again and struggled to get a bite. A slight change to chartreuse blades and trailers and we started pulling them in the boat again.
The springtime, especially March, can have some extremely volatile weather conditions. One day you may be fishing in shorts and t-shirts in 75 degree weather, while the next weekend you are knocking ice out of your line guides. You have to remain open minded and not get stuck on a pattern that was good a week or a day ago. Be prepared for any situation and keep your rain gear handy. I never leave the house in the spring without my BPS Pro Qualifier rain suit. It has saved me from some severe rain and wind before. Despite being knowledgeable on the latest weather forecast before you embark on your fishing trip, something always seems to change and conditions aren't quite what you expected. As I talked about before, these unexpected changes not only affect the fisherman, but also the fish he is after. Make sure you are taking note of the changing conditions and adjust your fishing strategy accordingly.
Good Luck!
Brian Eickholtz
Bass Pro Shops
Clarksville, IN
The Easter Bunny is coming to Bass Pro Shops, Clarksville!
Get your photo with the Easter Bunny!
March 31-April 8
Times:
Saturdays, 11am – 3pm
Sundays 1-4pm
Monday – Friday are 6pm-8pm
2012: Once again Bass Pro Shops customers will have the opportunity to have their photo taken with
the Easter Bunny to receive a free 4x6 photo!
Easter photo packages will be offered and printed in-store!
2012 package prices will remain the same as prices in 2011 as follows:
PHOTO PACKAGE 1 $9.99
PHOTO PACKAGE 2 $19.99
PHOTO PACKAGE 3 $29.99
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD $9.99
And, of course, there’s the time-honored tradition of an old-fashion Easter Egg Hunt.
Easter Egg Hunt - Ages 2-10
Saturdays and Sundays, March 31-April 1 & April 7-8 only, beginning at 1pm for 1 hour.
Crafts for the Kids
Saturdays & Sundays, March 31-April 1 & April 7-8, Noon-3, while supplies last.
Friday, April 6, 6-8pm, while supplies last.
For more details, go on line to www.basspro.com, look for your local store.
Come join us for all the fun!!!! You won't want to miss this exciting event!
Tina Tucker, Special Events Coordinator
Bass Pro Shops' Spring Fishing Classic is underway and we have some great deals to offer our customers this spring! All of our Zoom baits are marked 25% off. We also have great buys on a number of hard baits including Strike King, Rapala, and Lucky Craft. Additionally, some tackle manufacturers are offering rebates that add up to even more savings. The one day specials are particularly exciting this year, though. On Saturday, March 3rd only Bass Pro shops is offering our Johnny Morris Carbon Black Baitcast Reel for only $69.97. This reel will be offered in three different speeds: 5.4:1, 6.4:1, and 7.1:1. Left handed models will be available in select speeds as well. The reel features a 10-bearing system, 14 pounds of drag power and the Dual Braking System. Combine all of these features with the light weight and you have a reel that is versatile and powerful. It can be used for anything from casting a small crankbait on light line to spooling up your 65 pound braid and lobbing an Alabama Rig into deep structure. You're only going to find a deal like this at Bass Pro Shops. Whether you are a seasoned tournament fisherman or a weekend angler, visit our location in Clarksville, IN on Saturday, March 3rd and our associates will set you up with the great gear you need to put fish in the boat and make memories for a lifetime!
Good Fishin'
Brian Eickholtz
Are you looking for that great bargain to get started on your spring fishing trip? Drop by the Clarksville store for our Daily Specials March 2, 3, 9, and 10!!!
Four special days of one day only items! Different items each day!
Friday - March 2
Bass Pro Shops 3600 & 3700 Utility Boxes - 3 for $9.99! (Limit 12)
Bass Pro Shops Extreme Boat Bag - $12.97 (Limit 2)
Saturday - March 3
Lowest Price Ever!
Johnny Morris Carbon Black Bass Caster Reel - only $69.99!!!!! Save $60! (Regular $129.99)
- 10 bearing system
- Powerlock Instant anti-reverse
- Carbon fiber recurve handle
Cotton Cordell Super Spot lures - $1.25 (Limit 10)
Cortland Fly Line - $9.97 (Limit 6)
Friday - March 9
Enticer Spinning Combo - $39.97 (Limit 3)
- Reel features: 8 bearing system, Powerlock Instant anti-reverse
- Rod features: IM7 graphite construction
Performance Boat Seat - $22 (Limit 4)
White River Intruder Reels - $19.97 (Limit 2)
Saturday - March 10
Bass Pro Shops Enigma Smart Cast Baitcast Reel - $49.97 (Limit 4)
XPS Lazer Eye Micro Spin - $0.97 (Limit 15)
Berkley 110 Electric Filet Knife - $19.97 (Limit 2)
Daily Specials! Different Items Each Day! Store hours are 9am to 10pm!
Check out our 2012 Spring Fishing Classic ad at www.basspro.com for all of your great fishing and boating needs this spring and throughout the year!
Tina Tucker, Special Events Coordinator
Our "FREE" Boat Show begins on February 10, 2012! Bring the whole family and pick out that perfect watercraft! Learn the basics at our seminars on many topics!
February 11, 2012
USING THE LATEST ELECTRONICS
3pm - Saturday February 11
Tracker Pro Staffers Jeremy Knepp and Gary Earl will be giving you the best tips and techniques on using the latest Lowrance (www.lowrance.com/) electronics. Learn what to look for, and how to find that big catch!
February 11, 2012
DO IT YOURSELF SERVICE-CARING FOR YOUR BOAT!
1pm, Saturday, February 11
Tracker Marine Expert Chris Martin and Track Pro Staffer Bob Crane will help you learn the basics of a "Do It Yourself Service-Caring for Your Boat". Join us for this informative and how to workshop!
February 11, 2012
LOCAL FISHING TIPS
2pm - Saturday February 11
Tracker Pro Staffers David Taylor, Steve Mitchell and Bob Crane will be conducting this informative workshop on the where's and best local fishing hotspots, tips, and tricks!
February 12, 2012
ORGANIZING YOUR BOAT
2pm Sunday February 12
Tracker Pro Staffers Gary Earl and Bob Crane will be on hand to give you the best tips and tricks on organizing your boat for that great fishing trip or tournament! You won't want to miss this informative workshop that keeps your equipment and you safe and in control!
February 12, 2012
LOCAL FISHING TIPS
3pm - Sunday February 12
Tracker Pro Staffers Steve Mitchell and Johnny Morris will be conducting this informative workshop on the where's and best local fishing hotspots, tips, and tricks!
February 12, 2012
TOWING YOUR BOAT
1pm - Sunday February 12
Do you have questions on towing your boat? Get the basics on towing, backing up, and the how to's on handling towing. Tracker Pro Staffers Morris Taylor and Johnny Morris will be here to "walk" you through this informative workshop.
February 18, 2012
USING THE LATEST ELECTRONICS
3pm - Saturday February 18
Tracker Pro Staffers Jeremy Knepp and Gary Earl will be giving you the best tips and techniques on using the latest Lowrance electronics. Learn what to look for, and how to find that big catch!
February 18, 2012
DO IT YOURSELF SERVICE-CARING FOR YOUR BOAT!
1pm - Saturday February 19
Tracker Marine Expert Chris Martin and Track Pro Staffer Bob Crane will help you learn the basics of a "Do It Yourself Service-Caring for Your Boat". Join us for this informative and how to workshop!
February 18, 2012
LOCAL FISHING TIPS
2pm - Saturday February 18Tracker Pro Staffers Steve Mitchell and Johnny Morris will be conducting this informative workshop on the where's and best local fishing hotspots, tips, and tricks!
February 19, 2012
ORGANIZING YOUR BOAT
2pm Sunday February 19
Tracker Pro Staffers Gary Earl and Bob Crane will be on hand to give you the best tips and tricks on organizing your boat for that great fishing trip or tournament! You won't want to miss this informative workshop that keeps your equipment and you safe and in control!
February 19, 2012
LOCAL FISHING TIPS
3pm - Sunday February 19
Tracker Pro Staffers Steve Mitchell and Johnny Morris will be conducting this informative workshop on the where's and best local fishing hotspots, tips, and tricks!
February 19, 2012
TOWING YOUR BOAT
1pm - Sunday February 19
Do you have questions on towing your boat? Get the basics on towing, backing up, and the how to's on handling towing. Tracker Pro Staffers Morris Taylor and Jeremy Knepp will be here to "walk" you through this informative workshop.
February 19, 2012
JIMMY HOUSTON TO BE AT THE FREE BOAT SHOW
Visit us during our "FREE: Boat Show" on February 19 and stop and chat with Jimmy Houston (www.jimmyhouston.com). Jimmy is well known as the hardest working pro in the country. He started his career by winning The Oklahoma State Championship as a college senior in 1966. He has fished 15 BASS Master Classics and won the B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year title in both 1976 and 1986. He still fishes the FLW Series.
A legendary angler, Jimmy was inducted in to the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in 2002. He was inducted into the IGFA Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame in 2008. Jimmy was named King of Sports for Fishing in 1989. In June of 2004, the Jim Thorpe Association recognized Jimmy as the Jim Thorpe Man of the Year.
Jimmy has written five books including "Caught Me a Big'un" which was a #1 selling fishing book. "Hooked for Life" and "The Reel Line" are spiritual and inspirational collections taken from fishing situations. His latest book, "Catch of the Day", is a 365 day daily devotional built around fishing tips, tales, and events.
Visit with vendors and local fishermen!
Register to win a Kayak! You could win a $200 Bass Pro Shops Gift Card!
Crafts both weekends! Join us Saturdays and Sundays: 1pm - 3pm "while supplies last"! Bring the kids and let them play our "Casting Game" from Noon - 3pm.
Don't forget, the "FREE" Boat Show dates are February 10 through February 19!
For any additional information, contact our store at 812-218-5500.
It's cold outside, and many people are having severe cases of "Cabin Fever" this time of the year. Bass Pro Shops is currently having a sale to help with that. Our annual CABIN FEVER SALE. There are numerous items in there to help you "brave" the cold, and get outdoors.
In that flyer you will also find a great selection of our Tracker Boats, and boating accessories. Did you know that here in 2012 Tracker Marine is celebrating 35 years of delivering the finest boats in the industry? To celebrate this milestone Tracker Marine Group has continued to issue everyone that buys a new boat with one of our VIP cards. We are also giving a free $500 or a $1000 Bass Pro Shops gift card on select model boats. Come on in to the showroom here at the Clarksville, IN store and have a Boat Sales Associate explain how it works.
Our annual Free Boat Show here at the Clarksville, Indiana store will be starting on February 10th and running through the 19th. What a great time to bring in the family and view the selection of Tracker Boats. We have all of the brands, Tracker, Tahoe, Suntracker, Nitro, right here on site for you to view. We will be having some great crafts, and activities for the kids as well during the show.
We hope to see you then,
Bob Crane
BPS / Tracker Marine
In that flyer you will also find a great selection of our Tracker Boats, and boating accessories. Did you know that here in 2012 Tracker Marine is celebrating 35 years of delivering the finest boats in the industry? To celebrate this milestone Tracker Marine Group has continued to issue everyone that buys a new boat with one of our VIP cards. We are also giving a free $500 or a $1000 Bass Pro Shops gift card on select model boats. Come on in to the showroom here at the Clarksville, IN store and have a Boat Sales Associate explain how it works.
Our annual Free Boat Show here at the Clarksville, Indiana store will be starting on February 10th and running through the 19th. What a great time to bring in the family and view the selection of Tracker Boats. We have all of the brands, Tracker, Tahoe, Suntracker, Nitro, right here on site for you to view. We will be having some great crafts, and activities for the kids as well during the show.
We hope to see you then,
Bob Crane
BPS / Tracker Marine
The bolt action rifle is the standard iconic symbol of marksmanship for shooters all over the world. From military sniper to mountain roaming hunters the bolt action rifle is probably responsible for more game than any other firearm yet to date. Early in the year you might want to start the search for that perfect piece of precision or build from the ground up. No matter what you decide to do one thing is for certain when in search of the perfect long distance bolt gun, accuracy! That is why I would like to present my top 4 picks of my favorite bolt action rifles.
While not necessarily a modern gun by any means, coming in 4th the German Mauser Karabiner 98 Kurz or kar98k for short remains still one of most accurate rifle in history. This controlled feed rifle was widely used by all branches of the armed forces of Germany during World War II. It saw action in every theatre of war involving German forces, including occupied Europe, North Africa, the Soviet Union, Finland, and Norway. Although comparable to the weapons fielded by Germany's enemies at the beginning of the War, its disadvantages in rate of fire became more apparent as American and Soviet armies began to field more semi-automatic weapons among their troops. Still, it continued to be the main infantry rifle of the Wehrmacht until the end of the War. Resistance forces in German-occupied Europe made frequent use of captured German Karabiner 98k rifles. The Soviet Union also made extensive use of captured Karabiner 98k rifles and other German infantry weapons due to the Red Army experiencing a critical shortage of small arms during the early years of World War II. Many German soldiers used the verbal expression "Kars" as the slang name for the rifle. These Rifles are still widely available today and are range favorites for vintage rifle enthusiasts.
Next in our number 3 spot we have the Browning A-bolt rifle. The A-Bolt is a gorgeous piece of history that is extremely accurate, especially when fitted with Browning’s patented BOSS system which allows you to adjust your A-Bolt to shoot a wide variety of ammunition and still gain very tight grouping at long distances which traditionally could only be achieved by reloading and tailoring a custom load to your barrel. The A-Bolt rifle uses a non-rotating bolt sleeve. When the bolt is unlocked, smoothness is achieved with three guide ribs aligned with three locking lugs, enabling precise movement. These three locking lugs also largely increase bolt strength. The bolt's smoothness is also increased with a unique cartridge depressor, the cartridge depressor stays in place independent of the bolt's position. Near the end of the reloading cycle, when the bolt is re-inserted, the bolt moves gently over the cartridges in the magazine. The barrel is free-floating and the recoil lug is glass bedded. This is a highly desired feature in any rifle and improves accuracy. The A-Bolt has a recessed crown at the muzzle which preserves the life of your barrel and prolongs your rifle's accuracy. The A-Bolt rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 
While little is known about the company or even the rifle for that matter, in our number 2 spot, you may have heard about an infamous world record that it holds. The "shot heard around the world", or second shot heard around the world, took place on a November morning in Afghanistan in 2009 by British Army sniper Corporal of Horse, Craig Harrison, a member of the Household Cavalry, is responsible for setting the longest confirmed sniper kill in history. Harrison struck 2 Taliban machine gunners at a range of 2,707 yards, using an Accuracy International L115A3 .338 Lapua rifle. Accuracy International is a specialist British firearms manufacturer and best known for producing the Accuracy International Warfare Series of precision sniper rifles. All rifles are hand-built and are usually paired with a Schmidt & Bender optic.
Winning my number 1 pick is the state of the art M2000 .408 CheyTac Intervention Rifle. The CheyTac is a complete weapons system. What that means is the CheyTac is paired with an ABC, Advanced Ballistics Computer, that is made specifically for the rifle. This system instantly calculates ballistics and adjustments in a unit, similar to an iPhone. CheyTac papers state that the entire system is capable of delivering sub-MOA accuracy at ranges of up to 2,500 yards, one of the longest ranges of all modern day sniper rifles. This makes CheyTac the most advanced bolt action rifle on the planet, which is why it gets my number 1 pick!
Be sure to check back when I count down my top 4 shotguns!
-Heath Ezell
Hunting Lead
A light dusting of snow began to accumulate on a cold, windy day. Windy might not even be the word for it, blustery is a more accurate description. Homer was ready to jump out of the truck before we ever stopped next to the patch of woods that we planned on rabbit hunting that afternoon. After all, his anticipation had been building up since the last days of season last February and now all that stands between him and the rabbits is a tailgate and the swinging door on his dog box. Before I could get my Remington 1100 20 gauge out of the case, my hunting partner alerted me of some quail that he saw flying out of the bushes near the truck. Quail? In my area they are just not that common, you see a few now and then but usually not during the season. Most of the time, I would not even consider going after them but this was different. The covey was no less than 30 strong and this was the perfect opportunity to harvest some great bounty from the land. Now this was going to be detrimental to Homer's psyche because rabbits are his forte and he was going to have to wait in the truck until we were finished going after the quail.
Inching through the woods towards the spot the quail went down, I knew that I would be startled by the sound of a covey picking up any second. Just as the thought left my mind a sudden eruption of hard beating wings lit up my ears only a few feet in front of me. I had forgotten just how fast these birds get out of range and how hard it is to pick one out when they blow through the woods. Two shots later, I was no closer to a quail dinner than I was when I left the house. We managed to kick enough bushes in the small woodlot to harvest two beautiful quail for dinner. The sight of the quail resting peacefully on top of the snow is a sight that I will not soon forget.
Homer was happy to finally be released from the truck. He probably thought that we already kicked all of the good rabbit bushes from all of the shooting that he heard. Between the scent of the quail and the snow clogging his nose, it was slow moving for rabbits. We finally got on one and had us a nice rabbit to add to our quail. Homer was excited and we loaded up and headed to the next woodlot.
The frozen ground allowed us to drive across the field to access a spot that nobody had hunted much. The anticipation was high as we unloaded. I put on my Under Armour facemask to help shield the wind that was now nearly unbearable. There were quite a few places for rabbits to hide but the wind kept them underground in their warm burrows. Finally, we found something; a Styrofoam snow man nestled against the woods that blew across the field. We picked it up and made our final turn back towards the truck. We walked towards the north end of the woods and I decided to check out the west corner because it looked like a great spot for a rabbit to hide. As I stood there looking at the grove in that corner of the woods, a feeling suddenly came over me. I felt like this was going to be a good spot to find a deer shed. I looked through, over, and around all of the brush in my vicinity and decided nothing was there. I turned around and my eyes were staring directly at it. Not ten feet away lie a large antler nestled neatly in the snow. All of the life that the wind and cold had sucked out of me over the past few hours suddenly came back as I made my way towards the prize. The celebration of finding the shed was cut short by the dog, that we had forgotten was there, letting out a bark as a rabbit jumped out of a brush pile not thirty yards away. The rabbit showed me that quail aren't the only sporty things to swing a gun on. Two empty shells later, Homer was on the track to find the rabbit that I'd missed. The rabbit ran a wide circle all the way around the woods. Homer never gave up on the trail despite the snow and several minutes later my hunting partner scored on his first rabbit of the day. Not bad for a cold, windy, miserable day in January!
This time of year can be depressing for hunters. For most of the Midwest, the hunting seasons are coming to a close and we are a long way from the rut next November! Don't let the off-season get you down though, go look for some antler sheds, you might be in for a nice surprise. It doesn't always work out that way but you can't find any if you don't look. Packaging a squirrel or rabbit hunt in with your shed hunting always adds for some excitement as well. I will say that I recommend getting a good pair of pants to counter the brush that you will run into along the way. RedHead Upland Hunting Pants work great for me. Nothing sticks to them and I never have to worry about picking stickers out of my legs when I get home. They are also good early season squirrel hunting pants.
Inching through the woods towards the spot the quail went down, I knew that I would be startled by the sound of a covey picking up any second. Just as the thought left my mind a sudden eruption of hard beating wings lit up my ears only a few feet in front of me. I had forgotten just how fast these birds get out of range and how hard it is to pick one out when they blow through the woods. Two shots later, I was no closer to a quail dinner than I was when I left the house. We managed to kick enough bushes in the small woodlot to harvest two beautiful quail for dinner. The sight of the quail resting peacefully on top of the snow is a sight that I will not soon forget.
Homer was happy to finally be released from the truck. He probably thought that we already kicked all of the good rabbit bushes from all of the shooting that he heard. Between the scent of the quail and the snow clogging his nose, it was slow moving for rabbits. We finally got on one and had us a nice rabbit to add to our quail. Homer was excited and we loaded up and headed to the next woodlot.
The frozen ground allowed us to drive across the field to access a spot that nobody had hunted much. The anticipation was high as we unloaded. I put on my Under Armour facemask to help shield the wind that was now nearly unbearable. There were quite a few places for rabbits to hide but the wind kept them underground in their warm burrows. Finally, we found something; a Styrofoam snow man nestled against the woods that blew across the field. We picked it up and made our final turn back towards the truck. We walked towards the north end of the woods and I decided to check out the west corner because it looked like a great spot for a rabbit to hide. As I stood there looking at the grove in that corner of the woods, a feeling suddenly came over me. I felt like this was going to be a good spot to find a deer shed. I looked through, over, and around all of the brush in my vicinity and decided nothing was there. I turned around and my eyes were staring directly at it. Not ten feet away lie a large antler nestled neatly in the snow. All of the life that the wind and cold had sucked out of me over the past few hours suddenly came back as I made my way towards the prize. The celebration of finding the shed was cut short by the dog, that we had forgotten was there, letting out a bark as a rabbit jumped out of a brush pile not thirty yards away. The rabbit showed me that quail aren't the only sporty things to swing a gun on. Two empty shells later, Homer was on the track to find the rabbit that I'd missed. The rabbit ran a wide circle all the way around the woods. Homer never gave up on the trail despite the snow and several minutes later my hunting partner scored on his first rabbit of the day. Not bad for a cold, windy, miserable day in January!
This time of year can be depressing for hunters. For most of the Midwest, the hunting seasons are coming to a close and we are a long way from the rut next November! Don't let the off-season get you down though, go look for some antler sheds, you might be in for a nice surprise. It doesn't always work out that way but you can't find any if you don't look. Packaging a squirrel or rabbit hunt in with your shed hunting always adds for some excitement as well. I will say that I recommend getting a good pair of pants to counter the brush that you will run into along the way. RedHead Upland Hunting Pants work great for me. Nothing sticks to them and I never have to worry about picking stickers out of my legs when I get home. They are also good early season squirrel hunting pants.
A light dusting of snow began to accumulate on a cold, windy day. Windy might not even be the word for it, blustery is a more accurate description. Homer was ready to jump out of the truck before we every stopped next to the patch of woods that we planned on rabbit hunting that afternoon. After all, his anticipation had been building up since the last days of season last February and now all that stands between him and the rabbits is a tailgate and the swinging door on his dog box. Before I could get my Remington 1100 20 gauge out of the case, my hunting partner alerted me of some quail that he saw flying out of the bushes near the truck. Quail? In my area they are just not that common, you see a few now and then but usually not during the season. Most of the time, I would not even consider going after them but this was different. The covey was no less than 30 strong and this was the perfect opportunity to harvest some great bounty from the land. Now this was going to be detrimental to Homer's psyche because rabbits are his forte and he was going to have to wait in the truck until we were finished going after the quail.
Inching through the woods towards the spot the quail went down, I knew that I would be startled by the sound of a covey picking up any second. Just as the thought left my mind a sudden eruption of hard beating wings lit up my ears only a few feet in front of me. I had forgotten just how fast these birds get out of range and how hard it is to pick one out when they blow through the woods. Two shots later, I was no closer to a quail dinner than I was when I left the house. We managed to kick enough bushes in the small woodlot to harvest two beautiful quail for dinner. The sight of the quail resting peacefully on top of the snow is a sight that I will not soon forget.
Homer was happy to finally be released from the truck. He probably thought that we already kicked all of the good rabbit bushes from all of the shooting that he heard. Between the scent of the quail and the snow clogging his nose, it was slow moving for rabbits. We finally got on one and had us a nice rabbit to add to our quail. Homer was excited and we loaded up and headed to the next woodlot. The frozen ground allowed us to drive across the field to access a spot that nobody had hunted much. The anticipation was high as we unloaded. I put on my Under Armour face mask to help shield the wind that was now nearly unbearable. There were quite a few places for rabbits to hide but the wind kept them underground in their warm burrows. Finally, we found something; a Styrofoam snow man nestled against the woods that blew across the field. We picked it up and made our final turn back towards the truck. We walked towards the north end of the woods and I decided to check out the west corner because it looked like a great spot for a rabbit to hide. As I stood there looking at the grove in that corner of the woods, a feeling suddenly came over me. I felt like this was going to be a good spot to find a deer shed. I looked through, over, and around all of the brush in my vicinity and decided nothing was there. I turned around and my eyes were staring directly at it. Not ten feet away lie a large antler nestled neatly in the snow. All of the life that the wind and cold had sucked out of me over the past few hours suddenly came back as I made my way towards the prize. The celebration of finding the shed was cut short by the dog, that we had forgotten was there, letting out a bark as a rabbit jumped out of a brush pile not thirty yards away. The rabbit showed me that quail aren't the only sporty things to swing a gun on. Two empty shells later, Homer was on the track to find the rabbit that I'd missed. The rabbit ran a wide circle all the way around the woods. Homer never gave up on the trail despite the snow and several minutes later my hunting partner scored on his first rabbit of the day. Not bad for a cold, windy, miserable day in January!
This time of year can be depressing for hunters. For most of the Midwest, the hunting seasons are coming to a close and we are a long way from the rut next November! Don't let the off-season get you down though, go look for some antler sheds, you might be in for a nice surprise. It doesn't always work out that way but you can't find any if you don't look. Packaging a squirrel or rabbit hunt in with your shed hunting always adds for some excitement as well. I will say that I recommend getting a good pair of pants to counter the brush that you will run into along the way. RedHead Upland Hunting Pants work great for me. Nothing sticks to them and I never have to worry about picking stickers out of my legs when I get home. They are also good early season squirrel hunting pants.
Remember, the best time to go to the woods is whenever you get a chance! You never know what you might find.
Good Luck!
Brian Eickholtz
Situated on the banks of the Ohio River, Clarksville, Indiana (www.town.clarksville.in.us/) has a long, rich outdoors history. Some of the oldest naturally exposed fossil beds (www.fallsoftheohio.org/) can be seen there; Native Americans set up camps along the Ohio River as it was close to the crossing of the Buffalo Trace; it was the gathering point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition of the Louisiana Purchase (www.lewisandclarktrail.com/legacy/louisclark/) and John James Audubon was only one of several naturalists to study the variety of wildlife in the area. With such an outdoors heritage it is only natural that outdoors giant Bass Pro Shops has built a retail store in Clarksville which bills itself as the “Oldest American Town in the Northwest Territory.” At 280,000 square-feet, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store is the company’s second largest to date.
Located in the River Falls Mall, just off Interstate 65 and across the river from Louisville, Kentucky, the entire store is a tribute to the Kentuckiana region and its people and, like other Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World stores, takes on the flavor and atmosphere of the region in which it is located. Using area artifacts, antiques and memorabilia the store becomes a living museum of the hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor legacies of Indiana.
The outdoor super store features two levels and is part museum, part art gallery, part education, conservation and entertainment center. Massive log and rock work frame the Grand Entrance where inside, timber skin walls and vaulted post and beam construction ceiling make up the front lobby. Natural daylight streams through the store through the 50,000-square-foot Hypalon roof structure.
Museum quality wildlife exhibits adorn the entire store including state record fish mounts, turkeys, native waterfowl, quail, pheasants, rams, elk, full body whitetail mounts and bears. State record mounts are displayed alongside local historical prints depicting early Indiana residents enjoying sporting adventures.
Inside, giant, exquisitely crafted outdoor themed chandeliers, made by Bass Pro Shops own artisans, hang throughout the store. Dinosaur fossils and wildlife tracks are imprinted in the concrete floor. One of the store’s focal points is a rock bluff structure that showcases a dramatic 65’ waterfall (one of three) flowing into the 50,000 gallon aquarium which features two tanks. It is stocked with more than 300 fish native to the area including large and smallmouth bass, catfish, carp, walleye, bluegill, and crappie. A beaver pond and stream runs through the central clerestory on the main floor.
Two elevators rise through cave-like structures near the aquarium allowing visitors to see through the aquarium on their ride up to the 2nd floor.
Murals, wildlife paintings and animal dioramas help portray local and regional scenes to lend authenticity and help capture the Indiana landscape.
On the 91,500-square foot first floor, visitors have the area’s largest selection of freshwater rods, reels and fishing accessories, all hand-picked and specially selected for the area, to choose from. The White River Fly Shop, featuring antique and collectible fly fishing memorabilia, has a vast selection of the latest in fly fishing gear. Experts will continue the art of hand-tying flies on site and assist customers in making the perfect selection.
More than a fishing store, visitors find items perfect for camping, hiking, outdoor cooking, bird watching or whatever your outdoor pleasures. A gift and nature center offers a variety of items from artwork to lamps, to bird feeders and furniture, home decorating items and gifts for the holidays. Cooking accessories include cookbooks, spices, grills and jerky making items.
The attention to detail continues upstairs in the 178,600 square-foot second floor. The hunting department features a 75’ long curved counter which stands ready to help assist customers. Hunting cabinets are adorned with hand-carved animals. World Class record mounts grace the walls. Customers will find an equally impressive array of hunting clothing and gear. The archery department offers a bow set-up shop and a 25-yard live archery range is perfect for testing that new bow or sharpening necessary skills.
Shooters of all ages will enjoy the 16,000-square foot, walk-through “African Big Game” safari-style rifle arcade with animated targets. There is also a theater-styled seminar room which will accommodate up to 200 people for various civic, educational or conservation functions.
A NASCAR department provides 3 car simulators plus all the clothing and items featuring your favorite driver.
An 11,000 square-foot marine and boat center helps area residents have fun on the water with a full range of powerboats from Tracker Marine--the world’s largest manufacturer of fishing boats. From big water boats to small fishing, canoeing and even kayaking, customers will find exactly what they need with selections from Tracker, Nitro, Tahoe, Mako, Kenner and more. An on-site boat service center with 4 service bays is available for customers’ convenience for boat rigging and repairs.
The store offers Outdoor Skills Workshops for adults, kids and families that will help maximize outdoor fun by teaching new skills and improving existing ones. They also feature many youth activities throughout the year.
For more information regarding your Clarksville Bass Pro Shops store location, products or special events, please visit www.basspro.com or call 812-218-5500.
Visit us soon!
Tina Tucker, Special Events Coordinator
On November 21, Bass Pro Shops, Clarksville, IN; the Southern Indiana Rifle and Pistol Club; and the Borden Indiana High School Outdoor Club, partnered together to put on a Turkey Shoot for the Outdoor Club members.
The students were allowed to bring their own firearms to the outdoor range of the Southern Indiana Rifle and Pistol Club (www.southernindianarifleandpistolclub.com/). They shot in braces of five. The student who placed a shot closest to the center of the "X" on the target was awarded a frozen turkey donated by the Bass Pro Shops Clarksville. Ten sharp shooting kids were awarded turkeys just in time for their family's Thanksgiving Feast. All of the students paid an entry fee of $5.00. All of the monies taken in were donated to the local Lions Club Chapter to help less fortunate children at Christmas.
It was a great way to spend an afternoon. Not only did the kids have an opportunity to put food on their families table, they all also helped make the Christmas Holidays a little brighter for others.
The cold air chills your bones as you sit motionless waiting for the sound of whistling wings or the sight of silhouettes approaching your decoy spread. Your dog shakes uncontrollably, not from the cold, but from the anticipation of what he has seen many times before. His eyes wonder and suddenly he flinches at the sight of a cardinal flying into the brush beside your blind. Just when you lose hope that first light is going to be a bust, the soft sound of down hitting the water tickles your ears. Your dog sees everything before you do and almost breaks, but restrains himself long enough for you to swing on a nice pair of mallards in the decoys. This, my friends, is what December is all about. This is duck hunting.
Here in southeastern Indiana, it is easy to do a lot of duck hunting and very little duck shooting. After all, the key to shooting ducks is being where they want to be at. More often than not, the ducks want to be in places that the hunters can't hunt.Therefore, it is imperative to capitalize when the opportunity to have a successful duck hunt occurs. There are several things that I have found to give yourself an advantage on these very keen, underrated birds of feather.
Concealment is paramount for any waterfowl setup. One of the best tools in my decoy bag is my RedHead Folding Saw. This tool allows you to quickly build a blind or add to your existing blind. Often overlooked in the blind making process is overhead cover. Ducks will spot you quickly if you don't consider the top of your blind while building it. Make sure that all of your shooting angles are clear and your gun is not going to hang on brush when you pull up. Adding overhead cover will allow you to peek at the ducks while you are working them into the decoy spread. Additionally, it may cover any unwanted movement made by you dog while they are circling.
Decoy placement is another key aspect of your setup when you are getting ready for shooting time. Throwing out a few decoys on a small pond may work well in some instances. I've had several good hunts without putting out any decoys at all. However, these hunts have always been on very small water where I knew the ducks were flying into it anyway. Any body of water larger than a half acre or so is going to require some sort of a decoy spread. The extent of the spread depends on the situation you face going into your hunt. For example, if you have a three acre lake that you have seen some ducks using recently, a large spread may not be necessary. However, if you are hunting a large body of water like a reservoir or river, you may need a little bit more compelling spread to draw the ducks into your spot. Whenever hunting the smaller outfit like a small lake or creek, I will usually keep my decoy count under two dozen. Keep your decoys upwind of where you want the ducks to attempt to land. If the wind is blowing left to right, put most of your spread on your left side. If it is blowing straight away from your blind, form your spread into a wide "V". Making your "V" nice and wide has been a key part of my setups over the years. Imagine your blind at the bottom of the "V." I usually go twenty yards left and right and twenty to 30 yards out for the tops of my "V." This may vary depending on how much water you can wade(if you don't have a boat), the size of the body of water, and how hard the wind is blowing; the more wind, the wider your spread can be since you will not have to worry about motion in your decoys. I will put groups of ducks on each tip of my "V," and fill in between them with a few swimmers to create the illusion that they are swimming back and forth between groups. This also makes your spread appear larger than it may be and makes it very visible when hunting large bodies of water.
Regardless of how your decoys are set up and how nice of a blind you have, if you don't have any movement in your spread, you likely won't be very successful. There are several ways to create movement in your spread but you have to be committed to it. The best calling and the finest decoys can't make up for a lack of motion. Many people throw out a spinning wing duck and assume that is good enough. Usually this works great at first light. However, as the day moves on and the sun comes out, you may actually do more bad than good with this type of decoy. I've seen it go both ways, but I will generally pull my Baby Mojo Ducks after the first hour of shooting time. This is especially true later in the season when the ducks become wise to these contraptions. Additionally, many states have banned the use of motorized decoys for waterfowling. Luckily there are other options available. Most of the motion created in my decoy spread spawns from the jerk cord setup I employ. A jerk cord puts out plenty of commotion on the water that can be controlled by the user in response to how the ducks are acting. They are especially effective on calm, clear days, but are invaluable even on moderately windy days. Bass Pro shops offers the perfect ready to hunt jerk rig: the Rig 'Em Right Waterfowl Jerk Rig. This setup has a 100 foot bungee cord with a small anchor on the end and four clips to attach decoys to. It retails at $29.99 and is a great setup for any spread. I made my own since this product was not available at the time. Simply take your favorite decoy and get a folding grappling anchor. Attach a 2-3 foot bungee cord to the anchor and to the front of the keel on your decoy. Buy a spool of nylon cord (100-200 foot works great) and tie it to the front of the keel on your decoy as well. Tie loops in the nylon cord in about 4-6 foot increments as desired so you can add more decoys to your line. I like to pick out the decoys that I am going to use for my rig and attach shower curtain hangers to the front of the keel so you can attach and detach your decoys from the line quickly. Whenever you pull the cord, the bungee will snap the decoy back and give it the appearance of a feeding duck.
Hopefully the tips highlighted here will help you on your next outing. Just make sure that movement in your decoys is your first priority and everything else will fall into place.
Merry Christmas!
Brian Eickholtz
Here in southeastern Indiana, it is easy to do a lot of duck hunting and very little duck shooting. After all, the key to shooting ducks is being where they want to be at. More often than not, the ducks want to be in places that the hunters can't hunt.Therefore, it is imperative to capitalize when the opportunity to have a successful duck hunt occurs. There are several things that I have found to give yourself an advantage on these very keen, underrated birds of feather.
Concealment is paramount for any waterfowl setup. One of the best tools in my decoy bag is my RedHead Folding Saw. This tool allows you to quickly build a blind or add to your existing blind. Often overlooked in the blind making process is overhead cover. Ducks will spot you quickly if you don't consider the top of your blind while building it. Make sure that all of your shooting angles are clear and your gun is not going to hang on brush when you pull up. Adding overhead cover will allow you to peek at the ducks while you are working them into the decoy spread. Additionally, it may cover any unwanted movement made by you dog while they are circling.
Decoy placement is another key aspect of your setup when you are getting ready for shooting time. Throwing out a few decoys on a small pond may work well in some instances. I've had several good hunts without putting out any decoys at all. However, these hunts have always been on very small water where I knew the ducks were flying into it anyway. Any body of water larger than a half acre or so is going to require some sort of a decoy spread. The extent of the spread depends on the situation you face going into your hunt. For example, if you have a three acre lake that you have seen some ducks using recently, a large spread may not be necessary. However, if you are hunting a large body of water like a reservoir or river, you may need a little bit more compelling spread to draw the ducks into your spot. Whenever hunting the smaller outfit like a small lake or creek, I will usually keep my decoy count under two dozen. Keep your decoys upwind of where you want the ducks to attempt to land. If the wind is blowing left to right, put most of your spread on your left side. If it is blowing straight away from your blind, form your spread into a wide "V". Making your "V" nice and wide has been a key part of my setups over the years. Imagine your blind at the bottom of the "V." I usually go twenty yards left and right and twenty to 30 yards out for the tops of my "V." This may vary depending on how much water you can wade(if you don't have a boat), the size of the body of water, and how hard the wind is blowing; the more wind, the wider your spread can be since you will not have to worry about motion in your decoys. I will put groups of ducks on each tip of my "V," and fill in between them with a few swimmers to create the illusion that they are swimming back and forth between groups. This also makes your spread appear larger than it may be and makes it very visible when hunting large bodies of water.
Regardless of how your decoys are set up and how nice of a blind you have, if you don't have any movement in your spread, you likely won't be very successful. There are several ways to create movement in your spread but you have to be committed to it. The best calling and the finest decoys can't make up for a lack of motion. Many people throw out a spinning wing duck and assume that is good enough. Usually this works great at first light. However, as the day moves on and the sun comes out, you may actually do more bad than good with this type of decoy. I've seen it go both ways, but I will generally pull my Baby Mojo Ducks after the first hour of shooting time. This is especially true later in the season when the ducks become wise to these contraptions. Additionally, many states have banned the use of motorized decoys for waterfowling. Luckily there are other options available. Most of the motion created in my decoy spread spawns from the jerk cord setup I employ. A jerk cord puts out plenty of commotion on the water that can be controlled by the user in response to how the ducks are acting. They are especially effective on calm, clear days, but are invaluable even on moderately windy days. Bass Pro shops offers the perfect ready to hunt jerk rig: the Rig 'Em Right Waterfowl Jerk Rig. This setup has a 100 foot bungee cord with a small anchor on the end and four clips to attach decoys to. It retails at $29.99 and is a great setup for any spread. I made my own since this product was not available at the time. Simply take your favorite decoy and get a folding grappling anchor. Attach a 2-3 foot bungee cord to the anchor and to the front of the keel on your decoy. Buy a spool of nylon cord (100-200 foot works great) and tie it to the front of the keel on your decoy as well. Tie loops in the nylon cord in about 4-6 foot increments as desired so you can add more decoys to your line. I like to pick out the decoys that I am going to use for my rig and attach shower curtain hangers to the front of the keel so you can attach and detach your decoys from the line quickly. Whenever you pull the cord, the bungee will snap the decoy back and give it the appearance of a feeding duck.
Hopefully the tips highlighted here will help you on your next outing. Just make sure that movement in your decoys is your first priority and everything else will fall into place.
Merry Christmas!
Brian Eickholtz
It's that time of the year again when we all aren't so eager to head to the lake due to those colder temperatures. Instead we are watching the weather reports to know how long we have before we need to get our boats winterized.
If you are like some of us, and fish during the winter months follow a couple of easy steps:
1. When you start your motor in cooler water, allow it to warm up a bit before you leave the dock. This will allow the thermostat to properly open and start the cooling process.
2. After fishing keep the motor vertical to allow any and all excess water to drain. Most of us allow the motor to stay vertical while we are stowing things away for the trip home. Just remember to put the motor up, and put your transom saver in place before you head out on the highway.
Whether your boat is stored inside or out, water is the biggest problem we all have to deal with. Let's face it, whether it's a Nitro Z7 Bass Boat or a Tahoe 215CC with a 225 hp on it our rigs are expensive and we need to be wise on their care.
Here are some tips that we can all do before we take our rigs over to the nearest Tracker Marine dealer for their expertise.
1. Drain the water from all compartments!
You can help this process by cranking the tongue jack until the bow of your boat is slightly higher than the transom.
Pull the hull's drain plug.
Make sure that you have removed all of the leftover soda cans, and bottles of water from the built in cooler, and any that are still in other compartment that could possibly freeze up and bust.
Open the Livewell compartments and towel dry that excess water left in any low crevasses.
2. Make sure that any and all liquids such as attractants, and aerosol cans are removed from the boat.
3. Apply a good coat of marine wax to the hull. Many of us use a product called Bass Boat Saver that is sold at the Tracker Boat Center here in Clarksville, IN.
4. Be sure to cover your boat with a cover that fits "properly". The Marine Center here at Bass Pro Shops have a large number of covers in stock for your boat, as well as for the spare tire.
There are a lot of different motor types, and sizes.
When you bring your boat in to the Tracker Boat Center one of our technicians will be able to advise you on what is recommended for your exact motor type. After a free 34 point inspection of your rig, we can also advise you on what your trailer needs are.
Call us today to schedule an appointment at 812-218-5364 or 812-218-5380
Thank you,
BC
In the last couple decades the civilian popularity for the AR-15 function rifle has grain considerable popularity. It has a wide variety of purposes, everything from being the standard military issued rifle to hunting coyotes. The AR-15 is based off the 7.62x51 AR-10. A lot of people believe the A.R. is an acronym for assault rifle, this however is false and is short for the designer of the weapon, which is a company by the name of Armalite. In 1957, the innovative lightweight design quickly gained the attention of the united states government who was seeking a rifle that would replace the heavy, hard recoil, 20 round M14 rifle. There was also interest in a new standard issue caliber due to the .308's weight, ammo capacity, and exit wound problem. Armalite would try to solve this problem with the production of the AR-15.
Shortly after the creation of the AR-15, Armalite came into financial problems and sold the rights to the rifle to Colt. who, in 1958, was awarded the military contract to produce the AR-15 or M16 as it's military designation would become. Colt would go on to produce the rifle for the major conflicts that would take place in Vietnam. The rifle was a lightwieight 3-round burst fire rifle with overwhelming accuracy for a standard issue infantry rifle. However due to early design flaws the rifle was somewhat of a failure. Colt, after the Vietnam war, lost it's military contract to produce the M-16 to FNH. FNH has been producing the rifle ever since. Colt later received a contract to make a carbine variant of the rifle known as the M-4. This rifle is much more compact, features a collapsible stock, shorter barrel and heat shield, and is capable of semi and full auto fire. The M-4 variant is the most popular civilian semi-automatic version you will find on shelves today. In recent years the AR-15 has transitioned from the battle field and tactical world to the woods and meadows to take on the role of hunting rifle or "MSR" for "Modern Sporting Rifle". Due to the sheer accuracy and easy of customization the AR-15 or MSR is an awesome choice for varmint hunters and has rapidly done so.
-Heath Ezell
Hunting Lead
Shortly after the creation of the AR-15, Armalite came into financial problems and sold the rights to the rifle to Colt. who, in 1958, was awarded the military contract to produce the AR-15 or M16 as it's military designation would become. Colt would go on to produce the rifle for the major conflicts that would take place in Vietnam. The rifle was a lightwieight 3-round burst fire rifle with overwhelming accuracy for a standard issue infantry rifle. However due to early design flaws the rifle was somewhat of a failure. Colt, after the Vietnam war, lost it's military contract to produce the M-16 to FNH. FNH has been producing the rifle ever since. Colt later received a contract to make a carbine variant of the rifle known as the M-4. This rifle is much more compact, features a collapsible stock, shorter barrel and heat shield, and is capable of semi and full auto fire. The M-4 variant is the most popular civilian semi-automatic version you will find on shelves today. In recent years the AR-15 has transitioned from the battle field and tactical world to the woods and meadows to take on the role of hunting rifle or "MSR" for "Modern Sporting Rifle". Due to the sheer accuracy and easy of customization the AR-15 or MSR is an awesome choice for varmint hunters and has rapidly done so.
-Heath Ezell
Hunting Lead
Duck season is approaching throughout the country. The guys up north have been shooting them for weeks now and the ducks and geese should be heading to a pond or river near you before long. Every year waterfowl hunters are embattled with the question of which steel shotshells they should shoot. Furthermore, ammo manufacturers are always looking for ways to improve the non-toxic loads to cope with the lack of knockdown power from steel and the high prices of other loads such as tungsten and bismuth. Some companies are offering higher velocity shot while others are blending steel with other higher density non-toxic metals. The problem that waterfowlers are finding with the super fast shot is it just blows right through ducks and geese with no real knockdown power. This results in long retrieves and lost birds in certain situations. The blended ammo like Hevi-Metal is great but does cost about 30% more than most conventional steel loads.
Winchester has now unveiled a new type of steel shot all together: Winchester Blind Side. What makes it different is not the speed or weight of the shot but actually the shape of it. It is called Hex shot, a 6 sided cube looking piece of shot that does great damage when it hits is target. In addition, they can fit about an 1/8 ounce more shot into a 3" or 3 1/2" shot shell. This is because the shot is stacked inside of the wad and hull rather than poured into it. Other features include the Diamond Cut Wad and the Drylock Super Steel System used for sealing your load to keep the shot shell dry and ready to fire no matter what the conditions. The most important benefit of the Winchester Blind Side ammo is its knockdown power. At a modest(in terms of steel shot) 1400 feet per second, it is by no means the fastest load out there. However, when a bird is hit by this shot, he knows it. The 6 sided shot does great damage and does not blow through waterfowl like most steel does. Therefore, it transfers all of its energy to the bird and knocks them out of the air for quick, clean kills and retrieves you can watch your dog make.
I conducted a field test with the Blind Side during our early season and was pleased with the results. The first day yielded a limit of 3 wood ducks in 4 shots. None of the birds required a kill shot and my 10 year old Labrador was happy to only have to make 20 yard retrieves. A follow up trip produced similar results. Overall, this seems to be a great load for ducks and geese and worth the extra money. It is priced almost identical to Heavy Metal, and after using them both, I believe they are each worth the added cost over standard steel shot.
Good Luck!
-Brian Eickholtz
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