Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next

BROWSE BY BRAND

Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n

Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next

BROWSE BY BRAND

Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n

Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n

Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next

BROWSE BY BRAND

Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n

Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n

Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n

Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next

BROWSE BY BRAND

Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n

Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n

Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n

Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n

Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next

BROWSE BY BRAND

Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n

Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n

Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n

Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n

Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n

Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next

BROWSE BY BRAND

Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1. Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
2. Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
3. Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
4. Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
5. Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
6. Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
  The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
  
  Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
  
  POPULAR
  
  No Content Available
  
  BROWSE BY BRAND
  
  \n
  Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
  Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
  1. Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Experienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Experienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Experienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Experienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Alaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Experienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Alaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Experienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Alaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Experienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Alaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Experienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Alaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Experienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Alaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Experienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Alaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Experienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Alaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Experienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Alaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Experienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Alaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Experienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Alaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Experienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Early chroniclers recorded a variety of tanning methods being used by Native Americans. One such method is commonly called brain tanning, although it could be more properly called \u201cfat liquoring\u201d. It results in a soft but tough leather with its top grain removed that can be made into clothing, shelter coverings, bags or any needed items that would normally be fashioned from leather or cloth. Brain tanning relies on lecithin, a fatty substance occurring in the tissues of certain animals and plants, blood<\/a>, organs, bile<\/a>, roe<\/a>, avian egg yolks, brains and other substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Throughout the world, many methods of tanning leather developed. Tannic acid from plants, such as oak, and certain chemicals such as chromium sulphate, were used in historic times to tan leather using a process that left the grain intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Early chroniclers recorded a variety of tanning methods being used by Native Americans. One such method is commonly called brain tanning, although it could be more properly called \u201cfat liquoring\u201d. It results in a soft but tough leather with its top grain removed that can be made into clothing, shelter coverings, bags or any needed items that would normally be fashioned from leather or cloth. Brain tanning relies on lecithin, a fatty substance occurring in the tissues of certain animals and plants, blood<\/a>, organs, bile<\/a>, roe<\/a>, avian egg yolks, brains and other substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Shooting 101: How to Tan Animal Hides<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    Throughout the world, many methods of tanning leather developed. Tannic acid from plants, such as oak, and certain chemicals such as chromium sulphate, were used in historic times to tan leather using a process that left the grain intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Early chroniclers recorded a variety of tanning methods being used by Native Americans. One such method is commonly called brain tanning, although it could be more properly called \u201cfat liquoring\u201d. It results in a soft but tough leather with its top grain removed that can be made into clothing, shelter coverings, bags or any needed items that would normally be fashioned from leather or cloth. Brain tanning relies on lecithin, a fatty substance occurring in the tissues of certain animals and plants, blood<\/a>, organs, bile<\/a>, roe<\/a>, avian egg yolks, brains and other substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    People have processed and used animal hides for clothing, shelter and other purposes since the Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age. Based on direct archaeological evidence, hide processing goes back at least 400,000 years. Fur clothing was also used by other hominids, including Neanderthal Man. As humans migrated out of tropical zones, clothing was a necessity. The movement of people south into North America would not have been possible without warm clothing and a knowledge of building shelters while on the move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Shooting 101: How to Tan Animal Hides<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    Throughout the world, many methods of tanning leather developed. Tannic acid from plants, such as oak, and certain chemicals such as chromium sulphate, were used in historic times to tan leather using a process that left the grain intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Early chroniclers recorded a variety of tanning methods being used by Native Americans. One such method is commonly called brain tanning, although it could be more properly called \u201cfat liquoring\u201d. It results in a soft but tough leather with its top grain removed that can be made into clothing, shelter coverings, bags or any needed items that would normally be fashioned from leather or cloth. Brain tanning relies on lecithin, a fatty substance occurring in the tissues of certain animals and plants, blood<\/a>, organs, bile<\/a>, roe<\/a>, avian egg yolks, brains and other substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    It\u2019s also a good idea to bring along a friend or family member who has bought a used shotgun before. And, as always, have a qualified gunsmith look it over first if you have any doubts. If you do all of these things, you\u2019ll be well on your way to breathing new life into an old shotgun.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Used Shotguns: Tips for Buying A Vintage, Break-Action Shotgun","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vintage-used-shotguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-23 12:33:06","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-23 17:33:06","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394909","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394579,"post_author":"1240","post_date":"2024-12-19 11:50:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-19 16:50:05","post_content":"\n
    People have processed and used animal hides for clothing, shelter and other purposes since the Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age. Based on direct archaeological evidence, hide processing goes back at least 400,000 years. Fur clothing was also used by other hominids, including Neanderthal Man. As humans migrated out of tropical zones, clothing was a necessity. The movement of people south into North America would not have been possible without warm clothing and a knowledge of building shelters while on the move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Shooting 101: How to Tan Animal Hides<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    Throughout the world, many methods of tanning leather developed. Tannic acid from plants, such as oak, and certain chemicals such as chromium sulphate, were used in historic times to tan leather using a process that left the grain intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Early chroniclers recorded a variety of tanning methods being used by Native Americans. One such method is commonly called brain tanning, although it could be more properly called \u201cfat liquoring\u201d. It results in a soft but tough leather with its top grain removed that can be made into clothing, shelter coverings, bags or any needed items that would normally be fashioned from leather or cloth. Brain tanning relies on lecithin, a fatty substance occurring in the tissues of certain animals and plants, blood<\/a>, organs, bile<\/a>, roe<\/a>, avian egg yolks, brains and other substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Without a doubt, this list is not exhaustive; but it\u2019s an excellent place to start. In addition to keeping all of the things on this list in mind while you shop, I'd recommend that you look at a lot of shotguns first and don\u2019t just buy the first one that catches your eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    It\u2019s also a good idea to bring along a friend or family member who has bought a used shotgun before. And, as always, have a qualified gunsmith look it over first if you have any doubts. If you do all of these things, you\u2019ll be well on your way to breathing new life into an old shotgun.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Used Shotguns: Tips for Buying A Vintage, Break-Action Shotgun","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vintage-used-shotguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-23 12:33:06","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-23 17:33:06","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394909","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394579,"post_author":"1240","post_date":"2024-12-19 11:50:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-19 16:50:05","post_content":"\n
    People have processed and used animal hides for clothing, shelter and other purposes since the Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age. Based on direct archaeological evidence, hide processing goes back at least 400,000 years. Fur clothing was also used by other hominids, including Neanderthal Man. As humans migrated out of tropical zones, clothing was a necessity. The movement of people south into North America would not have been possible without warm clothing and a knowledge of building shelters while on the move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Shooting 101: How to Tan Animal Hides<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    Throughout the world, many methods of tanning leather developed. Tannic acid from plants, such as oak, and certain chemicals such as chromium sulphate, were used in historic times to tan leather using a process that left the grain intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Early chroniclers recorded a variety of tanning methods being used by Native Americans. One such method is commonly called brain tanning, although it could be more properly called \u201cfat liquoring\u201d. It results in a soft but tough leather with its top grain removed that can be made into clothing, shelter coverings, bags or any needed items that would normally be fashioned from leather or cloth. Brain tanning relies on lecithin, a fatty substance occurring in the tissues of certain animals and plants, blood<\/a>, organs, bile<\/a>, roe<\/a>, avian egg yolks, brains and other substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Without a doubt, this list is not exhaustive; but it\u2019s an excellent place to start. In addition to keeping all of the things on this list in mind while you shop, I'd recommend that you look at a lot of shotguns first and don\u2019t just buy the first one that catches your eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    It\u2019s also a good idea to bring along a friend or family member who has bought a used shotgun before. And, as always, have a qualified gunsmith look it over first if you have any doubts. If you do all of these things, you\u2019ll be well on your way to breathing new life into an old shotgun.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Used Shotguns: Tips for Buying A Vintage, Break-Action Shotgun","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vintage-used-shotguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-23 12:33:06","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-23 17:33:06","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394909","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394579,"post_author":"1240","post_date":"2024-12-19 11:50:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-19 16:50:05","post_content":"\n
    People have processed and used animal hides for clothing, shelter and other purposes since the Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age. Based on direct archaeological evidence, hide processing goes back at least 400,000 years. Fur clothing was also used by other hominids, including Neanderthal Man. As humans migrated out of tropical zones, clothing was a necessity. The movement of people south into North America would not have been possible without warm clothing and a knowledge of building shelters while on the move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Shooting 101: How to Tan Animal Hides<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    Throughout the world, many methods of tanning leather developed. Tannic acid from plants, such as oak, and certain chemicals such as chromium sulphate, were used in historic times to tan leather using a process that left the grain intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Early chroniclers recorded a variety of tanning methods being used by Native Americans. One such method is commonly called brain tanning, although it could be more properly called \u201cfat liquoring\u201d. It results in a soft but tough leather with its top grain removed that can be made into clothing, shelter coverings, bags or any needed items that would normally be fashioned from leather or cloth. Brain tanning relies on lecithin, a fatty substance occurring in the tissues of certain animals and plants, blood<\/a>, organs, bile<\/a>, roe<\/a>, avian egg yolks, brains and other substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    $\"\"$
    The lever on this L. C. Smith from 1926 sits just ever so slightly to the right of center, which is exactly what you want to see. (VFI)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Without a doubt, this list is not exhaustive; but it\u2019s an excellent place to start. In addition to keeping all of the things on this list in mind while you shop, I'd recommend that you look at a lot of shotguns first and don\u2019t just buy the first one that catches your eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    It\u2019s also a good idea to bring along a friend or family member who has bought a used shotgun before. And, as always, have a qualified gunsmith look it over first if you have any doubts. If you do all of these things, you\u2019ll be well on your way to breathing new life into an old shotgun.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Used Shotguns: Tips for Buying A Vintage, Break-Action Shotgun","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vintage-used-shotguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-23 12:33:06","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-23 17:33:06","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394909","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394579,"post_author":"1240","post_date":"2024-12-19 11:50:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-19 16:50:05","post_content":"\n
    People have processed and used animal hides for clothing, shelter and other purposes since the Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age. Based on direct archaeological evidence, hide processing goes back at least 400,000 years. Fur clothing was also used by other hominids, including Neanderthal Man. As humans migrated out of tropical zones, clothing was a necessity. The movement of people south into North America would not have been possible without warm clothing and a knowledge of building shelters while on the move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Shooting 101: How to Tan Animal Hides<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    Throughout the world, many methods of tanning leather developed. Tannic acid from plants, such as oak, and certain chemicals such as chromium sulphate, were used in historic times to tan leather using a process that left the grain intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Early chroniclers recorded a variety of tanning methods being used by Native Americans. One such method is commonly called brain tanning, although it could be more properly called \u201cfat liquoring\u201d. It results in a soft but tough leather with its top grain removed that can be made into clothing, shelter coverings, bags or any needed items that would normally be fashioned from leather or cloth. Brain tanning relies on lecithin, a fatty substance occurring in the tissues of certain animals and plants, blood<\/a>, organs, bile<\/a>, roe<\/a>, avian egg yolks, brains and other substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Test the barrels by hitting them with a soft mallet or on the side of your shoe. They should ring clearly, almost like a bell would do; if you hear a rattle instead, then you know something is up with the fit between the rib and barrels. The rattle could be loose solder beads trapped inside or the rib itself making intermittent contact with the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"\"$
    The lever on this L. C. Smith from 1926 sits just ever so slightly to the right of center, which is exactly what you want to see. (VFI)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Without a doubt, this list is not exhaustive; but it\u2019s an excellent place to start. In addition to keeping all of the things on this list in mind while you shop, I'd recommend that you look at a lot of shotguns first and don\u2019t just buy the first one that catches your eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    It\u2019s also a good idea to bring along a friend or family member who has bought a used shotgun before. And, as always, have a qualified gunsmith look it over first if you have any doubts. If you do all of these things, you\u2019ll be well on your way to breathing new life into an old shotgun.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Used Shotguns: Tips for Buying A Vintage, Break-Action Shotgun","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vintage-used-shotguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-23 12:33:06","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-23 17:33:06","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394909","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394579,"post_author":"1240","post_date":"2024-12-19 11:50:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-19 16:50:05","post_content":"\n
    People have processed and used animal hides for clothing, shelter and other purposes since the Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age. Based on direct archaeological evidence, hide processing goes back at least 400,000 years. Fur clothing was also used by other hominids, including Neanderthal Man. As humans migrated out of tropical zones, clothing was a necessity. The movement of people south into North America would not have been possible without warm clothing and a knowledge of building shelters while on the move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Shooting 101: How to Tan Animal Hides<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    Throughout the world, many methods of tanning leather developed. Tannic acid from plants, such as oak, and certain chemicals such as chromium sulphate, were used in historic times to tan leather using a process that left the grain intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Early chroniclers recorded a variety of tanning methods being used by Native Americans. One such method is commonly called brain tanning, although it could be more properly called \u201cfat liquoring\u201d. It results in a soft but tough leather with its top grain removed that can be made into clothing, shelter coverings, bags or any needed items that would normally be fashioned from leather or cloth. Brain tanning relies on lecithin, a fatty substance occurring in the tissues of certain animals and plants, blood<\/a>, organs, bile<\/a>, roe<\/a>, avian egg yolks, brains and other substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Re-bluing in and of itself isn\u2019t an issue when done properly and honestly. Some people will refinish a gun in an attempt to hide sins of the past. Other times, re-bluing isn\u2019t done out of deception, but a lack of skill and information. Older shotgun ribs were often attached with soft solder. If the person who re-blues the barrels uses the hot caustic method instead of rust or cold bluing, the original rib solder can be weakened, and the rib may eventually separate from the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Test the barrels by hitting them with a soft mallet or on the side of your shoe. They should ring clearly, almost like a bell would do; if you hear a rattle instead, then you know something is up with the fit between the rib and barrels. The rattle could be loose solder beads trapped inside or the rib itself making intermittent contact with the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"\"$
    The lever on this L. C. Smith from 1926 sits just ever so slightly to the right of center, which is exactly what you want to see. (VFI)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Without a doubt, this list is not exhaustive; but it\u2019s an excellent place to start. In addition to keeping all of the things on this list in mind while you shop, I'd recommend that you look at a lot of shotguns first and don\u2019t just buy the first one that catches your eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    It\u2019s also a good idea to bring along a friend or family member who has bought a used shotgun before. And, as always, have a qualified gunsmith look it over first if you have any doubts. If you do all of these things, you\u2019ll be well on your way to breathing new life into an old shotgun.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Used Shotguns: Tips for Buying A Vintage, Break-Action Shotgun","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vintage-used-shotguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-23 12:33:06","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-23 17:33:06","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394909","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394579,"post_author":"1240","post_date":"2024-12-19 11:50:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-19 16:50:05","post_content":"\n
    People have processed and used animal hides for clothing, shelter and other purposes since the Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age. Based on direct archaeological evidence, hide processing goes back at least 400,000 years. Fur clothing was also used by other hominids, including Neanderthal Man. As humans migrated out of tropical zones, clothing was a necessity. The movement of people south into North America would not have been possible without warm clothing and a knowledge of building shelters while on the move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Shooting 101: How to Tan Animal Hides<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    Throughout the world, many methods of tanning leather developed. Tannic acid from plants, such as oak, and certain chemicals such as chromium sulphate, were used in historic times to tan leather using a process that left the grain intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Early chroniclers recorded a variety of tanning methods being used by Native Americans. One such method is commonly called brain tanning, although it could be more properly called \u201cfat liquoring\u201d. It results in a soft but tough leather with its top grain removed that can be made into clothing, shelter coverings, bags or any needed items that would normally be fashioned from leather or cloth. Brain tanning relies on lecithin, a fatty substance occurring in the tissues of certain animals and plants, blood<\/a>, organs, bile<\/a>, roe<\/a>, avian egg yolks, brains and other substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Sometimes it\u2019s very obvious that a shotgun has been reblued. This could be because the markings are no longer as sharp, the color doesn\u2019t look quite right compared to guns you know are original, or the color isn\u2019t consistent for the full length of the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Re-bluing in and of itself isn\u2019t an issue when done properly and honestly. Some people will refinish a gun in an attempt to hide sins of the past. Other times, re-bluing isn\u2019t done out of deception, but a lack of skill and information. Older shotgun ribs were often attached with soft solder. If the person who re-blues the barrels uses the hot caustic method instead of rust or cold bluing, the original rib solder can be weakened, and the rib may eventually separate from the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Test the barrels by hitting them with a soft mallet or on the side of your shoe. They should ring clearly, almost like a bell would do; if you hear a rattle instead, then you know something is up with the fit between the rib and barrels. The rattle could be loose solder beads trapped inside or the rib itself making intermittent contact with the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"\"$
    The lever on this L. C. Smith from 1926 sits just ever so slightly to the right of center, which is exactly what you want to see. (VFI)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Without a doubt, this list is not exhaustive; but it\u2019s an excellent place to start. In addition to keeping all of the things on this list in mind while you shop, I'd recommend that you look at a lot of shotguns first and don\u2019t just buy the first one that catches your eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    It\u2019s also a good idea to bring along a friend or family member who has bought a used shotgun before. And, as always, have a qualified gunsmith look it over first if you have any doubts. If you do all of these things, you\u2019ll be well on your way to breathing new life into an old shotgun.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Used Shotguns: Tips for Buying A Vintage, Break-Action Shotgun","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vintage-used-shotguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-23 12:33:06","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-23 17:33:06","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394909","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394579,"post_author":"1240","post_date":"2024-12-19 11:50:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-19 16:50:05","post_content":"\n
    People have processed and used animal hides for clothing, shelter and other purposes since the Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age. Based on direct archaeological evidence, hide processing goes back at least 400,000 years. Fur clothing was also used by other hominids, including Neanderthal Man. As humans migrated out of tropical zones, clothing was a necessity. The movement of people south into North America would not have been possible without warm clothing and a knowledge of building shelters while on the move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Shooting 101: How to Tan Animal Hides<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    Throughout the world, many methods of tanning leather developed. Tannic acid from plants, such as oak, and certain chemicals such as chromium sulphate, were used in historic times to tan leather using a process that left the grain intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Early chroniclers recorded a variety of tanning methods being used by Native Americans. One such method is commonly called brain tanning, although it could be more properly called \u201cfat liquoring\u201d. It results in a soft but tough leather with its top grain removed that can be made into clothing, shelter coverings, bags or any needed items that would normally be fashioned from leather or cloth. Brain tanning relies on lecithin, a fatty substance occurring in the tissues of certain animals and plants, blood<\/a>, organs, bile<\/a>, roe<\/a>, avian egg yolks, brains and other substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    BONUS: The Finish<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sometimes it\u2019s very obvious that a shotgun has been reblued. This could be because the markings are no longer as sharp, the color doesn\u2019t look quite right compared to guns you know are original, or the color isn\u2019t consistent for the full length of the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Re-bluing in and of itself isn\u2019t an issue when done properly and honestly. Some people will refinish a gun in an attempt to hide sins of the past. Other times, re-bluing isn\u2019t done out of deception, but a lack of skill and information. Older shotgun ribs were often attached with soft solder. If the person who re-blues the barrels uses the hot caustic method instead of rust or cold bluing, the original rib solder can be weakened, and the rib may eventually separate from the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Test the barrels by hitting them with a soft mallet or on the side of your shoe. They should ring clearly, almost like a bell would do; if you hear a rattle instead, then you know something is up with the fit between the rib and barrels. The rattle could be loose solder beads trapped inside or the rib itself making intermittent contact with the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"\"$
    The lever on this L. C. Smith from 1926 sits just ever so slightly to the right of center, which is exactly what you want to see. (VFI)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Without a doubt, this list is not exhaustive; but it\u2019s an excellent place to start. In addition to keeping all of the things on this list in mind while you shop, I'd recommend that you look at a lot of shotguns first and don\u2019t just buy the first one that catches your eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    It\u2019s also a good idea to bring along a friend or family member who has bought a used shotgun before. And, as always, have a qualified gunsmith look it over first if you have any doubts. If you do all of these things, you\u2019ll be well on your way to breathing new life into an old shotgun.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Used Shotguns: Tips for Buying A Vintage, Break-Action Shotgun","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vintage-used-shotguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-23 12:33:06","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-23 17:33:06","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394909","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394579,"post_author":"1240","post_date":"2024-12-19 11:50:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-19 16:50:05","post_content":"\n
    People have processed and used animal hides for clothing, shelter and other purposes since the Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age. Based on direct archaeological evidence, hide processing goes back at least 400,000 years. Fur clothing was also used by other hominids, including Neanderthal Man. As humans migrated out of tropical zones, clothing was a necessity. The movement of people south into North America would not have been possible without warm clothing and a knowledge of building shelters while on the move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Shooting 101: How to Tan Animal Hides<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    Throughout the world, many methods of tanning leather developed. Tannic acid from plants, such as oak, and certain chemicals such as chromium sulphate, were used in historic times to tan leather using a process that left the grain intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Early chroniclers recorded a variety of tanning methods being used by Native Americans. One such method is commonly called brain tanning, although it could be more properly called \u201cfat liquoring\u201d. It results in a soft but tough leather with its top grain removed that can be made into clothing, shelter coverings, bags or any needed items that would normally be fashioned from leather or cloth. Brain tanning relies on lecithin, a fatty substance occurring in the tissues of certain animals and plants, blood<\/a>, organs, bile<\/a>, roe<\/a>, avian egg yolks, brains and other substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    $\"\"$
    When properly cared for, a shotgun can truly stand the test of time, as seen with this Lefever made in 1895. (VFI)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    BONUS: The Finish<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sometimes it\u2019s very obvious that a shotgun has been reblued. This could be because the markings are no longer as sharp, the color doesn\u2019t look quite right compared to guns you know are original, or the color isn\u2019t consistent for the full length of the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Re-bluing in and of itself isn\u2019t an issue when done properly and honestly. Some people will refinish a gun in an attempt to hide sins of the past. Other times, re-bluing isn\u2019t done out of deception, but a lack of skill and information. Older shotgun ribs were often attached with soft solder. If the person who re-blues the barrels uses the hot caustic method instead of rust or cold bluing, the original rib solder can be weakened, and the rib may eventually separate from the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Test the barrels by hitting them with a soft mallet or on the side of your shoe. They should ring clearly, almost like a bell would do; if you hear a rattle instead, then you know something is up with the fit between the rib and barrels. The rattle could be loose solder beads trapped inside or the rib itself making intermittent contact with the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"\"$
    The lever on this L. C. Smith from 1926 sits just ever so slightly to the right of center, which is exactly what you want to see. (VFI)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Without a doubt, this list is not exhaustive; but it\u2019s an excellent place to start. In addition to keeping all of the things on this list in mind while you shop, I'd recommend that you look at a lot of shotguns first and don\u2019t just buy the first one that catches your eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    It\u2019s also a good idea to bring along a friend or family member who has bought a used shotgun before. And, as always, have a qualified gunsmith look it over first if you have any doubts. If you do all of these things, you\u2019ll be well on your way to breathing new life into an old shotgun.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Used Shotguns: Tips for Buying A Vintage, Break-Action Shotgun","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vintage-used-shotguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-23 12:33:06","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-23 17:33:06","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394909","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394579,"post_author":"1240","post_date":"2024-12-19 11:50:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-19 16:50:05","post_content":"\n
    People have processed and used animal hides for clothing, shelter and other purposes since the Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age. Based on direct archaeological evidence, hide processing goes back at least 400,000 years. Fur clothing was also used by other hominids, including Neanderthal Man. As humans migrated out of tropical zones, clothing was a necessity. The movement of people south into North America would not have been possible without warm clothing and a knowledge of building shelters while on the move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Shooting 101: How to Tan Animal Hides<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    Throughout the world, many methods of tanning leather developed. Tannic acid from plants, such as oak, and certain chemicals such as chromium sulphate, were used in historic times to tan leather using a process that left the grain intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Early chroniclers recorded a variety of tanning methods being used by Native Americans. One such method is commonly called brain tanning, although it could be more properly called \u201cfat liquoring\u201d. It results in a soft but tough leather with its top grain removed that can be made into clothing, shelter coverings, bags or any needed items that would normally be fashioned from leather or cloth. Brain tanning relies on lecithin, a fatty substance occurring in the tissues of certain animals and plants, blood<\/a>, organs, bile<\/a>, roe<\/a>, avian egg yolks, brains and other substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Take a look at the lever that\u2019s used to disengage the locking mechanism. A proper lever should be centered or just to the right of the action. If the lever rests to the left, it could be a sign of excessive wear. This can be remedied by a gunsmith, but it\u2019s good to know ahead of time that you\u2019re looking at a gun that\u2019s going to need repairs sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"\"$
    When properly cared for, a shotgun can truly stand the test of time, as seen with this Lefever made in 1895. (VFI)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    BONUS: The Finish<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sometimes it\u2019s very obvious that a shotgun has been reblued. This could be because the markings are no longer as sharp, the color doesn\u2019t look quite right compared to guns you know are original, or the color isn\u2019t consistent for the full length of the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Re-bluing in and of itself isn\u2019t an issue when done properly and honestly. Some people will refinish a gun in an attempt to hide sins of the past. Other times, re-bluing isn\u2019t done out of deception, but a lack of skill and information. Older shotgun ribs were often attached with soft solder. If the person who re-blues the barrels uses the hot caustic method instead of rust or cold bluing, the original rib solder can be weakened, and the rib may eventually separate from the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Test the barrels by hitting them with a soft mallet or on the side of your shoe. They should ring clearly, almost like a bell would do; if you hear a rattle instead, then you know something is up with the fit between the rib and barrels. The rattle could be loose solder beads trapped inside or the rib itself making intermittent contact with the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"\"$
    The lever on this L. C. Smith from 1926 sits just ever so slightly to the right of center, which is exactly what you want to see. (VFI)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Without a doubt, this list is not exhaustive; but it\u2019s an excellent place to start. In addition to keeping all of the things on this list in mind while you shop, I'd recommend that you look at a lot of shotguns first and don\u2019t just buy the first one that catches your eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    It\u2019s also a good idea to bring along a friend or family member who has bought a used shotgun before. And, as always, have a qualified gunsmith look it over first if you have any doubts. If you do all of these things, you\u2019ll be well on your way to breathing new life into an old shotgun.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Used Shotguns: Tips for Buying A Vintage, Break-Action Shotgun","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vintage-used-shotguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-23 12:33:06","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-23 17:33:06","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394909","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394579,"post_author":"1240","post_date":"2024-12-19 11:50:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-19 16:50:05","post_content":"\n
    People have processed and used animal hides for clothing, shelter and other purposes since the Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age. Based on direct archaeological evidence, hide processing goes back at least 400,000 years. Fur clothing was also used by other hominids, including Neanderthal Man. As humans migrated out of tropical zones, clothing was a necessity. The movement of people south into North America would not have been possible without warm clothing and a knowledge of building shelters while on the move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Shooting 101: How to Tan Animal Hides<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    Throughout the world, many methods of tanning leather developed. Tannic acid from plants, such as oak, and certain chemicals such as chromium sulphate, were used in historic times to tan leather using a process that left the grain intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Early chroniclers recorded a variety of tanning methods being used by Native Americans. One such method is commonly called brain tanning, although it could be more properly called \u201cfat liquoring\u201d. It results in a soft but tough leather with its top grain removed that can be made into clothing, shelter coverings, bags or any needed items that would normally be fashioned from leather or cloth. Brain tanning relies on lecithin, a fatty substance occurring in the tissues of certain animals and plants, blood<\/a>, organs, bile<\/a>, roe<\/a>, avian egg yolks, brains and other substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Locking Mechanism and Lever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Take a look at the lever that\u2019s used to disengage the locking mechanism. A proper lever should be centered or just to the right of the action. If the lever rests to the left, it could be a sign of excessive wear. This can be remedied by a gunsmith, but it\u2019s good to know ahead of time that you\u2019re looking at a gun that\u2019s going to need repairs sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"\"$
    When properly cared for, a shotgun can truly stand the test of time, as seen with this Lefever made in 1895. (VFI)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    BONUS: The Finish<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sometimes it\u2019s very obvious that a shotgun has been reblued. This could be because the markings are no longer as sharp, the color doesn\u2019t look quite right compared to guns you know are original, or the color isn\u2019t consistent for the full length of the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Re-bluing in and of itself isn\u2019t an issue when done properly and honestly. Some people will refinish a gun in an attempt to hide sins of the past. Other times, re-bluing isn\u2019t done out of deception, but a lack of skill and information. Older shotgun ribs were often attached with soft solder. If the person who re-blues the barrels uses the hot caustic method instead of rust or cold bluing, the original rib solder can be weakened, and the rib may eventually separate from the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Test the barrels by hitting them with a soft mallet or on the side of your shoe. They should ring clearly, almost like a bell would do; if you hear a rattle instead, then you know something is up with the fit between the rib and barrels. The rattle could be loose solder beads trapped inside or the rib itself making intermittent contact with the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"\"$
    The lever on this L. C. Smith from 1926 sits just ever so slightly to the right of center, which is exactly what you want to see. (VFI)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Without a doubt, this list is not exhaustive; but it\u2019s an excellent place to start. In addition to keeping all of the things on this list in mind while you shop, I'd recommend that you look at a lot of shotguns first and don\u2019t just buy the first one that catches your eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    It\u2019s also a good idea to bring along a friend or family member who has bought a used shotgun before. And, as always, have a qualified gunsmith look it over first if you have any doubts. If you do all of these things, you\u2019ll be well on your way to breathing new life into an old shotgun.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Used Shotguns: Tips for Buying A Vintage, Break-Action Shotgun","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vintage-used-shotguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-23 12:33:06","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-23 17:33:06","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394909","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394579,"post_author":"1240","post_date":"2024-12-19 11:50:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-19 16:50:05","post_content":"\n
    People have processed and used animal hides for clothing, shelter and other purposes since the Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age. Based on direct archaeological evidence, hide processing goes back at least 400,000 years. Fur clothing was also used by other hominids, including Neanderthal Man. As humans migrated out of tropical zones, clothing was a necessity. The movement of people south into North America would not have been possible without warm clothing and a knowledge of building shelters while on the move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Shooting 101: How to Tan Animal Hides<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    Throughout the world, many methods of tanning leather developed. Tannic acid from plants, such as oak, and certain chemicals such as chromium sulphate, were used in historic times to tan leather using a process that left the grain intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Early chroniclers recorded a variety of tanning methods being used by Native Americans. One such method is commonly called brain tanning, although it could be more properly called \u201cfat liquoring\u201d. It results in a soft but tough leather with its top grain removed that can be made into clothing, shelter coverings, bags or any needed items that would normally be fashioned from leather or cloth. Brain tanning relies on lecithin, a fatty substance occurring in the tissues of certain animals and plants, blood<\/a>, organs, bile<\/a>, roe<\/a>, avian egg yolks, brains and other substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND
    
    \n
    Make sure you take the barrels out of the action and examine the mating surfaces. Be wary of any misshapen spots that could have been created by trying to bend the parts and create a false sense of proper fit. If you really like the gun, but the hinge pin is worn out, it can be replaced by a gunsmith relatively easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Locking Mechanism and Lever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Take a look at the lever that\u2019s used to disengage the locking mechanism. A proper lever should be centered or just to the right of the action. If the lever rests to the left, it could be a sign of excessive wear. This can be remedied by a gunsmith, but it\u2019s good to know ahead of time that you\u2019re looking at a gun that\u2019s going to need repairs sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"\"$
    When properly cared for, a shotgun can truly stand the test of time, as seen with this Lefever made in 1895. (VFI)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    BONUS: The Finish<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sometimes it\u2019s very obvious that a shotgun has been reblued. This could be because the markings are no longer as sharp, the color doesn\u2019t look quite right compared to guns you know are original, or the color isn\u2019t consistent for the full length of the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Re-bluing in and of itself isn\u2019t an issue when done properly and honestly. Some people will refinish a gun in an attempt to hide sins of the past. Other times, re-bluing isn\u2019t done out of deception, but a lack of skill and information. Older shotgun ribs were often attached with soft solder. If the person who re-blues the barrels uses the hot caustic method instead of rust or cold bluing, the original rib solder can be weakened, and the rib may eventually separate from the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Test the barrels by hitting them with a soft mallet or on the side of your shoe. They should ring clearly, almost like a bell would do; if you hear a rattle instead, then you know something is up with the fit between the rib and barrels. The rattle could be loose solder beads trapped inside or the rib itself making intermittent contact with the barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"\"$
    The lever on this L. C. Smith from 1926 sits just ever so slightly to the right of center, which is exactly what you want to see. (VFI)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Without a doubt, this list is not exhaustive; but it\u2019s an excellent place to start. In addition to keeping all of the things on this list in mind while you shop, I'd recommend that you look at a lot of shotguns first and don\u2019t just buy the first one that catches your eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    It\u2019s also a good idea to bring along a friend or family member who has bought a used shotgun before. And, as always, have a qualified gunsmith look it over first if you have any doubts. If you do all of these things, you\u2019ll be well on your way to breathing new life into an old shotgun.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Used Shotguns: Tips for Buying A Vintage, Break-Action Shotgun","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"vintage-used-shotguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-23 12:33:06","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-23 17:33:06","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394909","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394579,"post_author":"1240","post_date":"2024-12-19 11:50:05","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-19 16:50:05","post_content":"\n
    People have processed and used animal hides for clothing, shelter and other purposes since the Paleolithic, or Old Stone Age. Based on direct archaeological evidence, hide processing goes back at least 400,000 years. Fur clothing was also used by other hominids, including Neanderthal Man. As humans migrated out of tropical zones, clothing was a necessity. The movement of people south into North America would not have been possible without warm clothing and a knowledge of building shelters while on the move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Shooting 101: How to Tan Animal Hides<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    Throughout the world, many methods of tanning leather developed. Tannic acid from plants, such as oak, and certain chemicals such as chromium sulphate, were used in historic times to tan leather using a process that left the grain intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Early chroniclers recorded a variety of tanning methods being used by Native Americans. One such method is commonly called brain tanning, although it could be more properly called \u201cfat liquoring\u201d. It results in a soft but tough leather with its top grain removed that can be made into clothing, shelter coverings, bags or any needed items that would normally be fashioned from leather or cloth. Brain tanning relies on lecithin, a fatty substance occurring in the tissues of certain animals and plants, blood<\/a>, organs, bile<\/a>, roe<\/a>, avian egg yolks, brains and other substances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Brain tanning of leather for certain clothing items such as shirts and leggings may require the removal of the hair. It is also possible to tan the hide with the hair on by applying lecithin only on the flesh side, or inside, of the hide, but this requires a different technique from that described here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Fleshing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The first step in most hide tanning processes is fleshing. This is the removal of flesh, fat or membrane from the side of the hide opposite the hair. A fleshing beam made from a smooth debarked log or one made from a large piece of plastic pipe works well. Stretch the hide over the beam and use a sharp tool such as a drawknife or planer blade held at a perpendicular angle to remove this material. Canon bones, stone scrapers and other items were used primitively. When finished, the entire hide is scraped again to remove any remaining membrane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"A$
    Photo by Chiyacat (iStock)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Wet or Dry Scrape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The two methods most commonly used for removing the hair and epidermis from a hide in preparation for brain tanning are wet scrape and dry scrape. In wet scrape, various methods of soaking the hide using plain water, wood ashes, lime or other substances are used, followed by scraping on a fleshing beam to remove the hair and grain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The dry scrape method involves lacing the hide into a frame, letting it dry and then using a sharp tool to shave or scrape off the hair and grain. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation and how the leather is to be used. For example, wet scrape doesn\u2019t require cordage the way dry scrape does, but it is messy and if plain water is used for the soak, it can breed bacteria that can cause dangerous skin infections. Dry scrape can get a hide ready to scrape and process faster, but it requires lots of cordage and a frame. This article will focus on the dry scrape method. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Racking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In dry scrape, the hide is first spread on the ground. Any trimming of parts of the hide that will be hard to lace in the frame should be done now. Holes are punched around the perimeter with a small knife<\/a>. The orientation of these holes should be parallel to the sides of the hide. Holes should be about 1\/2\u201d in length and are spaced about 4-5\u201d apart and about 1 1\/2\u201d in from the edge. A Mora knife is an excellent tool to punch these holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Next, build a frame made of saplings or 2 x 3s around the hide. The frame can be lashed or nailed. Leave about a foot on all sides between the hide and the frame to allow for stretching as it is laced in. With the frame and hide still on the ground, temporarily tie the two top corners of the hide into the frame, so its orientation will remain straight when it is laced in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Stand the frame against a wall or tree. Tie one end of a hank of cordage in a corner and begin lacing the hide into the frame. Once it has been laced in completely, go around the hide again, tightening the lacing evenly. This may be need to be done a couple of times, as the hide needs to be as tight as possible. Tie off the lacing and allow the hide to dry at least a week. It may be necessary to pull the rack up in a tree or store it inside a building to keep animals away. Keep it as dry as possible by keeping it under cover or at the very least, only exposing the hair side during rains. Once dry, the hide should be as tight as a drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"scraping$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Squeezing$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Scraping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    With the frame leaning on a wall or tree, use a scraping tool to shave the hair and epidermis from the hide, getting as close to the holes as possible. Be careful however, as it is possible to pop through the hide if the scraper goes sideways or into a hole. Scrapers can be made from old files or purchased. Be sure to use a sharp tool, press down firmly and hold it at the proper angle to avoid tool chatter. If chatter occurs, it will leave unsightly marks on the hide\u2019s surface. If there are chatter marks, press down firmly and scrape in the opposite direction to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    To insure a uniform finish and a clean hide ready for braining, as a final step, the hide may be sanded on both sides with 80 grit sandpaper or pumice. Finally, cut the hide from the rack using the punched holes as perforations. At this stage, the hide is essentially like parchment and can be rolled up and stored or processed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Braining\/Egging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Lash a dry debarked sapling or 2x3 between two trees at belly button height. Next, take some animal brains, or a dozen eggs and place in the bottom of a 5-gallon bucket. Add four times that amount of warm water and stir. This recipe may need to be doubled or more for larger hides. Make sure the water is not so hot that it cooks the brains or eggs. Mix well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Place the hide in the bucket and slowly work it into the solution until it is fully saturated. Lift it from the bucket and ring by hand, allowing the excess to go back in the bucket. Drape the hide over the lashed sapling so that the head end is at one end and the tail end at the other. Arrange the hide so that it makes a tube over the sapling. Beginning at one end, roll this tube into a donut shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Get in There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Place the bucket under the hide to catch the solution. Put a stick through the donut and twist it as far as possible, first one way and then the other, being careful that the solution goes back into the bucket. Remove the hide from the sapling and stretch it out. Place the hide back on the fleshing beam and go over both sides again with the fleshing tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Any remaining epidermis or membrane can now be removed. Afterward, place the hide back in the bucket, leaving it there for about 20 minutes and then repeating the wringing process. Soaking and wringing will need to be repeated, sometimes as many as ten or more times in order to remove the ground matter (think glue) that surrounds the individual fibers of the hide and replace it with lecithin. When the hide begins to stretch significantly in all directions like a rubber sheet, it is ready to be pulled dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Racking$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Pulling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Sitting in a chair, place the hide over the knees, grab each end pulling it down with the hands and spreading the knees as it is pulled tight over them. Do this in all directions and on both sides until it is dry. This could take four hours or more. If tired, place the hide in a plastic bag and put it into a freezer until ready to work on it again. Once the hide is dry, inspect it for any irregularities or chatter marks from the scraping tool. These can be removed to an extent with the pumice or sandpaper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The dry hide is smoked in cool smoke as a final step to protect it from moisture and give it a golden color. This is accomplished with a smoker grill, a metal trashcan with stovepipe, a smoking shed, smokehouse or by hanging the hides in a tipi or other dwelling containing smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    If a metal trashcan with stovepipe is used, an old blue jean leg can be attached to the stovepipe with duct tape, providing distance between the heat and hide. The hide can then be clipped or sewn into a closed bag shape and attached by sewing or clipping to the blue jean leg. Dry, non-resinous punk wood, corncobs and the like are placed on a small fire or on charcoal briquettes inside the can to generate smoke. A little warmth is OK, but in general, the smoke should be cool. The trashcan method will take about six hours on each side of the hide. Remove when a deep golden color is established on both sides. Now the hide can be made into a myriad of useful items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Tips and Tricks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Test for dryness of a pulled hide against the face. If it feels cool, its not completely dry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    After scraping, and before removing the hide from the rack, use sandpaper or pumice to sand it in order to remove any remaining epidermis on the hair side, or membrane on the flesh side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Use a brick band or cable secured to the side of a building to pull the hide through to squeegee out remaining moisture, remove bits of epidermis, remove stiffness and give a uniform finish. Be careful not to allow the hide to get bunched up, so as not to cut or damage it. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hides can be colored by putting different substances, such as iron filings, into the brain or egg solution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Place freshly smoked hides into a closed paper bag for about a week to even the color of the hide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","post_title":"Buckskinning Basics: How to Tan Animal Hides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"how-to-tan-animal-hides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-19 13:04:19","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-19 18:04:19","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394579","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394288,"post_author":"988","post_date":"2024-12-16 12:50:18","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:18","post_content":"\n
    Hunting<\/a> waterfowl is one of the most exciting\u2014and sometimes most challenging\u2014types of hunting a new gun owner can take up. Not only are ducks and geese wary birds, but hunting them successfully takes quite a bit of specialized equipment, along with the knowledge of how to use it effectively and correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The most recent figures from Delta Waterfowl show that duck and goose hunter numbers are at a 60-plus-year low, with about 1 million Americans pursuing waterfowl during the 2022\/2023 season. That\u2019s the lowest number of waterfowl hunters since 1962!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Hunting<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    However, that doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t plenty of good waterfowl opportunities available to those wanting to become involved in the sport. And a giant bonus is much waterfowl hunting is done on publicly managed lands, meaning hunters don\u2019t have to seek permission from private landowners as often as those hunting turkeys or upland and migratory game birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    In a nutshell, typical waterfowl hunting involves finding a spot frequented by ducks or geese, setting out a number of decoys, calling the birds within shotgun distance and shooting them when they come near. That is, of course, a greatly simplified description of a much more complex process, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Before we get into equipment needs, waterfowl hunters need to be aware that hunting ducks and geese is regulated by both the federal government and state governments, so it\u2019s critical that you fully understand the waterfowl hunting regulations in your area before pursuing this enjoyable pastime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Ducks$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Duck & Goose Gear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    The most important tool for a new waterfowl hunter to acquire is a good shotgun. Most people prefer a 12-gauge shotgun for ducks and geese, but 20-gauge guns also see plenty of action. Guns with fairly short barrels (24-26 inches) are preferable for easy maneuvering in a blind, and interchangeable chokes are a bonus so hunters can change their pattern depending on the distance of shots as the season advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Pretty guns with shiny blued metal and flashy coated walnut stocks might be pretty following bird dogs on a bobwhite plantation, but they\u2019ll scare wary waterfowl off quickly. Matte black and camouflage finishes for receivers, stocks and barrels help hunters stay hidden better.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n
    One important note: On a nationwide basis, shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined. This law also applies to migratory game birds like doves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Waterfowl Ammo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    $\"Fiocchi$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Kent$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Federal$ <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Another must-have, of course, is waterfowl ammunition. Federal law changed several decades ago to outlaw lead shot and require non-toxic shot for waterfowl. Using steel,\u00a0bismuth and\/or tungsten, ammunition manufacturers have many great loads made just for hunting ducks and geese. Be sure and pattern whatever shells you choose in your shotgun before heading to the lake, marsh or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While it\u2019s possible to kill ducks and geese without decoys, the vast majority of hunters use decoys to draw birds within shotgun range. For ducks, choose decoys that represent duck species common in your area for best results. For geese, pick decoys that represent the species you will be hunting, or use a mix of light and dark goose decoys. You\u2019ll also need a decoy bag or something to carry your decoys to the marsh, lake or field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Hunters also need duck and goose calls, representing one of the most fun\u2013and most frustrating\u2013aspects of waterfowl hunting. For most puddle ducks like mallards, teal, gadwalls and widgeons, a simple mallard hen call works well. In areas with lots of pintails, a pintail whistle produces results. For geese, target your calls to whatever geese you are hunting, be they small cacklers or large Canada honkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Camo Up!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Waterfowl$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Covering up completely in camouflage clothing, and inside a blind, remains a must, no matter how sophisticated or primitive. Match your clothing and blind to your surroundings. The keen eyesight of ducks and geese can catch the slightest movement or out-of-place object, and they typically won\u2019t hang around to investigate further. This includes a good face mask, as more ducks and geese are spooked off by a shiny face than just about anything else in the blind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    While not necessary for dry land field hunting, a good set of insulated waders will go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and helping you reach your hunting spot at lakes, marshes or other boggy areas. Chest waders are best, and camouflaged ones give hunters an extra layer to stay hidden from wary waterfowl.
    A good waterfowl <\/strong>dog from a retrieving breed makes for a more efficient hunt and adds another enjoyable element. No, you don\u2019t need a dog to hunt waterfowl. But if you ever get to watch a good duck or goose dog work, you\u2019ll marvel at what they can do. And if you decide to stick with waterfowl hunting for the long haul, I\u2019m betting it won\u2019t be long until you have a Labrador doing double duty as your duck and family dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Find a place to hunt at\u00a0FWS.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","post_title":"SHOOTING 101: Getting Started in Waterfowl Hunting","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"waterfowl-hunting","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-16 12:50:22","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-16 17:50:22","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394288","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393955,"post_author":"1237","post_date":"2024-12-13 11:30:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:30:00","post_content":"\n
    The summer I turned 22, my father reconnected with high school friends at a reunion, invited on a float trip with one of the trout-fishing outfitters on the White River in Arkansas. At the last minute, someone cancelled, and I became the lucky recipient of a three-day \u201csafari-style\u201d fishing trip. When the Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that formed Bull Shoals Lake in 1951, they also created one of the best artificial trout fisheries in the world in the cold tailwaters of the dam. The river was stocked with rainbow and brown trout so successfully that it produced a record 40-pound, 4-ounce brown landed in 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We motored from Cotter to Norfork in traditional wooden johnboats, each boat carrying a guide and two fishermen seated in folding camp chairs. My guide was a pulpwooder in the off season who knew every good hole on the river and how to tell a story. The cook and his helper preceded us downriver in a larger boat to set up a fly and tables for lunch, which they prepared streamside. In the evening, they pitched our tents with cots and cooked a steak and trout dinner for us. I had watched those 1950\u2019s African safari movies and thought, \u201cThis must be what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The Roots Of Guiding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    The tradition of guided hunting and fishing trips traces back to gamekeepers on the great estates of Europe. These men led aristocrats in pursuit of trophy red deer and salmon. In the United States, guides such as Mitchell Sabattis continued the tradition by providing their services to guests of the great Adirondack lodges and hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding in this country probably reached its zenith when the 22-year-old Grand Duke Alexei, son of Russian Tsar Alexander II, hunted buffalo in Nebraska in 1872. His retinue included two companies of U.S. infantry and two of cavalry, a regimental band, cooks and teamsters. One-hundred Sioux warriors were paid 25 wagon loads of supplies to entertain the Grand Duke with riding demonstrations and a mock battle. The Grand Duke\u2019s guides were two of the most famous plainsmen of the day: Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer and William F. \u201cBuffalo Bill\u201d Cody. No expense was spared; the supply train included three wagons of champagne and spirits. The Grand Duke bagged numerous buffalo and carried the tanned robe of his first home as a trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: George Armstrong Custer, the Grand Duke Alexei and the superimposed image of Buffalo Bill Cody in a studio photo publicizing the Grand Duke\u2019s buffalo hunt.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    African Safaris<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    In the early 20th century, guiding big-game hunts for the wealthy became a profession in British East Africa. Theodore Roosevelt\u2019s 1909 African expedition was the safari of the century with over 500 porters, camp staff and hunting<\/a> guides. Richard John \u201cR.J.\u201d Cuninghame led the safari assisted by some of the most famous professional hunters of the day. Roosevelt and his son, Kermit, shot numerous lions, buffalo, elephants and rhinos\u2013the majority preserved for mounted exhibits in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum of Natural History in New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    The safari business grew with hunters catering to royalty, the wealthy and the famous. Philip Percival was an assistant on the Roosevelt safari and later partnered with Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke to form Tanganyika Guides, Ltd. Baron Blixen-Finecke and Denys Finch Hatton organized a highly publicized safari for the Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Blixen-Finecke and Finch Hatton were already world-famous guides when Isak Dinesen (pseudonym of Karen Blixen) immortalized them in Out of Africa<\/em>, later made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Percival guided Ernest Hemingway on his first safari in 1934 and his second in 1954 and probably inspired the white hunter characters in Hemingway\u2019s book Green Hills of Africa<\/em> and his short story \u201cThe Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.\u201d Known as the Dean of Hunters, he was elected the first president of the East African Professional Hunters Association and mentored many young guides, including Harry Selby, the guide in Robert Ruark\u2019s best-selling book, Horn of the Hunter<\/em>. The romantic image of the guide had been created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Guide$
    Guide Philip Percival and Ernest Hemingway with trophies shot on Hemingway\u2019s first African safari.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Modern Guides<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Guiding has changed considerably in the last 50 years. Today, a guide is liable to be a college graduate. As a professor in the Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous students who went on to become successful professional guides. One of them, Ollie Smith, ranks among the best fishing guides in the Southern Appalachians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Ollie\u2019s father imbued him with the love of fishing that set him on his career path. After graduating, he was the head guide at Paradise Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. He was drawn back to North Carolina where he co-owned an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing shop before creating his own guide service, Blue Ridge Anglers. In 2004, he guided former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, on a day of fly-fishing complete with Secret Service agents. At the time, Ollie said, \u201cThat was the greatest day of my guiding life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Jack-of-All Trades<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    He describes his profession this way: \u201cAs a guide, you are a best friend, peacemaker, physician, coach, entertainer and professional detangler. When you reach the point where you are receiving more enjoyment out of watching your clients than catching a fish yourself\u2014that\u2019s when you are a guide.\u201d He is an excellent raconteur, and there is no one I would rather talk fishing with than Ollie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Another former student of mine, Joe Boccardy, worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and has been a hunting guide. In gratitude for a job in Alaska that I arranged for him, he guided my first successful turkey hunt, calling in a tom with a 9.5-inch beard for me. He also hunts grouse and woodcock with English setters and guided two friends and me on a three-day bird-hunting trip in northern Wisconsin, the \u201cGrouse Capital of the World.\u201d Three generations of his dogs flushed well over 50 grouse and woodcock for us in a day, although we only bagged a few each. That was some difficult grouse and woodcock shooting in brush so thick there was no room to swing a shotgun when a bird flushed. The real joy of the hunt was watching Joe\u2019s superbly trained dogs at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Left$
    Left to right: Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, the Duke of Wales, and Denys Finch Hatton with the Duke\u2019s lion.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlaskan Guided Adventure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Dave Stelling, another former student of mine, is the operations manager for High Country Guide Service in Boone, North Carolina, but he has also been guiding fishing trips on the Kanektok River for Beyond Boundaries Expeditions in Alaska for 17 years. I ran into Dave a few years ago, and we quickly decided to create a group of six fishermen and book a trip. Our group included my longtime fishing partner, George Santucci, Andy Hill, one of Dave\u2019s friends since their college days and another former student of mine, and Andy\u2019s father-in-law, Dr. Frank McKemie. Andy, now the Watauga Riverkeeper, is a former fishing guide, so he invited two of his favorite clients\u2014Frank Goin, Sr. and Frank Goin, Jr.\u2014to complete our group. After 50 years, I was going on my second guided river-fishing expedition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We flew to Anchorage, then to Bethel on the west coast of Alaska. The adventure began the next morning aboard a 70-year-old de Havilland Beaver float plane for the trip to a remote lake at the headwaters of the Kanektok. We flew 85 miles per hour at 500 feet in classic bush-plane style enjoying spectacular views of Alaskan wilderness. After landing on the lake, we sorted gear and waited for another float plane to deliver the rest of our party. We then began a seven-day, 90-mile wilderness trip in 16-foot rafts down the Kanektok to the coastal Yupik village of Quinhagak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Andy$
    Andy Hill and guide Dave Stelling with Andy\u2019s first sockeye salmon.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nExperienced Adventurers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Our guides, in addition to Dave, were Christopher Maher, 35, and Skye Kreis-Potgieter, 23. Chris is a graduate of Chico State University\u2019s Recreation Management program and a world traveler. Skye is a third-generation guide whose grandfather, of Boer stock, was a professional big-game hunter in Kenya and whose father managed a safari camp there before immigrating to the United States. Chris and Skye were knowledgeable and helpful, and it was a joy to spend a day in a raft with either of them as they manned the oars and dispensed fishing advice. Dave, despite the pressure of managing the expedition, was just as much fun in a raft and, in addition to being a first-rate fishing guide, was a chef-quality cook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    We rafted through the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fishing and enjoying the scenery and camaraderie. Under the tutelage of our guides, we caught so many dolly varden, rainbow trout, and grayling that our hands were swollen. We landed over 50 fish each in a day, including sockeye and chum salmon. It was catch-and-release fly fishing at its best; on one stretch, I hooked seven big rainbows in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    $\"Fully$
    Fully loaded 16-foot rafts on the Kanektok River in Alaska.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Bear Medicine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    Bear tracks and scat were everywhere along the banks, and among the brown bears we saw were a mother and cub and an enormous boar who stood and sniffed the air as we floated by. These coastal bears, fed on salmon and berries, can reach a standing height of 10 feet and weigh 1,500 pounds. The wary bears kept their distance, but it was reassuring that our guides kept 12-gauge shotguns loaded with slugs at hand just in case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Too soon, our week ended, and we began our trip home from the gravel airstrip in Quinhagak. I am used to planning my own expeditions, often with George, but I doubt we could have put this one together. Our guides were up early, worked hard, did the heavy lifting and made it possible for us to enjoy the trip of a lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Knowledge of the local terrain, wildlife, weather, etc. Fly-fishing author John Gierach wrote, \u201c\u2026although people have been trying to tell me what to do all my life, the only ones who\u2019ve been right on anything like a regular basis were fishing guides.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Hard-to-obtain permits to hunt or fish on restricted government land and\/or private property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Gear in the form of rafts, canoes, tents, camping gear, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Logistics including lodge reservations, fly-ins, shuttles, supplies, etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Horse and mule pack stock and the \u201chorse sense\u201d to go with it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    Dogs of whatever kind are needed, including retrievers, pointers, trackers, hounds, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    The luxury of having everything taken care of by an expert so that you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Go With a Guide: The Storied Legacy of Hunting & Fishing Guides","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hunting-guides","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-12 23:04:11","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 04:04:11","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393955","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};
    
    Page 2 of 33 Previous 1 2 3 … 33 Next
    
    POPULAR
    
    No Content Available
    
    BROWSE BY BRAND

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND

Perks That Guides Provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

POPULAR

BROWSE BY BRAND