Kansas Hunter Fall 2015

Kansas Hunter
IS RIGHT
Kansas Hunter
FREE
FALL 2015
4 DAYS OF FURY
Waterfowl migration turns into epic hunting
trip for group of friends.
Kansas Hunter
is mailed directly to
thousands of hunters
and available at various
locations in
south-central Kansas.
If youre looking for an effective way to target your business
to hunters and sportsmen, give us a call.
Wed be happy to discuss marketing opportunities in the
next issue of Kansas Hunter.
WINFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.

620-221-1050 or 620-442-4200
Pg. 18
Check out our Departments

6 NEWS and EVENTS
12 DEER HUNTING
20 WATERFOWL
28 UPLAND GAME
37 PREDATORS
39 NORTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
43 TRAPPING
46 EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS
52 EXTRA SHOTS
56 READER PHOTOS
Kansas Hunter
Dear readers,
Welcome to the first edition of Kansas Hunter magazine. Thank you for checking us out. Inside, you will find in-depth
stories, information and photos about hunting in Kansas. We hope you find it both useful and interesting, and that it reflects and expands your interest in hunting and outdoor life.
There are a lot of hunting-related magazines out there, but none dedicated solely toward hunting in Kansas, which we
know is a mecca for a variety of species, and an important part of our states tradition and culture.
Kansas Hunter is based on Colorado Hunter, which a sister newspaper company helps produce for Western Colorado.
Starting a magazine from scratch isnt easy. We could not produce such a high-quality publication without support from
the advertisers you see throughout the magazine, and other partners, who are listed in the credits on page 3.
Id like to specifically thank Drew Palmer, owner of Mile North Outdoor Company, who provided expert guidance and
contributed several fascinating stories and many beautiful photographs.
Soon after publication, the magazine will be available online. We also have a Facebook page, where you can keep up
with the progress of our 2016 issue. We cant wait to see your latest hunting photos for the next Reader Photo section. And
we welcome feedback and suggestions. Just email daseaton@arkcity.net, or call me at 620-442-4200. You can also comment on Facebook. Happy reading, and happy hunting!
David A. Seaton
President, Winfield Publishing Co.
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Kansas Hunter Magazine
Kansas Hunting Seasons

DOVE
RABBITS (Cottontail & Jack rabbit)
(Mourning, white-winged, Eurasian collared, ringed

turtle)
Sept. 1 to Oct. 31 and Nov. 7-17
Open year-around
EXOTIC DOVE
DEER
(Eurasian collared and ringed turtle only)

Nov. 20 to Feb. 28, 2016
RAIL (Sora and Virginia)

Sept. 1 to Nov. 9
SNIPE
Sept. 1 to Dec. 16
WOODCOCK
Oct. 17 to Nov. 30
SANDHILL CRANE
Nov. 11 to Jan. 7, 2016
PHEASANT/QUAIL
Nov. 14 to Jan. 31, 2016
Youth: Nov. 7-8
GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKEN
CROW
Nov. 10 to Mar. 10, 2016
Youth and Disability: Sept. 5-13
Muzzleloader-Only: Sept. 14-27
Archery: Sept. 14 to Dec. 31
Pre-rut Firearm Whitetailn Antlerless: Oct. 10-11
Regular Firearm: Dec. 2-13 Extended Firearm
Whitetail
Antlerless-only (Units 6, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17): Jan.1-3,
2016
Extended Firearm Whitetail Antlerless-only (Units
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14): Jan.1-10, 2016
Special Extended Firearm Whitetail Antlerless-only
(Units 10A, 15, 19): Jan.1-17, 2016
Extended Archery Whitetail Antlerless-only (DMU
19 only): Jan. 18-31, 2016
Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and Nov. 21 to Jan. 31, 2016
TURKEY
Fall 2015:
Oct. 1 to Dec.1 and Dec.14 to Jan.31, 2016
Spring 2016:
Spring Youth/Disabled: April 1-12, 2016
Spring Archery: April 4-12, 2016
Spring Regular: April 13 to May 31, 2016
WATERFOWL/GEESE
Canada: Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, 2015 and Nov. 4, 2015
to Feb. 14, 2016
White-fronted: Oct. 31, 2015 to Jan. 3, 2016 and
Jan. 23 to Feb. 14, 2016
Light (Ross, Snow, Blue): Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, 2015
and Nov. 4, 2015 to Feb. 14, 2016
Light Goose Conservation Order: Feb. 15 to April
30, 2016
WATERFOWL/DUCKS
High Plains: Oct. 10, 2015 to Jan. 4, 2016 and Jan.
23-31, 2016
Low Plains Early: Oct. 10 to Dec. 6, 2015 and Dec.
19, 2015 to Jan. 3, 2016
Low Plains Late: Oct. 31, 2015 to Jan. 3, 2016 and
Jan. 23-31, 2016
Low Plains Southeast: Nov. 14, 2015 to Jan. 3,
2016 and Jan. 9-31, 2016
SQUIRREL
June 1 to Feb. 28, 2016
2
SAFE HUNTING RULES

1. Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
2. Control the guns muzzle at all times.
3. Guns not in use should be unloaded and
stored with the actions open.
4. Be sure the barrel and action are clear of
obstructions and that only the proper ammunition is carried.
5. Never point a gun at anything you dont
want to shoot.
6. Be sure of your target before you pull the
trigger, and always know what is beyond
the target.
7. Never climb a fence or tree or cross an
obstacle with a loaded gun, and never pull a
gun toward you by the muzzle.
face.
9. Store guns and ammunition separately,
out of reach of people unfamiliar with safe
gun handling.
drugs.
Contents
Fall 2015
Credits
Features
8
| 3-Species Classic hunt
14
| The power of the finger
New event invites hunters to bag a deer,

turkey and duck over three days.
Finding a new way to wait for that trophy

buck.
20
| 4 days of fury
28
| Welcome back, Bobwhite
35
Kansas Hunter
Duck hunters use their knowledge and

friendships for an unforgettable hunting
experience.
After years of scarcity, quail and other

upland birds are making a comeback in
Kansas.
| Get that Thanksgiving turkey

The perks and strategies of fall turkey
hunting.
43
| Scratch that trapping itch
46
| A slice of humble pie
An experienced Kansas trapper tells how

he got started and continues to develop.
Antelope hunting in western Kansas

presents challenges for an experienced
whitetail archer.
35
Writers
Drew Palmer
Steve Gilliland
Tom Claycomb III
Dave Seaton
Rob Watson
Scott Johnson
David Seaton
Photography
Drew Palmer
Steve Gilliland
Scott Johnson
Brian Broom
Donita Clausen
(c) brm1949/fotosearch.com
(c) natureguy/fotosearch.com
Tom Claycomb III
Dan Torrence
Bryan Eastham
Todd Sauers
Breck Cherry
Zach Raulie
Shaun Reid
Pheasants Forever
Nebraska Game & Parks
Lakeside Taxidermy
Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation
Composing/creative
Ken Burrell
Marsha Wesseler
Kay Batdorf
Advertising
David Newman
Marsha Wesseler
David A. Seaton
Arty Hicks
Teresa Moore
Rebecca Cox
Shelly Tapia
Cover photo by Drew Palmer
Bowhunter Derek Avery takes
a brief moment to collect his
thoughts after harvesting a
mature Kansas whitetail.
For advertising information:

call 620-221-1050 or 620-442-4200
To get a copy mailed to you:

call David A. Seaton 620-442-4200
or email daseaton@arkcity.net
Departments
6 NEWS and EVENTS
12 DEER HUNTING
20 WATERFOWL
28 UPLAND GAME
37 PREDATORS
39 NORTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
43 TRAPPING
46 EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS
52 EXTRA SHOTS
56 READER PHOTOS
Start em young
Youth Waterfowl Season: In each of the duck zones,
two days will be set aside for youth waterfowl hunting
(ducks and geese). Hunters 15 and younger may hunt
under the supervision of an adult 18 or older. The
adult may NOT hunt.
Youth/Disabled Deer Season: September 5-13, 2015
is a season for youth 16 or younger or anyone who
has a disability hunting permit to hunt deer. Resident
youth 16 years old and all nonresident youth must
have a hunting license unless exempt by law, as well as
a valid deer permit, and youth must be accompanied
by an adult 18 or older.
All resident and nonresident permits are valid
in this season, and all permit, unit, and equipment
restrictions apply, including hunter orange clothing.
The adult may NOT hunt.

Youth Pheasant and Quail Season: Nov. 7-8, 2015
is a weekend for youth to hunt pheasants and quail.
Youth 16 and younger may hunt under the supervision of an adult 18 or older. The supervising adult
may NOT hunt.
Daily bag limits are half the regular season limits.
Youth Spring Turkey Season: April 1-12, 2016.
Youth 16 and younger can hunt with any legal equipment under the supervision of an adult 18 or older.
(Information from Kansas Department of Wildlife,
Parks and Tourism. Visit ksoutdoors.com, or consult the
2015 Kansas Hunting Atlas or 2015 Kansas Hunting
and Furharvesting regulations summary.)
New hunting rules for 2015

iSPORTSMAN ELECTRONIC DAILY HUNT
PERMITS
At designated wildlife areas, paper card daily hunt

permits have been replaced with electronic hunt permits
through iSportsman. The electronic permits will be more
convenient for hunters and much less labor intensive for
area managers. Information gathered through the permits helps managers to provide the best possible hunting
opportunities.
Hunters can register to create a user-account at any
time by logging on to https://kdwpt.
isportsman.net. Before hunting, a hunter
simply checks in, providing a log-in ID
online with a computer or smart phone
or by phoning with a cell phone or landline. After the hunt, hunters use the same
method to checkout and provide harvest
information.
To learn more, log on to https://kdwpt.isportsman.net
or call (620) 672-5911 and ask for Public Lands.
Several wildlife areas have been added to the list of
those requiring hunters to obtain free Electronic Daily
Hunt Permits: Benedictine Bottoms, Berentz/Dick,
Bolton, Buck Creek, Cheyenne Bottoms, Clinton, Elwood, Hillsdale, Jamestown, Kansas River, La Cygne,
Lovewell, Lyon, Marais des Cygnes, McPherson Wetlands, Melvern, Milford, Neosho, Noe, Perry, Texas
Lake, Isabel, and Slate Creek Wetlands.
The electronic permits will replace the paper card system currently in place.
DOGS TO RETRIEVE BIG GAME
Dogs may be used to retrieve big game animals.

Dogs may be used to retrieve dead or wounded big
game animals with the following restrictions: each dog
shall be maintained on a hand-held leash at all times
while tracking the big game animal; an individual
tracking big game animals outside of legal shooting
hours shall not carry equipment capable of
harvesting the big game animal; and each
individual harvesting a big game animal
shall be limited to the equipment type for
the permit and season that is authorized.
Each individual participating in the
tracking of a big game animal shall have a
hunting license, unless the individual is exempt by law.
ANTLERLESS DEER PERMITS
While deer hunters who have purchased a permit that

allows the harvest of an antlered deer may still purchase
up to five whitetail antlerless only (WAO) permits and
one antlerless only (AO) permit, the units in which they
are valid and the extended WAO seasons are new for
2015-2016.
Consult page 20 f the Kansas Hunting and Furharvesting Regulations Summary.
Public hunting areas in south-central Kansas

Butler SFL
Phone: (620) 876-5730.
Location: 3 miles W, 1 N of Latham.
Acres: 320
Camping: Yes, in designated areas.
Equipment Restrictions: None.
Other: Alcohol prohibited.
Cowley SFL & WA
Phone: (620) 876-5730.
Location: 16 mi. E of Arkansas City.
Acres: 197
Other: Alcohol prohibited.
El Dorado WA
Phone: (620) 767-5900.
Location: 2 mi. E, 1 N of El Dorado.
Acres: 4,258
Camping: No.
Boating: Yes.
Other: Swimming (jumping) prohibited in Walnut River at NE
Chelsea road bridge.
Kaw WA
Phone: (620) 876-5730.
Location: 1 mile SE of Arkansas City.
Acres: 4,341
Camping: No.
Boating: Yes
Slate Creek WA
Phone: (620) 876-5730.
Location: 6 mi. S, 1 1/2 W of Oxford.
Acres: 827.
Camping: No.
Boating: Yes, carry-in only.
Equipment Restrictions: Non-toxic shot only
Other: Electronic daily hunt permits required;
register at www.kdwpt.isportsman.net.
Copan WA
Phone: (620) 331-6820.
Location: 1/2 mi. W of Caney.
Acres: 2,360.
Camping: Yes, in designated
areas.
Boating: Yes, carry-in only.
Dove Flats WA
Phone: (620) 331-6820.
Location: 2 1/2 mi. E, 1 N of Elk
City.
Acres: 206.
Camping: Yes, in designated
areas.
Boating: None.
Duck Creek WA
Phone: (620) 331-6820.
Location: 1 1/2 mi. E, 3 1/3 N of Elk City.
Acres: 246.
Boating: None.
For more information contact contact Kansas Department of Wildlife,

Parks and Tourism (ksoutdoors.com):
1020 S Kansas, Suite 200
Topeka, KS 66612-1327
(785) 296-2281
512 SE 25th Ave.

Pratt, KS 67124-8174
(620) 672-5911
6232 E 29th St. North

Wichita, KS 67220
(316) 683-8069
NEWS and EVENTS
Blue Valley Wildlife Area
created through conservation partnerships

More than 1,000 acres opened to public hunting
Quail and pheasant lovers

flocking to Kansas City
Quail Forever is taking its annual celebration of upland hunting, National Pheasant Fest
& Quail Classic, to Kansas City on Feb. 19-21,
2016.
The event will be hosted at the
Kansas City Convention Center
with Federal Premium Ammunition as the presenting sponsor.
As the premiere quail event in
the country, Quail Forever is urging
hunters and members to take part
and have a voice for quail conser-
News release
with a Quail Summit hosted on Feb. 20, as

well as more seminars, vendors, and hunting
gear designed with quail hunters in mind as
exhibitor area.
Early bird registration deadline is Dec. 1.
tion or call 877-773-2070.
the landowner habitat help room, every
aspect of the show will have a quail
director of corporate sales for Quail
prominent role at our 2016

convention, and we invite
quail hunters and chapter members to join us for a celebration
of wildlife habitat conserva-
attendance of hunters throughout the nation as we elevate the

-
addition to the convention, Quail Forever is celebrating its 10th anniversary this is a special milestone and one we
wish to celebrate with all quail hunting
National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic
2016 will be the nations largest tradeshow
and convention for upland hunters, landowners, sport dog trainers, and wildlife habitat
conservationists.
More about the show:

Quail hunters are encouraged to suggest vendors.
premium prices with advertising included in the Quail
Forever Journal.
For more information regarding
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forevers corporate sales representative, at (763) 350-7362
or email.
Upland bird hunters have more room to roam

at the Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area in Pottawatomie
County.
Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
(KDWPT) and the National Wild Turkey Federation
have completed a wildlife habitat project
that adds 480 acres to the wildlife
area in north-central Kansas.
Not only does the land
acquisition permanently
protect important habitat
for pheasants, quail
and prairie chickens,
the new tract opens
public access to a
550-acre tract of
Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area that had
been previously
inaccessible to
the public as it
was surrounded by
private land.
The net result
is this acquisition
opens 1,030 acres to
public hunting and outdoor recreation.
The 484-acre acquisition
expands Tuttle Creek Wildlife
Area to more than 12,600 acres,
permanently conserving tallgrass prairie
in the states northern Flint Hills.
This project is the result of a new permanent
land conservation partnership between Pheasants
Forever, KDWPT and other Kansas conservation
partners.
The Tuttle Creek project is Pheasants Forevers

nership project in Kansas.
en model of fundraising, protecting wildlife habitat
and securing a permanent place for the public to
Just 3 percent of land in Kansas is in
public ownership, wildlife, parks and
tourism Secretary Robin Jennison said.
owners and conservation
groups work collaboratively with state wildlife agencies, we are
successful in our
public access opportunities for outhe said.
Funding for
the Tuttle Creek
Wildlife Area acquisition was provided
by KDWPT, federal
funding through Pittman-Robertson Wildlife
Restoration Act (excise
equipment), Pheasants Forgram, the Flint Hills Pheasants Forever
chapter, Fort Riley Pheasants Forever chapter, the
National Wild Turkey Federation Superfund, the
Robert Ramsdale Memorial, Robert Loyd Commerce Trust Co., and a donation from the Jessie
Benton Lyman Trust.
3-Species Classic hunt

By DAVID A. SEATON
Deer. Turkey. Duck.
Hunt them all, over three consecutive days in
southeast Kansas.
Thats what a group of hunters and promoters are
cooking up in the Fort Scott area, hoping to create a
new, unique event that showcases Kansas hunting and
boosts tourism.
Called the SEKansas 3-Species Classic, the special
event is modeled after the Governors turkey and ringneck hunts. It kicks off in 2015 with a three-day hunt
and celebration with a small invited group Nov. 27-29.
In 2016, the event will open to the public, hoping
to draw hunters and outdoor enthusiasts from in and
out of state.
Hunters will be taken on deer, turkey and duck
hunts over a Friday-Sunday weekend, and
enjoy a Saturday night banquet open to
the public.
Its a 3-day, action-packed hunting
adventure, and you get to hunt three
different species, said organizer Joe
Bisogno, owner of Timber Hills Lake
Ranch.
Bisogno, founder of the Mr. Goodcents restaurant chain, developed
Timber Hills Lake Ranch into a hunting
and fishing destination and wants to promote
Kansas as an outdoor mecca.
With help from the Fort Scott Area Chamber of
Commerce, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife,
Parks and Tourism, plans are coming together for a
unique experience.
The 3-species hunt will include hunting locations
throughout southeast Kansas. Other
outfitters are on board, Bisogno
said. Hunting will be
done on ranches and
farms. Each hunter
will be accompanied
by a host or guide
during the three
days.
Southeast Kansas
is well known as being
trophy buck territory.
8
Were really trying to

allow people all over the
world, and the United
States, to know that
if youre looking
for a great trip, an
outdoor adventure
hunting, fishing
Kansas is the place
to look.
The Governors One
Shot Turkey Hunt in Eldorado,
and the Governors Ringneck Classic, held in Goodland
in 2015, will be models for the three-species event.
The Governor is very interested in these types of
activities, as it promotes opportunity and economic activity in the more rural parts of the state, DWPT
director Robin Jennison told Kansas Hunter.
Guests who fly in for the event can
hunt Friday afternoon, Saturday, and
Sunday morning before flying out.
Hunters can choose their weapon
bow, rifle or black power for deer.
Bow, shotgun or rifle for turkey. Shotgun for duck.
They can also choose to hunt all
three species, or hunt one species over
the three days.
Bisogno has attended the governors hunts,
and he recently participated in a 3-species hunt in
Scotland called the McNab, he said.
Hunters there seek to catch a salmon, harvest a red
stag, and down a grouse. They stay in a castle during
the trip.
The first 3-Species Classic in Kansas will be kept
small as a test run to develop a larger, public event in
the years to follow. Outdoor and adventure people are
being invited this year, along with some government
dignitaries.
The banquet in Fort Scott on Saturday, though, will
be open to the public from the get-go. Plans call for
an auction to help fund a trolley that would help with
tourism in Fort Scott.
Its really about building commerce, building tourism and building a community that is proud of what
they do. Bisogno said.
Gear that works
Every fall and winter hunters roam the aisles of outdoor stores browsing the racks and asking the golden
question, does this really work? Here are my its worth it picks for the fall that will cost you some money but
wont leave you disappointed.
Thermacell Heated Insoles MSRP $134
No more clinching your teeth in a treestand trying to feel your toes. No
more walking like a duck in the mud with 3-lb pack boots that are fit for the artic circle. Its time to invest in some technology that works and works incredibly
well. Thermacells Heated Insole is the answer. They are completely wireless and
rechargeable, making ease of use a breeze. Drop them in your favorite pair of
boots and make numb toes a thing of the past. They feature a 5-hour continuous battery life and a wireless remote. With three levels of heat, you can control
your comfort and use the heat all the time or only when needed, extending the
battery life. A USB charger and automotive charger make recharging on the go
simple and easy. The material can be trimmed to fit, giving you added versatility
to fit in all your different shoes regardless of the situation. Dont think they are
strictly for hunting either, they perform just as well for those late season football
games or fall festivals. Available at most major outdoor stores or online.
Scent Crusher Ozone Gear Bag
MSRP $199
If you are the detail oriented scent control freak, this bag will become your
best friend. The days of crunching cedar brows and leaving your clothes outside
in a plastic tote are over. The Scent Crusher Gear Bag applies ozone activated
technology to kill bacteria and virus that cause odor. You may be thinking thats
a fancy line of fluff, but its backed by science. Ozone, or 03, is the tri-atomic form
of oxygen. 03 is one of natures most powerful oxidizers and is extremely effective
at destroying odors. The Gear Bag comes with a wall charger and an automotive
charger allowing you to step out of your vehicle ready to hunt scent free. Available at most major outdoor stores or online.
RigEm Right Shell Shocker XLT Blind Bag
MSRP $89.99
For the diehard waterfowler who likes to be prepared for everything, this is the bag for you. RigEm Right knows how to make quality gear, and this bag is a testament to that. This bag was designed
with the modern waterfowler in mind and it makes organization
easy. We all know what our blind bags look like on opening day vs.
the last day of season. The Shell Shocker XLT is large and built like
a tank. It boast features like a built-in hard case for sunglasses, an
internal ammo compartment, and specialized cell phone pocket giving you the freedom to hunt hard all year without having to fight a
messy blind bag. Quit relying on cheap gear and invest in a bag that
is made for years of mud-filled, ice-breaking mornings.
Available at most anywhere top of the line waterfowl products are sold.
By Drew Palmer
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11
DEER HUNTING
Continued from page 12
pressure and weather have much greater impacts.
The old, barren doe
Deer myths debunked

Brian Broom
The Clarion-Ledger Outdoors Editor
mother really has just as much to do with this as the

dad.
You cant control the mothers ability to produce
above-average fawns.
At the same time, Strickland said culling can improve the herd. Removing a
mature six-point, 200-pound eating
machine is a good idea because the
groceries hes consuming can go to
other deer with greater potential.
12
Food grows big racks

Hunters routinely plant food plots and provide
Photos by Brian Broom
yths about wildlife are probably as old

as man, and deer hunting has more
than its share. While many have likely
come and gone, others can still be
heard at deer camps.
One misunderstood deer is the
spike and the misconceptions go
both ways. Some say they can grow
Full moon folly?
into trophies while others think along
Many events in the wild are atthe lines of once a spike, always a spike.
tributed to a full moon and some still
Bronson Strickland of the Mississippi
feel
it affects the rut, but Lann Wilf, MisState University Deer Lab said both can
sissippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and
happen, but neither are likely.
Parks
Deer
Program leader said thats not the case.
You can have lots of spiked bucks that grow to a
No, absolutely not, Wilf said. There have been
120- to 130-class buck, Strickland said. The probability of a 150- to 170-class is much lower than other deer. multiple studies done, and they dont correlate.
Wilf explained that instead of a lunar event, its
With that, Strickland said the probability of a spike
solar.
becoming a trophy all depends on what the hunter
Its photoperiod, Wilf said. Its length of day.
considers a trophy.
Although a full moon does not affect the rut, Wilf
On the other end of the spectrum, Strickland said
said he believes it does factor into deer movement.
it is also rare for a yearling spike to remain a spike in
Im just going to go on record as saying deer
adulthood.
movement around a full moon is
Its probably not going to happen,
squirrely, Wilf said. Personally, I dont
but it can happen, Strickland said.
like hunting around a full moon. They
Most always, probably 99 percent of
the time, a yearling buck with spiked
around a full moon just dont do right.
Among most hunters, the explaantlers will have forked antlers later in
nation is that deer move more during
life.
the night with a full moon than other
nights, but Wilf isnt so sure about that.
The gene pool
They move a lot on a full moon, but Ive seen
I hear it all the time Im glad we got that manthem move a lot on other nights, Wilf said. Nocturnal
agement buck out of the gene pool, Strickland said.
Removing what are considered to be inferior bucks movement is going to be dictated more by other factors than the full moon.
from properties is a common practice and many beEven though Wilf believes the full moon does alter
lieve it will improve the herds genetics, but Strickland
deer movement, he said food availability, hunting
says culling management bucks wont do it.
Culling is an ineffective tool, Strickland said. The
Continued on page 13
Another myth Wilf said he still hears is about the

doe that is too old to produce fawns.
There is no such thing as an old, barren doe, Wilf
said. Shes going to have fawns til she cant and
thats usually when shes dead.
If youre waiting on a doe with no fawns, youre
going to be waiting a while unless youre hunting a
really stressed deer herd.
Wilf said not being bred, disease and predation on
fawns are all factors that could lead to a doe without
fawns, but the main cause is nutritional stress.
high-protein supplemental feed in their quest to grow

big antlers, and while it is important, Wilf said it cant
trump genetics.
Nutrition allows them to express their full genetic
potential, Wilf said. Now, if hes supposed to be a 115inch 8-point, thats what hes going to be.
Managing your food sources with winter food
plots and summer food plots is not going to blow up
every deer to 150. Even in the Delta, the average mature buck is only going to score 135 to 137.
And there are other factors that hold back antler
growth. Wilf said drought, floods, late births and the
physical condition of the mother at birth are all obstacles. Because of that, he said less than 10 percent of
bucks make it to the 150-class, and 170-class deer are
about as rare as NFL players.
Everything is working against them, Wilf said.
Every stress is working against them.
It takes a perfect storm to create those deer.
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13
The Power of the Finger

Bow hunter recommends Painting the picture
to optimize your bow hunting experience
I can lead you to the exact tree that changed my
outlook on bowhunting setups forever.
It was a skinny neck of trees that had no sign of
activity for 80 percent of the season.
In fact, without the knowledge I have now, I would
generally walk right past it while doing late summer or
late winter scouting.
It was a beautiful oak tree that sat in a 100-yard
section of scrubby timber in the middle of the pasture.
A seasoned pair of bowhunters a combined 40
years experience at the time selected that stand
location many years before I launched my first successful arrow from it.
Three, P&Y bucks out of the same tree within five
days is pretty substantial evidence that there is something going on there.
By DREW PALMER
can leave us high and dry in terms of buck sightings

and encounters.
Not every piece of property we hunt or have access
to is going to strategically setup up the same. But
when the possibility of hunting a timber finger comes
into play, I jump at the opportunity.
Scouting
Treestand theories
There are a million documented theories to treestand setups. The real truth Ive learned over the years
is that every piece of property can demand different
tactics.
When selecting a stand location, its well known
that inside corners, pinch points, creek crossings, and
field edges all produce great results.
But you cant hunt those locations all year, everyday. To me one of the easiest places to overlook is the
timber finger. Sometimes as bowhunters we tend to
think only about whats in front of us. Its easy to see
all the sign on the ground when we are doing our
pre-season scouting and loose sight of the big picture.
Things change quickly throughout the year and
When scouting a new piece of property for the first

time, I spend hours mulling over aerial images.
OnX Hunt Maps is an incredible app that I depend
on, and can help you with
your scouting, preparation
and navigation. It has features that allow you to see
property lines of private
and public land tracts, to
mark your treestand sites
or game cameras, and
also to document animal
sightings with precise GPS
accuracy.
One of the first things
I look at on aerial maps is
how the winds may influence my entering/exiting
of possible stand setups.
Some of the most
prominent winds in
south-central Kansas
during the later part of
October and early November are southeast and northwest.
Northwest winds typically involve cold fronts that
create a drop and sharp rise in barometric pressure.
During the pre-rut times the sharp increase can get
those nocturnal bucks on their feet and present hunters with an opportunity or sighting to give us valuable
information on buck movements.
Youre probably wondering how in the world does
this relate to treestand strategies or setting a stand in a
timber finger?
Theres more of a connection than you might think.
A more in-depth strategy for selecting stand locations
that I preach is painting the picture.
Equation
Aerial imagery and weather forecasting help the
experienced bow hunter anticipate how the weather
14
and the stages of the season will move deer.

We can take the things we know about buck
behavior and look at them as an equation of sorts. We
then take that equation and apply it to the landscape
to give us targeted areas.
Focusing on movements in the pre rut, we know
that bucks in mid-fall often stay hidden. Secluded or
secure areas that have cover, minimal disturbance, and
mast crops for the deer to sparsely feed on, are prime
habitat.
They are beginning to create scrape and rub lines,
size up their competition, and establish dominance.
Perhaps the most dangerous thing they are doing
is developing travel routes
that allow them to scent
check vast areas of the
land for does, using the
winds.
This is where the timber finger comes into play!
Even though the timber finger isnt where the
bucks most likely spend
all of their time, its where
they spend some of their
time when they are vulnerable to an arrow.
Bucks use these fingers
Photo by Drew Palmer in early morning or late
evening hours to get on
their feet and still stay out of sight.
You could relate these locations to how single guys
may use a bar on their way home from work.
The thicker the cover or size of a timber finger, the
greater chance dominant bucks may bed there to stay
away from smaller bucks.
As the days transition closer to the rut, youll find
that bucks tend to use these fingers and thicker cover
to lie in wait of does coming into estrus passing to and
from bedding or feeding areas.
This creates the perfect opportunity for us, the
bowhunter, to fill our tag. Also, dont count out these
same locations for hunting the tail end of the rut.
Bucks commonly go back to the same areas they
frequented in the pre rut, looking for does that may
have not been bred.
Writer Drew Palmer is the owner of Mile North Outdoor Company. He lives in rural Arkansas City.
15
Treestand Tips
Make your time in the stand pay off
hen it comes to putting your time in and

racking up the hours in the stand, comfort
may be the toughest adversary.
If I had a dollar for every hour Ive spent sitting
on a cramped, cold, and uncomfortable stand ...
Id have enough money to buy a truckload of good
ones.
morning and that was a good looking spot, but I
point, but if youre not on stand when that hapBy DREW PALMER
well-designed stand can make when it comes to

enduring those long sits.
Mentally, physically, and emotionally being
comfortable can change the way you hunt.
Instead of heading home at 9:45 a.m. because
your legs and rear end cant handle the misery
anymore, now you have a chance at maybe the
best buck of your life at 11:15 a.m. Pack your
lunch and a good book.
Part of me has sympathy for when its one of

my cheap stands, and I feel a bit guilty.
Strategy
But hey, I dont have a semi-truck coming every
Chris Keefer, co-host of the hit show Rival Wild,
fall delivering me the best of the best, either. Just
has a wealth of knowledge and experience when it
like a lot of other dedicated bowcomes to sitting all day.
hunters, I have a lot of ground to
He also has a stacked trophy
cover and have to make due with
room of mature trophy bucks to
what Ive got.
back up his know how.
medium between lighting your
ing miserable in the tree for 10
hours?
Invest
Lets be realistic. You dont
have to buy a whole palate of
top-of-the-line stands to go
along with every location you
have an interest in hunting.
We all have several stand
that lead us to believe we could
see action all day there.
there is a strong chance you could be presented
with a shot opportunity at any point during the
rut throughout the day, then that spot is probably
worth putting in a premium stand.
Play the weather and pick your spots and
chances are youll be blessed with opportunity.
That brings me to my second point: Invest in
a couple top-of-the-line comfortable stands. It is
16
and planning our sets, Casey

strategies that we rely on. One is
hunting what we call [outside in].
When we are hunting a farm we
use our aerial photos religiously and scouting knowledge to
develop a strategy for selecting
stand sites that allow us to keep
our distance from where we feel
the deer are living.
super aggressive move in October and possibly booger that
buck that may make a few mistakes during the rut. We stick to
property to a minimum.
will start looking and planning what we call [rut
stands], those are our stand locations where we
know that at anytime there could be a stud walk
by, and we need to be there to seal the deal.
The next part of the proven strategy that the

Keefer brothers employ relates to weather and
technology.
For the hunter who is limited on time and days
to hunt, soak this in:
-
not narrow minded and Im not going to tell you

that other companies premium stands arent com-
Trail cameras
They all work. This isnt a sales pitch; its just what
I use and what I know.
Being comfortable keeps our mind in the game
longer, and that is key for the crew at Rival Wild,
and myself.
The Millennium M-50 is my go to. I hang a lot
of stands and do a lot of it by myself. That brings
safety into play. Being 20-feet up in a tree trying
to wrestle ratchet straps around a heavy clanking
hang on is a bit unnerving to me.
The M-50 eliminates that completely. It features
the cam-lock bracket that is extremely safe, easy
to use, and quiet.
The bracket goes around the tree with a builtin ratchet strap that connects to the receiver. The
next step is to drop the stand in the receiver, tighten the lower tie-down strap and you are ready to
go. Thats it.
Chris and Casey both spend hundreds of hours
in the stand every fall.
A bit of attention to detail can pay big dividends in the bowhunting world.
every year, the Cam-Lock system makes life a bit
system is going to move in. Those are the days

that you have to be out there and stay out there.
When that inclement weather comes, those deer
are mentally and genetically engineered to get on
their feet.
prime time for big bucks cruising, especially when
cant time in advance, giving the job-steady hunter
a chance to schedule vacation or one of those
cameras TOO much. This is somewhat against the

trend and has some ties to old-fashioned ideology.
everything is getting crazy, I dont rely on my trail
cameras to much.
as, that ultimately have a very small sample size of
what activity is actually taking place. Trail cameras
have revolutionized deer hunting, we know that.
ventory on which bucks are frequenting your property, but we cant get dependent. Think about how
much ground that buck covers when you see him
chasing a doe in the rut? Of course he isnt walking by your camera at the same time everyday.
Nothing is more valuable than time in the stand in
Gear
The guys at Rival Wild and I both depend on
Millennium treestands. Chris took the words right
crew, we are able to hang the hunter stands, take

a camera stand with us, and we are set up in a
Game day
Plan your attacks wisely. Look for those precious weather systems that create a spike in the
barometer and trigger the instincts of big bucks.
Prepare the night before and pack your gear
accordingly. A good rain jacket, a lunch you can
eat quickly and quietly, maybe a handful of the
kids Halloween candy, and an external phone
charger are all items that can make a 10-hour day
in the stand more tolerable.
Heck, Id be lying to you if I said I havent
watched college or NFL football on my phone
during the slow times.
It can be done, and the rewards are so sweet.
Get out there and put the time in, a day in the
stand is a day well spent.
Writer Drew Palmer is the owner of Mile North
Outdoor Company. He lives in rural Arkansas City.
17
New app
Hunters
taking more
helps
mature bucks
track
(c) brm1949 / fotosearch.com
deer
News release
Bushnell, an industry-leader in
trail cameras and outdoor technology,
has partnered with biologists at The
Quality Deer Management Association
and leading outdoor access technology developer Powederhook in the
creation of a revolutionary new deer
hunting tool.
QDMA Deer Tracker allows hunters
to submit reports based on observed
deer activity or deer they harvest. Using this data, the app generates a heat
map estimating the likelihood of seeing
deer activity during hunting hours and
within a selected area.
Powderhook developed the app
with collaboration from biologists at QDMA and
18
improving, total numbers of bucks killed by hunters

are on the decline in several states. Nationally, the toAmerican deer hunters are killing the highest-evtal buck harvest declined 4 percent from an estimated
er percentage of bucks age 3 and older, according
2.85 million in 2012 to 2.74 million in 2013.
to data gathered by the Quality Deer Management
The 2015 Whitetail Report also examines 10-year
Association (QDMA) for its 2015 Whitetail Report, now trends in total buck and doe harvest by state. In this
available online.
analysis, while the Northeast and Southeast have been
In the 2013-14 season, the most recent season with relatively stable, the Midwest region saw a significant
complete deer harvest data available from all states,
drop in deer harvest: 18 percent fewer bucks from
34 percent of bucks harvested in the states that collect 2003 to 2013, and 20 percent fewer does.
buck age data were 3 or older. That statistic is up
Wisconsins buck harvest declined 26 percent
from 32 percent the season before, and significantly
during the last decade, Minnesotas dropped 27 perup from a decade before in the 2003-04 season, when cent, and Iowas plummeted 43 percent, said Adams.
only 23 percent of the national buck harvest was maThese are big declines, and hunters are definitely
ture. These gains have been made while the percenttaking notice.
age of yearling bucks (1 years old) in the harvest has
While lower harvests in some areas are a result of
steadily declined, reaching a record-low of 36 percent. intentional efforts to reduce deer density, in other arThis is a testament to how far weve come as
eas deer populations have dropped below levels that
hunters in the past decade, said Kip Adams, QDMAs
the habitat can support in healthy condition. The 2015
Director of Education & Outreach, who compiles the
Whitetail Report explores the factors involved, includannual Whitetail Report. More hunters are choosing to ing hemorrhagic disease outbreaks, harsh weather,
protect yearling bucks, and they are being rewarded
habitat loss, and over-harvest.
by seeing and killing more of them as mature animals.
There is good news and not-so-good news in
This trade-off can be seen in state-by-state data.
this years Whitetail Report, and thats exactly why we
The five states with the lowest percentage of yearmonitor and report trends in the whitetail harvest,
ling bucks in the antlered buck harvest, according to
said Lindsay Thomas Jr., QDMAs Director of CommuniQDMAs Whitetail Report, are also the top-five states
cations. Its particularly important for hunters and the
in percentage of mature bucks: Louisiana, Arkansas,
hunting industry to be aware of threats to the whiteOklahoma, Texas and Kansas.
tail resource, so well continue to keep those on our
Though the age structure of the buck harvest is
radar.
From the QDMA
teams at Bushnell, Cabelas and Hunting Lease

Network.
Designed with privacy in mind, Deer
Tracker never reveals your exact location, yet crowd-sources a regional snapshot of deer activity that can be used to
judge rut timing, feeding windows and
optimum hunting periods.
fun and informative for everyone from
beginners to the hardcore DIY archery
giving way some cool prizes from our
The app is available in the Apple
App store and Google Play. Or visit www.deertrackerapp.com for more
information.
19
WATERFOWL
4 Days of Fury
By DREW PALMER
Photo by Shaun Reid
he migration resembled a giant blizzard making its

way across the Kansas plains. It was the end of December and for my small group of friends, the greatest
time of year. With a little extra Christmas cash in our
pockets and plenty of leftover sweets in the fridge, we
were ready to hit it hard.
I was curled up on the couch watching a football
game when I got a phone call with somebody on the
other end stuttering on about how four birds turned
into 40,000 on a scouting trip and it was the craziest
field theyve ever seen.
The caller used words like, epic, motherload, and
holy grail. It was my photographer/goose hunting
comrade Shaun, and he couldnt get across to me fast
20
enough that he wasnt exaggerating the estimate.

The next four days would be some of the most
incredible goose hunting weve ever been part of.
Im not going to lie. I had my suspicions about this
gig. I was still giving Shaun grief after the last slamdunk he took me on a few days prior. Which was a
day after he melted the memory card in his camera
taking pictures of hundreds of birds piling into the
spread, after his party had already limited out. Banded
Specks, Rosss geese, and mondo wads of Canadas all
filled my text message inbox along with OMG you
would be in heaven. Well, the day I showed up we
killed three birds and watched thousands fly around in
disarray. Part of the game.
Day 1
With the trailer in tow packed to the brim, we
rolled out of town at about 3:15 a.m. with hot coffee
and the speakers blaring our favorite Aaron Lewis record. Joining me on this 120-mile trip into foreign territory was my lifelong hunting partner Chase, whom
had just returned home from four years of service in
the United States Army.
We were chomping at the bit to see some new
country and hunt new birds. We were meeting the
other half of the squad in a little town I cant say
around 5:15 a.m. So at 5:45 a.m. in typical fashion, we
all staggered out of the truck. We examined the field
and began the scramble of designing a game plan to
get this monster spread into the right spot. With five
of us one year removed or still active college baseball
players, and Chase fresh out of the service, we legged
out a lot of gear a long ways in a short amount of
time. There were plenty of remarks in between deep
gasp for air about how we were already fat and out of
shape, but the truth was, this was no hunt for old men.
There was a pretty heavy coat of fog hovering
about the landscape and not a breath of wind. Two
factors that make me sweat and bite my nails. This was
a huge wheat field with not an inch of cover anywhere
besides a hedgerow we were set up in. With darkness
still looming, we all stopped what we were doing
when we heard a faint roar of a large group of Lesser
Canadas closing in on our position. At the same time
we all uttered our best goose hating slurs and curse
words with disbelief, as this was not normal for them
to be showing up in the dark. What in the world is
going on here? They were on the ground and it was
still 45 minutes from being able to shoot?
We finally scampered nearly 30-dozen decoys into
place, mostly Deception Decoy prototypes and silhouettes. Tory, Kord, Chase, and Reese were all piled into
the homemade A-frame blind that Shaun, the master
engineer, was beating and slamming together. I finally
got settled into my cedar hide next to the blind and
threw on my trademark green ghillie suit. It wasnt
30 seconds after I fired up my cameras and put my
headphones on that I heard the first wave of shrieking
geese descending on our setup.
The shrieking got closer and a few choice words
came out of the blind. Are you kidding me? Already?
We havent been here for 5 minutes and those illegal
out of season (unmentionable word) want to come
land in the decoys! Cool, ya just pile on in guys. The

party is here!
Specklebellys, which are our favorite bird to call,
eat and hunt, were the subjects of the sarcastic dialog. Out of season and fluttering in the decoys. Finally
somebody ran into the decoys, spooking them off,
only out of fear that when the Canadas got here they
could possibly be in the line of fire and result in a fat
ticket from a KDWP warden.
Things slowed down for a bit and I began to doze
off leaning up next to my camera cases and blind
bags. I was quickly awoken when an absolute fury of
high-pitched noise entered my headphones. The roar
enticed the typical chatter of goose calls in the blind,
only to reside after a bit when Shaun yelled out, my
Lord, I cant even hear myself think! Kord is this all of
them?
The skies quickly turned into a cluster when wave
after wave of dark geese started bombarding our
spread. One balled up pass and several birds fell from
the heavens, in typical fashion, sealing the fate for the
rest of them. The main wad swung wide over the field,
and Shaun, in his typical excited humor yelled out,Oh
God, they are rallying up the troops. Get ready girls!
I didnt know where to point the camera as the
viewfinder quickly turned into a black wad. I was shaking in anticipation. Finally, after hundreds of birds back
peddled above the decoys, most of which were made
just weeks earlier with our own two hands, Tory asked,
you think its about that time? Five guns eased up
over the top of the blind and cut into a mass of Richardsons Canada geese. That familiar sound echoed
through my headphones and I trembled with excitement feeling like I was 6 years old again.
It seemed like it only took a matter of seconds, but
in reality it was close to half an hour. Birds were coming in so fast we had to pass up shots to count again
and again to make sure we were still under the legal
limit. I had been franticly trying to get both cameras
locked on all of this madness, as I knew it was special.
After one volley, Chase yelled in my direction, Hey,
Dale, (my inside nickname) you might wanna get
your pop gun out because Kordless needs one more,
and then its your time to shine! I was shocked and in
disbelief as it seemed like I had only filmed 3-4 rounds
of shooting? After Kord picked up what was left of his
pride and dignity (he missed three times on a single
at point blank, on camera) he folded his last bird. I
jumped in the blind to a bunch of jabs and one-liners
at my absence for the majority of the hunt, as I hid in
21
the bushes with my cameras.

I quickly rattled off a few shots out of my 20 gauge,
semi-auto and put a few straggling Canadas on the
ground. Just like that. The day was done.
We didnt even have our guns unloaded when
somebody blurted out so who is coming to scout
tonight, the rest of those birds that didnt show up this
morning?
Laughter filled our
group, and Tory happily
volunteered. After a
leg-cramping trek out
of a slimy wheat field,
we got back to the
truck and revived our
sleep-deprived bodies
with some good crack
as Shaun calls semi-frozen Gatorade. It was
time for Chase and I to
tag and label our game
straps full of geese and
head south to regroup.
Day 2-3
The next day we let
the birds rest, as conditions were less than favorable. But that evening the
call came. Hey we found them, and theres more.
Knowing the conditions and the large number of
birds we had to work with, my mind shifted into overdrive and thoughts of a 100-bird day began to dance
in my imagination. We all rendezvoused at the same
intersection as the previous hunt and headed out to
the battlegrounds. This setup was an all hands on deck
event, as we were deploying a large number of full
bodies plus a grain sack filled with duck full bodies
as well. Torys report from scouting the night before
was that there were a healthy amount of greenheads
using the cut milo field, but knowing the ducks were
typically only feeding once a day in the evenings, we
all remained a bit skeptical. A few drakes in the bag
would be icing on the cake.
As the sun came up over the frozen Kansas landscape, we could hear the sounds of geese in every
direction. A few mallards bombed the spread out of
nowhere and we quickly downed a few greenheads
to get on the board. Soon after, lines of geese began
to trace the skyline. It was wave after wave after wave.
But we quickly realized we were in the wrong field, so
22
we moved a few dozen decoys to higher ground and

the birds quickly changed their attitudes. Even though
the masses were still a mile away in the next section,
we started to gain the interest of some groups late to
the party.
By about 9 a.m., we got our first tornado rotating
above us. A few stray Canadas began to work the
spread. That was all it took. With each group the vortex
of geese got bigger and bigger. It wasnt long before
somebody made the
executive decision and
we cut into a healthy
group of salt n pepper.
Snows and Canadas
began to hit the frozen
milo with a thud, and
our spirits were rejuvenated.
Day 4
Just as we were debating what to do the
next day, our decision
was made for us. To the
southeast in the shadow of a burning Kansas
sunrise, a roar and massive cloud of birds rose
up off some poor farmers wheat field. It was a sight
that every goose hunter dreams of. The only thing that
made it sweeter, was that another group just as big fell
in behind the first storm of shrieking little geese. In a
quick discussion with a few intense verbs, our group
all came to the verdict that what we just watched
could have been the biggest flock of geese we had
ever laid eyes on.
That afternoon, Shaun and Tory put in the legwork
using the OnX Hunt Maps mobile app and a knock
on a farmers door. Once the farmer understood how
many birds were on his field, he quickly stated I want
them all dead and gone. We like farmers with that
attitude!
The next morning was much of the same, I-35
was wide open at 3:30 a.m., and we had a truck full
of eager goose hunters. Joining Chase and I were my
former teammate, Cale, from southeast Oklahoma, and
our good buddy, Kyle. Coming from the hill country in
Oklahoma, Cale had never been part of a field hunt. I
had buzzed Cale on short notice the afternoon before.
After rounding up his gear, he quickly fled the red
dirt country and headed north to Kansas. Little did he

know what he was about to witness.
The setup was perfect, a half section of wheat with
a hedgerow that jetted into the middle of the field
and stopped. We deployed a large spread of full body
decoys and mixed in some silhouettes for added numbers. The trek in was half the battle itself, as we drug
large grain sacks on beavertail sport sleds down the
edge of the hedgerow. Temperatures were in the teens
and a crisp frost laced the ground. The forecast was a
bit depressing, as Old Man Winter was about to get a
firm grip on the Midwest the next day. Lows in the single digits would most likely freeze up all water, moving this massive concentration of birds farther south
in search of open water. We settled into the A-frame
blind and anxiously awaited the birds arrival.
As I removed my green ghillie suit hood and
looked over my shoulder into the rising sun, I saw
what looked like the entire roost lift up over the horizon. Hey, here comes the whole neighborhood boys,
I shouted. Cold, sunny mornings can make hungry
geese depart their nightly roost all at once, making for
a feast or famine hunt. This morning we would feast.
As the birds closed in on us, it was evident we had
everything right. Some early birds fell from the sky like
they hadnt eaten in weeks, pitching in to within feet
of my position. The rest of the mob quickly rallied up
and began rotating the spread. With every turn more
and more birds hit the ground and began to feed.
At one point, I gazed through the viewfinder of my
camera to see birds in focus, fluttering at a few yards
away, and more birds backed up seemingly miles into
the sky.
There are two things that Im very thankful for every time I get to go out and hunt: a great group of selfless hunting buddies, and good equipment. We had
both of those on this hunt. Great equipment let us fool

what I guessed to be about 2,000 to 4,000 birds into
within 30 yards of our homemade blind. And not once
did somebody attempt to rise up and shoot into such
a magnificent show of Mother Nature. With Shaun and
I melting the memory cards in our cameras, capturing
some of our most incredible images, the rest of the
crew sat wide-eyed in awe.
It seemed like the rotating wall of geese took an
eternity to land in the field, but it was really only 10 or
15 minutes. The mob of geese was so dense that we
knew we wouldnt be able to shoot into the masses
without going over the legal bag limits. So after both
Shaun and I had our fill of shooting our Canons, we
elected to wait for a good group of snows to float
within gun range.
Our group began picking off disoriented Lesser
Canadas left and right as they swarmed over the field.
Everybody filled their limit except me, because I hadnt
fired a shot. But that was quickly accomplished as
several more groups of geese dumped into the Deceptions a few yards in front of the blind. Then, in some
sort of fowl dream, the giant flocks of geese regrouped
and began to swarm us again.
We fed our growling bellies at a small-town
Braums, just off the interstate. The verdict amongst
us was that we might never beat the last four days of
hunting again. We hadnt killed more than 100 each
day, but we didnt have 10 guns going either. The
success for us wasnt measured in how many birds we
put in the back of the truck, but in how well we could
influence group after group of educated fowl.
There are more great hunts ahead, but those four
days of fury will surely remain prominent in our memory books.
Writer Drew Palmer is the owner of Mile North Outdoor Company. He lives in rural Arkansas City.
23
Getting a friend hooked

on waterfowling
By Rob Watson
eterans Day, Nov. 11, 2014, was a special day for

many reasons.
Not only was it the celebration of all American Veterans, it was also the start of a different celebration, one where two friends, Rob Watson
and Jim Champagne, would meet
in Kansas and enjoy camaraderie
over an icy decoy spread.
As a Marine Corps Veteran,
this site was all too familiar
for me but for Jim Champagne, Command Sergeant
Major US Army Retired,
this would be his first.
Jim has been an avid
hunter for whitetails, upland birds, and bears but
this would be his first ever
waterfowl hunt. What better
place to start than the Cheyenne Bottoms of Kansas.
Jim and I have spent countless hours in tree stands chasing
whitetails and many chilly mornings in
a ground blind listening to love-sick turkeys,
and watching Jims dog, Vic, lock up on pheasants in
the fence rows and ditches of the central Flint Hills of
Kansas.
But wed never chased waterfowl together.
Jim and I met a few years ago while working on
a project, instantly became friends and now several
years later are like brothers who share the same pas-
sion in the outdoors.

When planning this inaugural weekend, we knew
we would spend some time on Jims ranch trying to
harvest a whitetail and also chase some pheasants at the Ringneck Ranch, where Jim
helps guide during the season.
But it wasnt perfect until we
called our buddy, Drew Palmer.
Drew invited us to join him
and his crew for a hunt in the
bottoms, which caused us a
sleepless night for sure.
Jim and I typically
enjoy a good bourbon
and cigar in the evenings
when we get together, but
this being Jims first shot
at waterfowl, we were like
kids on Christmas Eve and
didnt get much sleep in before the 3 a.m. wake-up call.
Our steaming cups filled with
coffee and the truck loaded, we
drove to Hoisington, Kansas to meet
Drew, Shaun Reid and Grant Doyle .
We enjoyed a quick ride over to the bottoms to put
the boat in and a chilly ride to an awesome spot where
the setup began. Once decoys were out and blind was
brushed, we sat back and watched the show begin.
Jim was immediately amazed as flights of birds
passed by, and we enjoyed the unforgettable sound of
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24
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fishing, shooting, trapping and
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whistling wings well before shooting hours.

For now, all we had to do was sit back and enjoy
the coffee while we watched birds land and take in the
view.
I cant describe the look on Jims face when take
em was called out the first time, but I can tell you it
was the look of a now-hooked waterfowler!
Let me back up a little and share the amazing story
of who Jim Champagne is. He isnt your average new
guy you take out for the first time. Jim is a US Army
combat veteran with 29 years of service to this great
country.
For more than half a decade, Command Sgt. Maj.
Jim Champagne has been a leader within the 1st
Infantry Division and Fort Riley. He is a veteran of Iraq,
Afghanistan, has served in various units and has several decorations including two bronze stars.
He is a true American Hero and one of the most
humble men I have ever had the privilege to know.
He is always giving back to the troops, whether it be
providing solid advice to young soldiers or helping the
combat wounded adjust to their new lives through the
outdoors.
Its truly an honor to be hunting next to this man.
We were situated, all nice and warm, in Grants
boat with custom blind and portable heaters. While
being spoiled is great, it didnt take us long to forget
about the cold and get into the weather because the
birds were doing us right and flying into the decoys.
When the shooting was done, we had a nice mixed
bag of ducks and specks to be proud of. We had some
great conversation and enjoyed great company. But
the best part was sharing this hunt with friends and a
fellow veteran.
This was the start of Jim being hooked on waterfowl and is certain to become an annual tradition, no
matter the distance.
Photos by Drew Palmer
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25
By Drew Palmer
It seems like almost everyday I find myself discussing tactics, gear, and just about every element of
waterfowl hunting there is with my colleagues and
hunting comrades. The one thing that we always find
ourselves reminiscing is our best hunts of the year, and
what made them great. We also never seem to forget
about those hunts that could have been and why we
think they didnt pan out. The longer I do this the more
I cherish the hunting itself rather than the outcome,
but that doesnt mean success isnt sweet. Here are a
few outside the box tips to make this season one you
can enjoy forever.
Give yourself a role

Just like most of you, I find myself sharing a blind
or pit with the same group of guys over and over. By
December, we are striking on all cylinders and our
hunts resemble a group of highly-trained special ops
warfighters conducting a mission. Its not a rarity for

me to hardly speak to Chase the blind builder or
Shaun the decoy technician besides our usual prehunt game plan huddle. Good communication can
make those sometimes-stressful pre dawn hours fly
by and before you know it, the safeties are clicking
and its time to rock n roll. Most of the time we let the
scouter or the person whos seen the field or body
of water last, design our plans. Then its a few quick
words of whos working with whom and we are off
to get the work done. Knowing each of our roles has
made setting out 50 dozen decoys and grassing in 12ft
A-frame blinds seem like a walk in the park. This year
try to establish a role for yourself and partners on each
hunt. Youll find that things will come together quicker,
ultimately resulting in more hunts starting on time.
Dont abandon what works

There are a million gadgets and gizmos in the
waterfowl world that can put more birds in your bag.
What they can also do is make you want to cuss and
spit when youre trying to get them to work right.
Weve all found ourselves deploying the motion duck
decoy only to have it run out of batteries or start clanking with every rotation of the wings. More often than
not, we revert to the same old tried and true methods
for motion and find they still produce results. The
jerk string is simple and effective. Take advantage of
dependable, pre-rigged products like the RigEm Right
Jerk Rig or The Spreader from Motion Ducks. They take
the headache and the hassle of trying to hone your
homemade jerk rig into something that works just
right.
Go listen to the real deal

There is a lot of pride and dignity involved in
being a good caller for most waterfowlers. It can be a
long process to learn and become decent on a call. I
know it was for me, and I am mostly self-taught. This
year can be your biggest improvement yet! Call me
crazy, I really dont care, but I go to great efforts to
listen to live birds. Twenty minutes listening to the
real deal can teach you more than any audio CD or
recording. Every time I hear them and study them,
I pick up something new. My favorite thing to do is
roll down the windows and listen to them all talk it
up in feed fields. I am always learning new notes and
26
sequences from LIVE BIRDS.

There are a few subtle things Ive heard over the
years that have changed the way I look at calling. The
first one is that less is more. My good friend Wade
Walling, a Champion of Champions goose caller, told
me Dont touch a call unless you have to. If they are
coming in your direction, let them do it on their own.
Ive screwed up more birds from calling than I ever
persuaded. Youll be shocked at how much noise 1,000
geese on a pond DONT MAKE.
The other thing Ive noticed is that both ducks and
geese have different attitudes when they are on water
vs. a field. The only time I consistently hear geese making constant racket on water is when they are fixing
to get up. Pay attention to your calling and dont call
like a human. Real birds rarely vocalize for longer than
10 seconds at one time. Hunters often create a wall of
sound with all of their favorite notes strung together.
Those sequences can last as long as the birds are in
the air within calling distance! Truth be told, a couple
basic sounds at the right time can bring in the majority of drakes or the wary gander into your spread. Use
sequences that mimic real birds on the ground, and
arent directed at trying to persuade every bird in the
sky to come hang out.
Get your face out of sight

It absolutely drives me nuts when I see hunters
with pale faces staring at birds flying in the distance.
First off, comparing our eyesight to theirs, we are all
Helen Keller and they are all bald eagles. I can see your
face sticking out of layout blind at 300 yards. Do you
not think they cant see you, too? A study conducted
at Purdue University found that Canada Geese have
nearly a 330-degree field of view. To break that down
into redneck logic, that means with a slight turn of
their head they can see you 99.999 percent of the
time. Whether its face paint, a head net, or a full concealment blind, get your pasty pale face out of sight.
Youll have more birds in the bag.
Unfortunately not every hunter out there operates
on the same set of ethics we do, or has the respect for
the right way to do things. I shake my head when I see
people who are so eager for attention that they post a
picture of their recent success, with a giant recognizable landmark plastered behind them on Facebook.
You might as well say attention all other shady hunters or rich guys who wouldnt think twice about sliding
Photos by Drew Palmer
5 Tips For A Stress Free Season
in the back door with or without permission, please

feel free to come over here where Im at. Trust me, Im
a photographer by trade and I spend a good amount
of time guiding as well. I have to share my experiences
to promote my work or generate future business. Its
part of it. I also have to protect the lands and the territory where I spend 70 days a year in the field. When
I read a comment on somebodys page that says nice
limit man! Where at? It makes me want to turn green
like the Hulk. Cmon man.
Its not fair to you, or the very generous folks who
let you hunt their land, to have to deal with drama that
comes from you plastering your whereabouts all over
social media. There is a great saying in loose lips sink
ships, and it holds true to our way of life we love so
much. Do you think the best hunting tribes of Native
Americans rode 100 miles over the land to tell their
neighbors that there is 50,000 buffalo hidden in Red
Rock Canyon?
Most of us operate on a good handshake and a
small gift to our landowners. We dont have the funds
to pay to play every weekend. I enjoy seeing folks
share our wonderful traditions, harvest, and hunting
culture on social media the RIGHT WAY. Use common
sense and think twice about posting your grip n grin
photo 10 minutes after it happened.
27
UPLAND GAME
Welcome back, Bobwhite
Pheasant and prairie chicken numbers up, too

By Dave Seaton
few years ago upland game bird hunting

seemed a lost art in south central Kansas.
Quail populations had been declining since
the 1980s. Changes in farming practices, predbody has a theory and theyre all wrong, in-
wet summer in 2015 have further improved habitat

and nesting conditions, bringing a 170 percent
overall increase in the quail population, according
to Swank.
Coveys in the Cowley County area have grown
is seeing up to 22 or 23 birds in a covey compared
with16 to 18 last year. In Chautauqua County to the
east quail numbers are also up, though not quite so
much, according to game warden Clint Lee.
In western counties the pheasant population
is up 70 percent, Swank said. His colleague Chris
Stout has seen an increase of 10 percent in pheasant numbers in Sumner and Harper Counties.
Prairie chickens are up, too.
A KDWPT spring survey of prairie chickens
found a 12-13 percent increase in numbers over
Experienced hunters agree the key to successful

quail shooting is leading the bird. The same is true
for pheasants and prairie chickens. But hunters dont
always agree on how to do this.
For safetys sake take an open stance as you approach your dog on point, says Torrence. This will reduce the chances of shooting toward your companions.
vated and the butt stock held just below and in front of
Burning pastures is not a factor in the decline

of the quail population, according to several
sources. Quail live in brush like sumac and in
woods on the edge of pastures.
Pheasants, too, nest on the edges of pastures. He also discounted the introduction of
wild turkeys into Kansas as a factor, although he
noted the turkeys arrived about the same time
the quail population began its decline.
But this year the quail population is surging.
Most experts look to the weather to explain the
Photo courtesy of Mendy Pfannestiel
you will mount the gun and release the safety as your
Following through with your gun assures the shot will

below the bird. Your shot will rise to meet it. But dont
shoot so low as to endanger your dog.
Torrence only aims at male quail, which have a white
stripe on their heads. Females have a cream stripe.
Find a landmark where the bird falls so you can follow
your dog to that spot.
said Charlie Swank, regional biologist for the

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and TourSwank is based at Cheyenne Bottoms in
Barton County.
After a dismal season in 2013, following
several years of drought, nesting conditions
and hurry to that spot. A wounded pheasant can run like

a rat.
on any quartering shot. They are large and easier to
County area, according to Tom Schnittker of Pratt.

Quail numbers are up in north-central Oklahoma where the states August bird survey found 6.7
quail per 20 miles driven compared to 3.4 in 2014.
There is more CRP land this year where quail can
thrive. Pastures have more cover for prairie chickens.
Edge land has more forbs (weeds) for pheasants.
Just about everyone is optimistic about the
2015 season.
Bird shooting tips
One factor, the impact of no-till farming, remains a question. Some hunters like the stubble
28
2014. Where they are found, mostly in Western

Kansas, Chickens usually follow Pheasants in population growth.
There are places where the upland game bird
population has not improved, often due to hail
storms and other big storms, Swank added. But
as far west as Clark County quail numbers are up
over 50 percent, according to farmer/farm manager Mike McCarty.
Photo by Bryan Eastham
Photo by Todd Sauers

29
KDWPT 2015 upland bird

forecast South Central Prairies
This region has 19,534 acres of public land, and 65,224 acres of WIHA open to hunters this fall.
QUAIL This region generally has some of the highest quail densities in Kansas; however, populations are still recovering from the severe drought conditions experienced from 2011-2013. The breeding
population index rebounded this year by 50 percent and the brood survey indicated nearly a 170 percent increase in quail density in the region this summer. This region should provide good bobwhite hunting opportunities this fall. Greatest densities will be found in the central and west-central counties, with
other opportunities for this species also likely in patches throughout the region where adequate habitat
exists.
PHEASANT The spring pheasant crow survey index indicated a 52 percent increase from 2014.
The summer brood survey also showed an increase of nearly 70 percent. After four consecutive years
of CRP being released for emergency haying/grazing in nearly all counties of this region, no CRP was
released in 2015, which should improve the quality and quantity of cover on these acres this year. The
best hunting opportunities will be in the northcentral and central portions of this region.
PRAIRIE CHICKEN This region is almost entirely occupied by lesser prairie chickens and areas
included in the Southwest Unit are closed to prairie chicken hunting. Greater prairie chickens may occur
in very low densities within the limited area of rangeland tracts in the northeast portion of the region.
Pheasant and Quail Forever forecasts

PHEASANT Severe drought pushed Kansas
pheasant numbers to record lows in recent years.
The return of rain in 2014 and 2015 has helped
restore cover, food crops, and insects (though
rainfall in eastern regions was too heavy and hurt
brood survival). Statewide, summer brood counts
are 51 percent higher than in 2014.
With more birds, hunting should be better than
last year. But recovery from the drought will require
more time. This years harvest will probably remain
below average, according to Kansas Department
of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.
Northern High Plains will provide some of the
best hunting. Pheasant numbers are up 130 percent from last year (though still well below average). This region showed the highest numbers of
Photo courtesy Pheasants Forever
any region this year. The most birds will be found

in the northern half of the region.
Smoky Hills should also provide good hunting. The summer brood survey was up 40 percent
compared with last year. The highest bird numbers occurred in the northeast and southern tier of
counties.
Glaciated Plains started well, but heavy rain
in June and July hurt broods. Roadside surveys
indicate a 48 percent decrease compared with last
year.
South-Central Prairies showed an increase of
nearly 70 percent. No CRP land has been released
for emergency haying and grazing this year, so the
quality and quantity of cover will be better than in
recent years.
Southern High Plains pheasant population improved by 47 percent, according to summer brood
surveys. Nonetheless, densities are low compared
30
Photo courtesy Nebraska Game and Parks
with other regions.

Season Dates: Nov. 14, 2015 through Jan. 31,
2016
Youth Season Dates: Nov. 7-8 (age 16 or
younger; daily bag limit 2, possession limit 4)
Daily Bag Limit: 4
Possession Limit: 16
QUAIL Kansas quail hunters can expect
vastly improved hunting, with some of the best
opportunities in the Flint Hills and south-central
specialist for the Kansas Department of Wildlife,
Parks and Tourism.
The late summer roadside brood survey
showed quail to be 48 percent more abundant
statewide than last year. (Note: The surveys dont
distinguish between bobwhite quail and limited
numbers of scaled quail in the southwest part of
the state.)
Because the survey protocol changed four
years ago, no long-term average has been established. But spring whistle counts this year were
above the long-term average for that metric.
Weather played the biggest role in the increased abundance. A severe drought ended two
years ago, and nearly normal precipitation since
then has led to the growth of good nesting cover.
Extremely heavy rains during a critical period of
nesting probably limited nesting success in parts
Photo by Breck Cherry
of the Glaciate Plains and Osage Cuestas, says

Prendergast.
Season Dates: Nov. 14, 2015 through Jan. 31,
2016
Daily Bag Limit: 8, single species or in combination (bobwhite and scaled quail)
Possession Limit: 32, single species or in
combination (bobwhite and scaled quail)
31
bout Bird Dogs

Avoiding gun shyness
By Scott Johnson
s bird season approaches, I and most all dog

trainers can expect soon to receive familiar
calls from frustrated and bewildered dog owners.
I hear the same scenario from bird hunters
emptied?
First thing we need to understand is that gun
this young dog that I have been working with, and

I took him out opening day. He hunted well and
Avoidance and association are key to most

aspects of dog training but especially so when it
ral thing for any dog. Bird dogs arent born with an
stopped hunting and all he wanted to do was fol-
That is usually met

shy, he just stopped hunting and he stayed with us
Common belief is that
a gun-shy dog runs away
or hides in a dark place.
Even though some dogs
that way, most do not.
It is true when a dog is
seek safety.
In most cases that
means he will seek his owner and stay behind him.
After all, all he has ever know from a young age is
you to be his protector and provider.
To avoid gun shyness, we need to be able to
tively read our dogs.
Whenever I get a call for gundog training serhas the dog been shot around? Most times we
target shooting with me all the time and it never
bothers him. He just lays there at our feet while we
Would it not seem unusual that a puppy that
is normally very active suddenly curls up as if to
sleep to the sound of a 1-round clip of a .45 being
32
needs to start from day one of owning a puppy.

Today, most of our bird dogs are also the family
pet. Therefore, they sometimes live in the house
(yes, a bird dog can also
be a house dog).
Lots of times people
will use noise for discipline, not realizing they
could be starting a negative association. Say the
pup gets on the couch or
worse, starts to chew on
a table leg.
Many times family members will chase
after the pup shouting
and loudly clapping their
hands. Pup can associate
loud clapping noise as a bad thing.
Loud noise should never be used for discipline
of a bird dog and should be avoided, unless it is
associated with positive things, such as treat or
feeding time.
If the owner was to gently clap hands when
calling his puppy to him for a treat, coupled with
of the clap as days progress), the puppy begins
to associate that type of noise with good things in
life.
Start slow and low with noise

As time goes on you can increase the volume.
When you are sure (weeks later) that the pup has
no negative association to loud clapping, you can
start smacking two short pieces of 2x4 together,

but only at a time when he can make positive association to the noise, such as feeding time.
Remember it is important to watch and read
your dogs reactions. If he shows no signs of reacting, you are doing it right. If your pup backs up
Take your time. You may have this dog for 15
years but you can ruin a good dog in an instant. If
you sense a negative reaction, you are probably
right. Dont take the chance on making it worse by
trying again just to see if you were right.
During the next several feeding sessions reduce the volume of the noise, or create more
distance between the pup and the source of the
noise.
intro, you will only want to shoot a couple of shots

with a starter pistol or a small caliber, quiet gun
(.410 or 22).
Its best to have someone else do the shooting
maybe a couple hundred yards away. A puppy
should be at least 5 months old when you begin
this process. By now most pups will fetch a ball
when thrown.
Again, an older dog can be very encouraging
for the pup. When you have the dogs attention,
throw the ball. When both dogs are in full chase
Photos by Scott Johnson
Fireworks
Nothing can cause fear in a dog like loud,
the night sky.
Just think about that for a moment. How is a
dog to understand this activity? With all the activity of the kids running around with excitement
ramped up. The noise and the light must seem like
nothing our pup has ever known. This needs to be
avoided with young dogs. Find a kennel or a safe
place far away from Fourth of July celebrations.
Gun ranges/back yard target shooting

This is no place for a young bird dog to be. Not
until you have made the proper association to gunthe shooting.
Even thunderstorms can be a contributing factor to gun shyness, particularly if a young dog is
derstorms or is itself gun shy.
Remember dogs learn by association. A dog

cant learn by watching an older dog. But a dog
can make association to another dogs action, be
it bad or good.
Puppies like competition. Just as when one
dog might chase a ball, most times the pup will
want to also. This can be helpful when introducing
the gun.
It is important to remember to start slow and
and the object you have thrown is at the apex, the

Watch closely for a reaction in the pup. If no
Repeat this exercise one more time, then quit for
now. If you see a reaction in the pup to the gun, by
all means do not repeat the action.
Put the gun away and work on building the
positive association to the game of fetch. In your
next session, you may need to have the gunner
farther away or just smack the 2x4s together.
Another approach, sometimes in succession
to the previous exercise, is to take puppies to a
pasture or hay meadow, somewhere there are a lot
of birds such as swallows, meadowlarks, scissor
tails and the like.
Let him chase birds and have a good time.
33
Get that Thanksgiving turkey
Watch him and read him. When he is in full chase,

focused on a bird, as long as he is several yards
youre doing your job well.
Repeat the exercise one or two more times,
then stop until the next session.
as a deterrent to chasing birds, but rather a collatdom shot, he should be looking for a bird. When
you have achieved this you are ready to begin your
gundog training.
Remember, start slowly. This is education, and
that should never be rushed. Just as in our children and ourselves, dogs learn at their own individual speed.
Finally and most importantly: When bird season
comes around, do not take your green dog out to
hunt with a bunch of gunners and dogs.
and a lot to absorb. To most young dogs, opening
day in western Kansas can seem like the Fourth of
July.
12 gauges over his head. This is a sure way to

training down the drain.
rience. Savvy bird hunting buddies will understand
that this is a young dog, and only one or maybe
encounters.
gun shy dog, not all is necessarily lost. Gun shyon the severity and if a total fear of birds has developed.
I would recommend you let a professional trainer evaluate and help work through the problem.
Good luck with your new hunting best buddy.
Remember, with proper education and training,
you and your pup will have many good years
Scott Johnson is a professional trainer with
more than 30 years of experience in gun dogs and
outdoor shooting sports.
Welcome To Winfield!
Home to outstanding lodging,
restaurants, shopping, year-round
family entertainment, events
and outdoor recreation.
Enjoy your time

in and around
Winfield...
its a great
place to live,
work, thrive
and HUNT!
34
By Steve Gilliland
Winfield
Convention
& Tourism
123 East 9th Ave.
Winfield, KS 67156
620.221.2421
visitwinfield.com
Photo by Zach Raulie
vastly underutilized and thus under-enjoyed sport

Fall turkey hunting strategies are much different
here in Kansas is fall wild turkey hunting.
also. No longer can we use the gobblers need for love
The problem seems to be with the time of the year. against them as we can in the spring. During the fall
This years fall turkey seasons run from Oct. 1 through
and winter the boys are sort of just one of the girls,
Dec. 1, 2015, then Dec. 14, 2015 through Jan. 31, 2016, and dominant hens actually rule the roost (pun inalmost four months of hunting opportunity.
tended of course.)
During spring turkey season, fishing and bow fishJust as in the spring, turkeys travel routes and
ing are about the only other games in town. However, times are somewhat predictable from day to day,
during these nearly four months of the fall season,
so one strategy for hunting them in the fall involves
one can also hunt doves, ducks, and geese,
setting up a ground blind somewhere along
participate in the early season youth deer
their daily route and simply ambushing
hunts, hunt deer with bow and black powthem.
der, trap and call predators, not to mention
Another popular approach to hunting
high school and college football, soccer,
fall turkeys relies on their social need to flock
girls volley ball and basketball. Do you see
together. It has been proven that when a big
the problem?
group of turkeys is suddenly startled, causing
Fall turkey hunting has its perks. Besides
them to split and fly in numerous directions,
Gilliland
fresh wild turkey, the temperatures are
not only will they eventually group back
cooler, which means fewer, if any bugs and ticks and
together again, but they will often re-congregate at or
NO mosquitoes.
very near the precise spot where they split.
There are more opportunities to harvest a bird
Let me explain. If hunters spot a large group of fall
since the turkeys are grouped together in their winter
turkeys somewhere near good cover, they can either
flocks, which can easily number in the hundreds in my run toward the flock, causing them to fly helter-skelter,
part of the state.
or send a dog running into the flock to cause the same
But perhaps the best perk of all lies in the fact that outcome. They can then conceal themselves in the
fall turkey regulation allow for the harvesting of hens
cover nearby, fairly confident that the flock will re-contoo. That means that any wild turkey that walks past
gregate where it split, giving them good shots.
your stand can go onto the dinner table.
35
PREDATORS
Fall Turkey
Season: Oct. 1 through Dec. 1, 2015 and

Dec. 14, 2015 through Jan. 31, 2016
Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Legal Equipment: Shotguns using shot
sizes 2-9; long, recurve or compound bows
and crossbows.
Photo by Zack Raulie
I have an excellent turkey calling CD by Lovett

Williams, PhD and one of the countrys leading wild
turkey biologists. He devotes some of the CD to fall
hunting tactics and explains how dominant hens call a
flock back together after having it scattered, and plays
actual recordings of the calls and sounds turkeys use
to accomplish that.
If you are a purist and insist on calling turkeys in
the fall as well, you can learn these sounds and theoretically call a scattered flock of turkeys back together.
Right into your lap if you are well camouflaged.
To me, fall turkey hunting is less frustrating than
spring hunting because the finicky nature of the
gobblers is not an issue. This makes it an ideal time to
introduce a youth, your wife (or husband) or your girlfriend (or boyfriend) to Kansas wild turkey hunting.
Remember, no ticks, no mosquitoes and many
turkeys! So to put a wild turkey on the Thanksgiving
table this year, or just to try something different for a
change, try Kansas fall turkey hunting.
Permit Limit: Each hunter may obtain no

more than one turkey permit, which is valid
in units 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6.
Residents and nonresidents who purchase
a turkey permit may also purchase up to
three additional turkey game tags valid in
Unit 2 only.
Fall turkey permits and game tags are valid
for both male and female turkeys.
Dogs may be used in fall season.
Bag Limit: One turkey, either sex, per permit or game tag.
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36
By David A. Seaton
An avid bird hunter, Brian Love became an avid

coyote hunter after walking long distances be-
Kansas, where he can call in the wily predators for

a good shot.
Love will sit 30 to 45 minutes, waiting for a
yote to appear, before moving to another location.
There can be a quick burst of excitement when
one appears.
-
catch on and stay away.
mature male.
Those are the prized kills, though, and they can
provide nice pelts that fetch a higher price. Most
animals that Kleymann and his clients harvest
dont have great pelts to sell. Many hunters are
looking more for a good mount, he added.
Population control is another good reason for
coyote hunting. Cattle ranchers and Kleymann
is one dont really need to worry about them
taking down calves.
The yotes like to eat the afterbirth, and will even
Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@

gmail.com.
Our Pointing Labs are great family companions

that also excel at waterfowl and upland hunting.
We stand behind our Grandmaster bred Puppies
with a 30-month unconditional guarantee.
Predator hunting
the wily coyote
Busch and Busch Light trophy cans available in stores near you. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
Open to US residents (except CA) 21+ Begins 9/14/15 & ends 11/30/15. Multiple entry periods.
See Rules at www.busch.com for entry, entry deadlines, prizes and details. Void where prohibited.
With no season and no limit, coyote hunting

requires only a regular hunting license. If you want
to trap or sell the fur, however, youll need a furharvester license.
The basic method to gun-hunt these plentiful
but elusive predators is to call them in using electronic or hand-held devices to mimic injured rodents or fawns, or coyote pups or birds.
A feather or rabbit-tail decoy can also help.
One hunter says even a plastic bag can work.
Find a comfortable spot, even amid the grass
along a ridge and make your calls. Then wait.
Galen Kleymann started coyote hunting about
2000. He runs Flinthills Adventures. Predator hunting on television shows seems to have boosted
interest in the sport, he said.
Coyotes are smart and can be hard to kill. For
every three coyotes that come in, youll see one,
he said.
Once you have hunted one location, coyotes
37
NORTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
Season Dates: All year

Possession Limit: No limit.
No closed season for trapping or hunting coyotes.
Motor vehicles and radios in vehicles may be used
to hunt coyotes only. Furharvester license required
to trap and sell; hunting license required to hunt.
Oklahoma Hunting Seasons

Squirrel
May 15 through Jan. 31
Dove
Sep. 1 through Oct. 31 and Dec. 19-27
Free Hunting Days

Sep. 5-6
Antelope
excluding Southeast Region)

Spring Turkey April 6 through May 6 (2016)
(statewide, excluding Southeast Region)
Youth Spring Turkey Apr. 16-17 (2016) (Southeast Region)
Spring Turkey April 18 through May 6 (2016)
(Southeast Region)
Archery Oct. 1-14 (Only in open areas)
Rabbit
Bear
Oct. 1 through March 15
Archery Oct. 1-18 (Only in open counties)

Bear Muzzleloader Oct. 24 through Nov. 1 (Only
in open counties, closes when quota is met)
Quail
Nov. 14 through Feb. 15
Deer
Dec. 1 through Jan. 31 (Only in open counties)
Pheasant
Archery Oct. 1 through Jan. 15

Youth Gun Oct. 16-18
Muzzleloader Oct. 24 through Nov. 1 (Antlerless
days vary by zone)
Gun Nov. 21 through Dec. 6 (Antlerless days
vary by zone)
Holiday Antlerless Gun Dec. 18-27 (Only in
open zones)
Elk
wait around for a cow to give birth for that treat.

Coyotes control rodent populations, Kleymann said.
You dont want to kill them all, he said.
Theyre a valuable part of the ecosystem.
A few years ago, the Kansas Department of
Wildlife, Parks and Tourism debated whether to
limit the coyote hunting season because of concerns that some hunters were breaking certain
rules to hunt deer, claiming they were coyote
38
hunting.
But the rules did not change. Coyote hunting
still is allowed year round.
Love, though, prefers to hunt in cold weather,
when it does not interfere with deer season, and
when there arent any chiggers.
The predators are hungrier in the winter, he
added, and you can fool them a little easier.
Love said he basically taught himself how to
hunt coyotes, and he sees the sport catching on.
Its amazing how many predator hunters
there are.
Archery Oct. 1 through Jan. 15 (Private lands

only in open zones, closes when quota met)
Youth Gun Oct. 16-18 (Private lands only in
open zones, closes when quota met)
Muzzleloader Oct. 24 through Nov. 1 (Private
lands only in open zones, closes when quota met)
Gun Nov. 21 through Dec. 6 (Private lands only
in open zones, closes when quota met)
Holiday Antlerless Gun Dec. 18-27 (Private
lands only in open zones, closes when quota met)
Serving the Real Estate

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Residents in Cowley and
Surrounding Counties
including Buying
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HUNTING LAND.
Turkey
Fall Archery Oct. 1 through Jan. 15
Fall Gun Oct. 31 through Nov. 20 (Only in open
counties)
Youth Spring Turkey Apr. 2-3 (2016) (statewide,
Albright-Realty.com
1603 Main St., Winfield, KS
39
Oklahoma wants walk-in program

Sooner state looks to Kansas for guidance
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is working on a plan to lease property from
interested landowners to provide increased walk-in
hunting and fishing access to sportsmen, the ODWC
announced in 2015.
At its September meeting, the departments
commission heard a presentation
on the plan, made possible by a
Farm Bill program grant of more
than $2.2 million awarded to the
department last month.
With more than 95 percent of
the land base in Oklahoma under
private ownership, the program
will open more access to sportsmen looking for places to hunt
and fish.
Oklahoma is looking to Kansas
for guidance on a walk-in program.
Since 1995, Kansas has offered public hunting on private land by lease arrangements through the Kansas
Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.
By 2004, more than 1 million acres were enrolled
in the program.
We sent a few biologists up to Kansas to see how
they do it, so that we might figure out how we might
go about it, Joey McAllister, biologist at Kaw Wildlife
Management Area, told Kansas Hunter magazine.
Officials with ODWC say the details of lease agreements and plans for the program
are in the early stages of development, but special emphasis may
be placed on lands in close proximity to populated metro areas as
well as on species for which there
are few existing public opportunities.
According to Russ Horton,
wildlife research supervisor for the
Wildlife Department, the agency
anticipates making access to new
properties available to sportsmen
by as early as fall 2016.
Additional details on this program will be forthcoming as we move through the planning stages,
Horton said.
Oklahoma quail forecast
Weather is a critical factor in quail and other

ground nesting bird productivity. Most of Oklahoma
had a mild winter and the state endured cold temperatures, throughout the season.
Spring and summer rains and fewer days above
100 degrees Fahrenheit improved nesting conditions
and insect availability in a majority of the state, except
the southcentral.
After flooding events in the southern part of the
state in May, the southcentral region endured 6-7
Previous 26 year
Average
Statewide
Northeast
Northcentral
Northwest
Southeast
Southcentral
Southwest
2014
Average
5.8
3.4
3.4
8.04
4.6
2.22
13.8
weeks of little moisture. This likely had an effect on

reproduction and is why numbers are lower in that
region.
It appears the habitat and weather conditions were
favorable for early nesting attempts in most of the
state, as most quail were at least grown.
The increased rainfall increased vegetative cover
along the roadways which can restrict the visibility of
quail during the survey period.
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
2015
Average
3.8
1.43
3.4
7.6
0.0
0.62
8.92
6.21
2.0
6.7
13.6
1.5
0.1
13.1
Average number of quail seen per 20 miles during the August Quail Roadside Survey.
40
Kaw Wildlife Area
Hunt waterfowl, whitetail and more in regions largest public hunting area
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
owns or licenses more than 1 million acres of public
hunting land; 16,000 acres of that is an easy drive from
south-central Kansas, at the Kaw Wildlife Area.
If you include the Army Corp of Engineers managed
land, about 30,000 acres around Kaw Lake is open to
hunters.
There is another 4.341 acres available to hunters on
the Kansas side of the Kaw Wildlife Area, managed by
Kansas officials.
Hunters at Kaw can harvest whitetail, turkey, dove,
quail and waterfowl. Furbearers can go after predators
such as coyote, bobcats and raccoons.
Joey McAllister, the biologist for Oklahomas Kaw
Wildlife Management Area, said waterfowl is probably the most popular game to hunt at Kaw. Mallards,
pintail, widgeon and teals are among the ducks that
hunters seek the most.
If youre here on the right day, you could almost
see every waterfowl that is available to harvest .. that
runs this central flyway, McAllister said.
One outdoor writer called Kaw a waterfowl wonderland.
During hunting season, McAllister said hell see
license plates from both east and west coasts.
They come from all over, he said. Thats primarily
during duck season.
The deer archery season runs Oct. 1 to Jan. 15.
When muzzle and other firearm seasons are closed,
there is abundant hunting ground for archers.
If youre a bow hunter and you dont like hunting
around other people, you have an a lot of opportunity
here at Kaw, McAllister said.
Oklahoma Deer harvested in 2013
ODWC area highighted

$142 Small game non-resident license fee in Oklahoma
$75 Small game non-resident 5-day hunt
$280 (each) Deer archery, deer gun, deer primitive non
resident
$10 Waterfowl nonresident
See wildlifedepartment.com for more details
Kay County
Kaw WMA
(Excludes Kaw WMA)

ARCHERY BUCKS
ARCHERY DOES
GUN BUCKS
GUN DOES
MUZZLE BUCKS
MUZZLE DOES
TOTAL BUCKS
TOTAL DOES
GRAND TOTAL
11,337
10,103
30,9402
20,648
9,920
5,061
52,197
35,812
88,009
110
92
426
307
89
57
625
456
1081
16
25
73
63
28
23
117
111
228
Source: Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Management

41
TRAPPING
Oklahoma Trophies
By STEVE GILLILAND
Scratch that trapping itch
I
Bear
Jean Thomison, of Copan, Okla., kneels behind her

black bear on Oct. 2, 2014. The bears skull scored 19
in the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservations
Cy Curtis Awards Program. (Photo provided by Lakeside Taxidermy)
Antelope
Todd W. Bradley of Kismet, Kan., is the newest record

holder for pronghorn in the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservations Cy Curtis Awards Program. His
buck, taken Sept. 21, 2006, in Cimarron County, scored
85 points. The department announced the record in
July 2015. (Photo courtesy ODWC)
n 2005, I trapped for the first time since my youth,

some 30 years ago.
Back then my brother and I ran a typical schoolboy trap line in central Ohio, catching mostly muskrats
and coon, with an occasional fox and mink.
Obviously there were no tapes, DVDs, websites or
email, and if state and national trapping associations
existed, we knew nothing of them, let alone have the
opportunity to attend their conventions.
A few books were available, but the best printed
resources were magazine articles, which we poured
over time and again. Also back then I was fortunate
enough to be taken under the wing of an experienced
old trapper who had trapped on our property.
As I prepared to re-enter the trapping ranks several years ago, I was again fortunate enough to find a
couple local trappers willing to share (most) of their
wisdom with me.
And once again, I began browsing magazines and
was astonished at the amount of educational material
available. I feel I have become quite adept at finding, selecting and using trapping educational tools
and materials, and Id like to share some of what Ive
learned to help you new and inexperienced trappers.
advertises there, and every issue is chock full of great

how-to articles.
A subscription to the Trappers Post magazine
comes with an annual membership to our Kansas Fur
Harvesters Association.
The third year I trapped here in Kansas I purchased
a coyote trapping book written by Mark June, a professional trapper who catches unbelievable numbers
of critters each year. At the time he trapped mostly on
farmland and sand hills pastures like the country that
surrounds my home.
That next year my coyote catch went from three to
more than a dozen by following his advice. When or-
Magazines, books, videos and more
Mule Deer
Chandler Henderson stands with his mounted

state-record mule deer at the 2015 Backwoods
Hunting and Fishing Expo in Oklahoma City. He
took the deer in Cimarron County with a bow in
November 2014. The deer scored 191 7/8 inches.
(Photo courtesy ODWC)
Elk
42
Dale, Okla., resident Mark Thompson holds the antlers

of his Cy Curtis Award-winning elk after his successful
once-in-a-lifetime controlled hunt in 2013 at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Thompsons elk is Okla(Photo courtesy ODWC)
I will always remember the first red fox I caught

when I was just learning, many years ago. I had read in
a Fur Fish and Game magazine about how all canines
are drawn to objects that stand out in the landscape.
The trap was in a big pile of trash left after cutting
a field of soybeans, and after several days of checking
an empty trap, there was a beautiful red fox awaiting
me one morning. I caught my first grey fox that year
also, again using a scent-post set I had read about in
Fur Fish and Game.
The media I found most useful as a kid is still just as
useful today. Magazines are perhaps the best way to
begin your search for trapping educational resources
because every reputable trapping supply company
dering books and DVDs, try to order from authors who

trap in terrain and country comparable to the terrain
and country where you will trap.
For example, a book or a video about trapping
bobcats in the high deserts of New Mexico would not
be as helpful to me here in the farmland of south-central Kansas, as something written or filmed about
trapping in comparable farm country.
Something else to be aware of when building your
trapping resource library is the fact that with each new
author you choose you also get a new set of ideas on
43
how to do certain things. This confused me at first,

but as I sorted through the plethora of information, Id
find common threads that all authors agreed upon. I
learned to pay special attention to these basic common denominators, and Id log most other information
in my memory file, labeled Experiment with These
Ideas to Find What Works Best For Me.
coyote awaited me in that trap.

I use that trick every year to snag a coyote or two
that I might not ever catch had I not met Bob at the
Trapping Quick Tips from Steve
Leap into the computer age

The Web is a wonderful thing and all trapping
organizations and reputable trapping supply companies today have websites, and many of these sites
have help lines, discussion forums, classified listings
and other links that allow registered users to ask and
answer questions, participate in on-line discussions
about pertinent trapping subjects, and buy and sell
equipment.
These sites put you in touch with fellow trappers
across the country and around the world. I guarantee
that somewhere out there are other trappers who
have the same problems, questions, solutions and
concerns as you, and these tools allow you to find and
communicate with them from the keyboard of your
computer.
Four good trapping websites to get you started are
www.snaremantalk.com, www.trapperman.com and
www.sullivansline.com, and American Trap Talk.
Join, associate and demonstrate
The second year I trapped in Kansas, I met Bob

Redeker from Emporia at the Kansas Fur Harvesters
convention that fall. We hit it off and I felt like he kind
of took me under his wing, even though we lived and
trapped over a hundred miles apart.
Bob has caught more than a hundred coyotes
numerous years and gave me his phone number and
told me to call any time. I took him up on that phone
call that same year when I encountered a coyote that
messed with me incessantly by digging up my traps
and doing everything but getting caught.
Bob told me a trick he often uses to catch coyotes
like that and two days later a big, mean, snarling male
44
convention. The National Trappers Association (NTA)

and the Fur Takers of America (FTA) are both national
trapping organizations that have annual conventions
each summer in cities around the U.S.
In fact, the FTA convention is coming to the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Lawrence, Kan., July 7-9,
2016.
Our state trapping organization, the Kansas Fur
Harvesters, hosts their annual convention the first
weekend of October each year, this year in Seneca,
Kan. While on a smaller scale, they provide the same
quality trapping instruction to those in attendance.
Some of the presenters will be local master trappers, and even though they may not be recognized as
having authored books or filmed videos, their instruction can be invaluable because they understand the
local conditions and terrain that affect your success.
I strongly urge you to join your state and the
national trapping organizations to help them in their
quest to educate both trappers and non-trappers alike.
Check out the Kansas Fur Harvesters at www.kansasfurharvesters.com.
Buddy-up for success

Mr. Wolfe drove an old 1950s vintage, dark-green
Ford car. I can still see him seated behind the wheel
wearing hip boots and a big coat with lots of pockets,
and wearing a pistol on his side.
Hed pull into the drive, get out and open the trunk
to show me what he had caught. The trunk would
contain a mix of traps and stakes, muskrats, coons and
an occasional mink.
I remember feeling pretty pleased that this old

man would take the time to stop and show me his
catch. A stream traveled the entire length of our property, continuing on for a few miles before winding its
way back around to cross our land a second time.
As I remember, Mr. Wolfe trapped that stream for
years. When I was in my early teens, he began taking
me along, and I was hooked on trapping. Yes, Mr. Wolfe
was the old trapper I mentioned in the beginning, who
took me under his wing when I was a kid.
For my money, there is no better way to learn to
trap than to be mentored by someone who is already a
knowledgeable, ethical and successful trapper.
There is only one proven way to become a better
trapper, and that involves putting traps into the water
and into the ground, continuing to use what works
until a better way presents itself, and discarding what
doesnt work in favor of something that does!
As helpful as they are, no book, video, DVD or convention demonstration can take the place of spending time afield learning to know and understand the
animals you hope to trap.
So read some books, watch some DVDs, check
out the websites, find an experienced mentor to help
you learn the basics and spend time afield and may
your stretchers be full!
And all you experienced trappers hold up your end
of the deal and find someone who wants to learn to
trap and take them along this year!
Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@
gmail.com.
There is no better advice to give to a beginning trapper than to set your trap where the
critters will be. Predators and furbearers roam far
and wide, but look for tracks and droppings to tell
you where they frequent the most and set your
traps there.
Spend as much time finding the furbearers
and learning everything possible about them and
their lives as you do setting traps to catch them.
When trapping bobcats, come prepared with
an extra dose of patience. Remember, theyre just
big house cats and house cats thrive on indifference; thats what they do. So set your trap in the
right place with good smells and something gaudy
to attract their attention and the rest is up to them.
As a trapper, dont ever be afraid of making
a mistake. Try new things but dont ever totally
abandon what you know works. If you make a mistake, figure out what went wrong and fix it. I learn
more from the mistakes I make than I do from what
worked right.
Be very careful to keep bait and lure smells
away from your traps. Dirty and contaminated
traps cause canines to dig to find them, and once
they do youve created a monster that will never
stop digging for your traps until caught or killed.
TRAPPING SEASON INFO

Badger, bobcat, mink, muskrat, opossum, raccoon, swift fox, red fox, gray
fox, striped skunk, weasel:
Season Dates (statewide): Nov. 18, 2015
through Feb. 15, 2016
Season Limit: No limit
Coyote:
All year. No limit.
Beaver and otter (Trapping only)

Season Dates: Nov. 18, 2015 through March
31, 2016
Season Limit: Two otter per trapper.
No limit on beavers.
45
EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS

By Drew Palmer
A slice of humble pie
Stalking pronghorns in western Kansas was more than this experienced bow-hunter bargained for
total shock.
My only other pronghorn experience was driving across the state of Wyoming on my way to the
Oregon Waterfowl Festival and seeing hundreds of
them, if not thousands.
I can, however, tell you about a few of their
characteristics. For starters, they cover an insane
amount of ground and seem very territorial doing
it.
The hunt
I just recently returned home from a DoIt-Yourself, over-the-counter antelope hunt to
western Kansas.
The idea started several years ago with
an interstate daydream on the way back from
a baseball game.
Over time, that thought developed into a
plan for a weekend adventure that my father
and I embarked on in mid-September.
In the weeks leading up to the hunt,
I prepped for long range shots out to 60
yards, and envisioned shooting out of a
ground blind on a nice pronghorn over water.
I imagined drawing from awkward positions
after executing a tactical stalk along slight terrain
on the Kansas prairie.
I spent time reading up on Western hunting
tactics for antelope, such as using the Heads Up
decoy to get within range of a rutting pronghorn
buck, and planning your stalk for where they are
going, not where they are when you spot them.
All of this wonderful knowledge that I soaked
in was great, except for one problem: It proved
useless.
Total shock
In reality, western Kansas was farther from any
mental image that I had imagined.
There was no rolling grasslands with terrain
perfect for stalking. It wasnt dry with an occasional water tank that every pronghorn had to drink out
of.
No, it was actually insanely dry, with irrigation
46
pipes on crop circles everywhere, that any pronghorn could drink out of at anytime for miles.
I take a lot of pride in being an above average
One morning we watched two giant bucks run

each other full-speed across the land, leaving a
dust trail in their rearview.
They covered half of the section in what
seemed like seconds, only to return in a few minThis is when I began to smell the humble pie I
would eventually be served.
My one opportunity came in a rush during the
midday hours. I was glassing an area that I thought
may provide a strategical advantage for stalking.
milo on both sides that could provide an avenue
for me to close the distance.
A very respectable buck walked my direction
within bow range of the milo.
sneak up on anything using the winds and sparse

cover.
hunched-over crawl, I looked up and saw a speck

of white and a dust trail on the horizon.
I put my Leupolds on to see that it was another buck coming to challenge the buck I was after.
They quickly engaged in a high speed race around
This provided an opportunity to close the distance in a hurry, so I stood up a little taller and began a semi-stealthy power walk through the milo.
I guessed my buck had a doe bedded out of
sight, and I was right. Luckily, she stood up about
80 yards from me facing the other direction.
Im sure my reaction looked like I was shot by
by that wonderful feeling of dime-sized stickers
and thorns entering all of my extremities.
After several loose curse words and a few
collected my thoughts. As I eased up into the milo
heads to get a view of the goats, I noticed a second doe starring at the race still going on in the
Great, two more eyes to spot me closing in.
An arrow and a prayer

Another hour of crawling and I was nearing my
and returned to the area to smooth up things with
his girls. He bedded down facing me and the does
Over the next 30 minutes, I had successfully
closed the distance to 20 yards from the does and
roughly 30-yards from the buck.
A sly smirk crossed my face as I couldnt beIt took another few minutes of getting the
quickly shattered with just a few practice arrows at

If there is a trick to shooting an accurate arrow
at 40 yards with a 40-mph crosswind, Id pay a
few Benjamins to learn.
To make things worse, what little cover there
was to stalk a goat was covered by the meanest
thorns, spines, and every other miserable sticker
you can think of.
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47
the milo. I then tried to gather my breathing and

get mentally ready to execute a perfect shot.
My focus was quickly interrupted by a goat
noise I had never heard, and a doe standing just
a few feet away on high alert looking the other
direction.
I looked up to see a scene that looked like
something out of a movie: 14 goats on the horizon
and one huge buck sizing up his competition.
It was now or never.
I hadnt even grabbed my release before my
buck took 15 hard steps the other direction, moving from about 35 to 50 yards.
from as he whirled around looking for danger. Surprisingly he trotted a few steps in my direction.
I quickly regained my thoughts and allowed a
few stressful minutes to let him and myself calm
down.
Just as I began to start the process of mentally
and physically launching another arrow, my chronic bad luck reappeared.
The neighbor who had been planting wheat
spooking the big herd of goats and mine.
I sent another arrow with a prayer at-
40 yards.
Between the wind and the misjudged distance,
tached at the goat, who was quartered away at

tive range. The wind, or my emotions, or both sent
the arrow wide as it kicked up dust and the buck
trotted away.
Grab your cutlery Drew, tag soup and humble
pie has been served.
the goat.
He had no idea what or where the shot came
Writer Drew Palmer, of rural Arkansas City, is

the owner of Mile North Outdoor Company.
well known as I came to full draw. I let my mag-
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A Change of Scenery
Stalking muleys out west offers fun challenge for whitetailers
By DREW PALMER
For even the most seasoned of bowhunters chasing elusive Kansas whitetails, mid October can become
a bit stale.
I myself am very guilty of putting the bow up for a
week or two and dreaming of cooler weather.
But there are opportunities a plenty to cash in on a
great bowhunting adventure, and a change of scenery.
It is commonly known that Kansas produces some
of the biggest whitetails in the nation each year. But
many dont know about the great opportunity available to hunt quality mule deer in the western half of
the state.
The landscape across western Kansas is drastically
different than the central to eastern parts. You can
expect rolling grasslands hiding narrow canyons and
washouts, to flat, circle-irrigation areas providing excellent cover and feed for big mule deer.
shots so a good rangefinder is also a must have.

I cant tell you how many times Ive looked across
a grassland with sparse cover with the naked eye to
not see anything, then I look through my binos to
see the rack of a buck bedded next to a tumbleweed,
Mazanec said. They just have a way of blending into
nothing.
This is where the patience and attention to detail come into play. These are not foreign skills for
bowhunters, who commonly spend hours sitting in a
treestand.
But combing the vast openness of the mule deers
habitat can be frustrating or overwhelming.
Know your prey

Understanding where and when to look also has
a huge impact of your chances of success. Mazanec,
who has multiple P&Y muleys and whitetails under his
belt, has learned the hard way by trial and error.
Style of the hunt

This terrain also opens up a new style of hunting
that is exciting and very challenging: spot and stalk.
With a new style of hunting comes a new thought
process and a new set of skills to master. Trent Mazanec, a good friend of the Kansas Hunter magazine,
makes several trips each year back to the area where
he grew up.
For me returning back to northwest Kansas each
year is something that brings me back to my roots, a
bit of a mental escape for me, Mazane says. I love being able to cover as much country as possible and do a
lot of glassing for bedded bucks.
Unlike hunting in the wooded and conventional
terrain we often associate with bowhunting whitetails,
covering the vast landscape in search of trophy muleys
requires hours of meticulous glassing.
Its just so different being able to hunt all day
and have the freedom to move around, Mazanec
explained. Im not stuck in a treestand hoping something might walk by, Im out there covering 4-5 mile by
mile sections a day with my glass looking for a shooter.
Good optics in either a spotting scope or binoculars are a must. Some situations may require longer
(c) natureguy / fotosearch.com
You got to understand what youre looking for, he

said. Muleys are most likely going to be leaving the
feeding areas by 8:30 a.m. This is when I like to spot
them and watch where they head to bed down for
the day. That gives me the best chance to get on them
quick.
Over many years, Mazanec has developed a refined
set of skills to spotting and sneaking in close to mature
mule deer bucks. Understanding the mule deer and
their habits has led to more opportunities and a higher
percentage of filling his tag.
49
Mule deer commonly bed in open grasslands

where they can see potential danger coming from one
direction, and smell it coming from the opposite. With
nearly a 320-degree field of view, deer can spot movement in almost all directions.
Hunting the open country and spotting a good
muley buck is only the start to the saga. Playing the
winds and executing a detailed stalk is the biggest
hurdle in the game.
cut or standing milo fields. The hip-high milo stalks

provide the perfect blend of cover for the hunter to
stalk in, and a seemingly false sense of security to
bucks making their bed for the day.
I kinda have this BS theory that Ive developed
from having bucks bust me by standing up to rake
their beds, he explained. I always want to close on
them within an hour of them last standing up. My theory is that, I want to be on him and in range by 9 a.m.
He rakes at 10 a.m.
Target time
Stalks may take several hours to sneak into effective bow range without being detected. More times
than not, the buck youre after will not be alone and
the herd may be bedded over a 100-yard area.
This can create a real challenge when it comes
to eluding several sets of eyes to reach your target.
Patience and attention to detail come into play once
again, as spooking a big buck may lead to the deer
leaving the area or the property youre hunting on.
I cant tell you how many times Ive just had to sit
and watch giant bucks because there were either too
many does with him, or there was just no way to get
within bow range without being spotted, Mazanec
said.
Bucks of that caliber rarely make mistakes in
regards to the wind or terrain when they bed down for
the day. At the same time, though, hes got to get up at
some point and go to water or feed, and that may be
my chance.
But sometimes where there is a will, there is a way.
One of Mazanecs favorite locations to stalk game is
50
Getting an ethical and high percentage shot may

take just as much time as the stalk itself. Its so crucial
to be able to use that time efficiently and calm yourself down in preparation to releasing your arrow.
Mule deer frequently stand up to rake their beds
and rid of burs or other annoyances. This can be the
perfect moment to get a shot off at a buck unaware of
your presence.
At longer distances, releasing your arrow at the
buck undetected can be the difference between hitting your mark or the deer jumping your string.
Getting a shot off at a relaxed deer can also lead
to second chances. The wind blows in western Kansas,
thats not a secret. If you are in windy conditions and
happen to wiff that mature buck, dont panic. RELOAD!
There is a good possibility the wind may distort the
sound of the shot and the deer may become startled
but not spooked. This may be your precious second
chance to make it count.
in a microwave and youll be set.

If you do not want to eat the cost of high quality optics or a spotting scope for one trip, consider
purchasing used equipment on the Archerytalk.com
classifieds.
You can find hundreds of great used items at half
the cost of buying new, and post to resell them after
the hunt.
Oh, and one more thing, leave your lease to hunt
money at home. Most landowners in western Kansas are old school genuine people. As long as youre
respectful, walk dont drive, and are bowhunting, you
can enjoy hunting a lot of private property if you ask
permission FIRST.
Take your trusty old ball cap, jeans, a Mr. and Mrs.
attitude, and you will have success attaining private
ground to hunt.
There are also thousands of acres of WIHP as well
that hold great bucks. A call to the local KDWPT biologist or game warden could provide you with some
inside knowledge of deer concentrations on public
ground, and establish a positive working relationship.
HUNTERS WELCOME!
ds
of the Woo
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icious,
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oy
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Banquets. Drive-Thru and In-Town Delivery Available
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When the works all done... its

time to enjoy the great outdoors!
We support and encourage SAFE HUNTING
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But when its
back to work...
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Head west and happy hunting!
Planning your trip

If youre on a budget dont panic. Embarking on
this adventure is more affordable than you think. For
starters, youll want to buy the RESIDENT ARCHERY
EITHER-SPECIES/EITHER-SEX tag. It is $32.50 and
available over the counter. You can expect to spend
roughly 3-4 tanks of gas. Allowing yourself a tank to
get there, a tank to get home, and 1-2 tanks commuting and scouting your hunting areas. At the current
price of gas $2.15 and the average truck fuel tank
around 32 gallons, youre looking at roughly $280 in
gas depending on distance you travel. Get yourself a
cheap motel. Suck it up and pass on the $120 a night
rooms, you wont be spending much time in the room
anyway. Most towns have a local motel that you can
stay at for $50-$70 a night. Pack a cooler with drinks.
Some pre-made sandwiches or meals you can reheat
Preserve the memory

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51
EXTRA SHOTS
By Tom Claycomb III
Making your own sausage

If you shoot an animal and just drop it off at the
processor your hunt is over.
Processing it yourself will add another dimension
to your hunt that is almost as enjoyable as the actual
hunt itself. It will extend your hunting
experience.
Theres no way that I can adequately cover this topic in one article but I
hope to encourage you to get started.
The best way to get started is to get
an old timer to teach you. Thats how it
Claycomb
has been passed on for generations.
Im asked in my Sausage Making seminars if they
made better sausage in the old days. No way! They
were limited to local spices. Now, we have all the
spices of the world at our fingertips. Also, they smoked
with whatever wood they had in their locale. We can
get mesquite, hickory, alder, apple and whatever else
we want to smoke with.
What meat can you make sausage out of? Ive
made sausage out of antelope, deer, elk, bear, moose,
pork and beef.
But dont use old meat. A little soured meat can
spoil the whole batch.
What spices do you use? This will be determined
Photos by TOM CLAYCOMB III
Mixing is a lot easier if you have 60 lb. tubs.
Shooting club teaches marksmanship and more

The Cowley County 4-H Shooting Sports Club Program stands out as an example of how 4-H develops
youth as responsible, productive citizens.
Youth learn marksmanship, safe and responsible
Youll need a stuffer if youre going to use casing.
by what kind of sausage you want to make. There are

a ton of varieties and multiple recipes for every type of
sausage.
I like to mix my own spices, but to start use a premade package. Ive had good luck with Hi Mountain
Seasonings.
Pork fat juices up your sausage. I used to use pork
fat but now I buy a pork butt. That way I get the juiciness of the pork fat but it also adds some good pork.
Your deer will be close to 90 percent lean, so Id use 60
lbs. of deer and 40 lbs. of pork butt, but theres nothing
magic about those numbers.
Coarse grind the pork and then the deer separately. Mix the spices uniformly in with the pork and then
mix the pork and deer meat together. Now grind all
through a 1/8-inch plate.
Make a small patty and fry it up and see how it
tastes. If its bland, add more spices to taste.
When making links, I like to use natural casings.
I dont think that collagen casings are as permeable
to smoke. Soak your natural casings in warm water.
Then put one end on the faucet and flush out the
preserving salt or it will ruin your sausage. (Or you can
package in 1 pound packages to later thaw and make
52
degrees. For some reason the USDA then recommends

160. Trichinosis in pork can also be killed by freezing,
patties.)
but freezing will not kill all strains in bear meat. The
Lets talk about smoking. The real sausage makers
safest means of eliminating trichinodo a cold smoke. This will be in the
sis is by proper cooking.
90-degree range.
What is that red ring around the
Theyre depending on the nitrates
outside? There are three things that
to kill the bacteria because if they
can cause the meat to be red. One is
didnt use them this would be the
the smoke, the second is the nitrites,
perfect temp to incubate bacteria. To
and the third if it is raw. Thats why its
begin, though, why not just do a hot
important to use a thermometer to
smoke hitting an internal temperacheck the internal temp.
ture of 160 (or the USDA has a chart
Well, hopefully Ive spurred your
for lower temps held at longer times). Smoking a variety of sausage. That
You can precook and freeze, or just
way I have something to throw in my interest in making your own sausage.
pack when I take off hunting.
Remember, after youve mixed your
pull it out of the freezer raw before
batch, fry up a little patty. If its not
a BBQ and smoke it before people
good, add more spices before you stuff it.
come over.
Start off making small batches. Happy smoking.
People panic over trichinosis, but it is killed at 137
much more.
The activities of the program and the support of
caring adult leaders provide young people with opportunities to develop life skills, self-worth and conservation ethics.
Teach decision making, teamwork, self-discipline,
Promote the highest standards of safety, sportsmanship, and ethical behavior;
Encourage an appreciation and understanding of
natural resources;
Develop leadership abilities;
Build character and willingness to assume citizenship responsibility;
Furnish enjoyable, positive relationships with peers
and adult instructors;
Strengthen families through participation in lifelong
recreational activities;
Build awareness of related career opportunities.
The Shooting Sports curriculum uses the time,
ship. The shooting discipline includes archery, pistol,
4-H members have opportunities to test their
shooting, hunting, and sportsmanship skills in county,
regional, and national competitions.
This county program has had members qualify at all
levels of competition. To date, two national individual
championships, one national individual reserve championship, two national team division championships,
and one national third-place team championship. State
level team placings for the past three years add to the
list.
Proven It Cowley County Shooting Sports Club
Thank you to all

our sponsors!
Purple Level sponsor,
National Wildlife Turkey Federation
Cowley County Friends of NRA
Winfield Convention & Tourism Board
Legacy Foundation, Winfield
Westar Employee Fund
New Hope Fellowship Church, Winfield
Sponsor Dennis Beach
Myrne Simpson Memorial
Ken Norland Memorial
Harold Bannon, Jr. Memorial
4HShootingSportsCowleyKS.com
53
Processing your own deer

By Tom Claycomb III
Photo by Tom Claycomb III
d like to encourage you to market your deer more

in-depth. I could write a book on the topic, so it
will be impossible to cover in one short article.
If you mess up dont panic, cave men didnt
break it down like Im going to recommend. Its
just fun to break it down into more cuts. On these
cuts youll have two pieces, a right and left side.
(Use the Web if you need to become familiar
First lets save the
, which are the
tear dropped, smooth muscles that you cut beRemove the tough tissue on top and bottom.
Sprinkle on a coarse seasoning, chopped onions
and green peppers. Roll them up and pin together with tooth picks. Smoke and slice paper thin.
Excellent.
Flap meat, inside and outside skirts: These
work great for fajitas. Remove the tough tissue,
slice thin, season and fry along with onions and
green peppers. Fajita time!
Tri-tips are popular out West. Why not save
KNIFE TIPS:
If youre saving the hide youll want a drop
point skinning knife. Check out the selections by Steel Will Knives or Knives of
Alaska.
If youre going to mount the head youll
want a caping knife so that you can skin
around the lips, eyes and ears. Check out
54
coarse seasoning and smoke slowly. Slice paper

thin against the grain. They wont last long.
The Eye of Round lies between the inside and
outside rounds. Remove this cigar shaped muscle
at the seam, slice and make chicken fried steaks.
Inside round: Slice one-half inch thick, sprinkle
on Adolphs Tenderizer and beat with a mallet. Dip
and fry. I then make onion gravy and garlic toast.
Cook twice as much as you think youll eat.
Backstraps are the muscle lying along the
backbone. On the left side remove starting at the
hip bone on the rearend going up to where the
muscle peters out about the third or fourth rib.
On the right side start at the front end. I cook
them the same as the inside round. I have access
to the best beef in the world and Im still not sure
that this isnt my favorite meat in the world.
Shoulders: OK, Ive saved the best for the last. I
know I said backstraps were my favorite cut but this
one is too! No one ever believes me on this one.
Youll just have to try it to believe it.
Separate the forequarter at the natural seam leaving on the brisket. Remove the foreshank at the joint.
To cook, throw it on the smoker at 160 degrees
for 3-4 hours when you get home from work. At
bedtime put it in a black turkey roasting pan and
add two cups of water. Sprinkle with salt, pepper
and garlic. Put in the oven all night at 200 degrees.
If you wake up in the middle of the night check
it. If it runs out of water its ruined. Add water if
necessary.
The next morning if it falls apart with a fork its
done. If not, turn the heat up to 300. It should get
done in less than an hour. Chop in -inch chunks
and sprinkle with seasoning salt. Toast hamburger
buns with butter and pile on meat, BBQ sauce and
a splash of tabasco. They are to die for and will
out eat a Texas BBQ sandwich.
I wish I had more room. Like I said, I could
write a book on the topic. For more on the topic go
to Amazon Kindle and I have an e-article on there
for $.99 titled COOKING DEER MEAT that should
help you out.
Try some of these methods so youre not just
making plain old deer roast and hamburger year
after year. Happy eating.
Your Trophy
Deserves
to be the
Center of
Attention!
Let us turn your
Hunting Adventure Into
a Lifetime Memory.
Knives of Alaska.
For boning out your deer youll want a five
or six inch boning knife. Forschner, Dexter and Dont Tread on Me all make good
boning knives.
To sharpen your knives youll want a
Smiths Fine Diamond stone. To keep your
boning knife super sharp youll want to use
a smooth steel.
Tom Claycomb III
107 Acres - Sumner Co.

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55
READER PHOTOS
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Deik Scram pictured with a limit of Kansas public

land mallards and a bonus goose.
Levi Udens first deer. As his dad tells it, He

was 8 at the time he shot the deer. I thought
he missed the deer, but he kept telling me he
didnt miss. I didnt find blood were he had shot
the deer. We looked for it for a while and didnt
see anything. We went and ran our trap line.
Levi kept telling me he didnt miss, so we went
back and looked again. We found the deer in
the opposite direction that I had last seen it. I
was more proud of him then Ive even been of
shooting anything Ive ever hunted.
Above: Kesha Falletti has been shooting

for at least 10 years, starting in 4-H. Her
dad took her through hunter safety training
when she was 16. Kesha is her mothers
(Kerri) main hunting partner.
Below: A doe harvested last season. Very
exciting because it was over a 200-yard
shot, Kerri Falletti said. And yes, I can do
all of field dressing and processing of the
meat from the deer myself. We do steaks,
roast and stew meat, ground burger, but
also jerky, breakfast sausage and Italian
sausage.
mmorris@sun-graphics.com
www.sun-graphics.com
Barn Quilt Trail
ridges
Stone-Arch B
Cambridge Cab
in
Destination Cowley County
aterfall
Cowley W
For More Back Road Adventures

Visit.CowleyCounty.org 620.221.9951
Left to right: Cash Parrish and Alan Parrish with Colorado Buck, Luke Hocker, Matt Bohannan with
his dog Gunner, and Tyler Goering. A stellar February urban honker hunt outside of Wichita. Filmed
for Where In The World Is Colorado Buck?
56
57
This is a yote I harvested last January (2015).

It was one of six I called in that morning. I was
able to harvest three in the Chautauqua County
Hills. BRIAN LOVE
My best friend and I purchased a piece of

property in Kansas as our retirement gift to each
other after the Army five years ago. After a lot
of blood sweat and tears and great QDM, it paid
off in the fall of 2014. I was fortunate enough to
harvest the biggest buck I ever shot. 171 gross.
The great thing about it was it was on our land!
JIM CHAMPAGNE
We spotted this buck the night before with a

doe at the edge of a small woodlot. We put up
a blind nearby in a row of big round hay bales
and got him the next morning. I started going to
the woods to spend more time with (husband)
Steve, then discovered I could do this too and
help add to our meat supply each year. JOYCE
GILLILAND
(UNTIN
THECITY
I shot this deer on the second day of bow season in September 2014. The best part about it was
the week before my dad and 4-year-old son were both with me, setting this stand in a new spot
that we thought would be great. Turned out we were right. The sad part was that my season was
over after two days in the stand. DUSTIN AVERY
58
7tLD#LASS
(UNTING&ISHINGAND,ODGING
*USTASHtTDRIVE~&tT3CO
THEHISTtY
WWWTIMBhHILLSLAKEC
59
Opening weekend of pheasant season in Ness City, Kansas, is just as important and exciting as
Christmas is for the Pfannenstiel family. Extended family, first through third cousins, male and
female gather together and hunt. Younger kids get to carry BB guns and walk the fields or
block, and everyone helps clean the birds afterward. And just for good measure, in the very early
mornings, there is always a good coyote hunt involved, followed by some target shooting in the
afternoon! Its not just about hunting and providing some food for the table. Its about being
outside in nature, adhering to family traditions, and creating lasting memories.
SUBMITTED BY MENDY PFANNENSTIEL
This was my first buck I shot with my Hoyt Powerhawk (December 2010). This shows my love for
all things hunting the preparation of the year, the trail cameras set up, the target practice, and
the time I am able to spend with my kids doing this. The second picture is my son Hunters first
deer that he shot at only 9 years old, using his crossbow. (September 2014). My daughter also
loves shooting her bow with us, and is looking forward to possibly shooting her first deer this year.
JUSTIN WINEGARNER
COVEY FIND
KENNEL
Scott Johnson, Trainer
We strive to bring out the ultimate
potential in each individual dog.
Our EXPERIENCE
and INTEGRITY contribute to
their success and ours.
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CoveyFindKennel.com
61
Why I hunt
Kansas Hunter magazine asked hunters to submit
photographs with descriptions for publication. Dustin
Quint, who lives in Cowley County, submitted these
photos and this powerful testimonial about the experiences and connections that hunting provides.
By Dustin Quint
I began hunting at a very young age in northwest

Kansas at Quinter.
lot because thats what my
dad enjoyed doing and really about all we had to do
anyway in a small town.
We always archery hunted cause it was a lot more
fun, and a lot more of a
ing, plus the season was a
lot longer, so you could go
more.
I used to go deer hunting with my dad, carrying
my own bow. Then after a
certain time in the mornings, before we crawled
out of the tree stands, he
would take off his gloves and throw them down to the
ground and let me shoot at them with my bow.
Did that for a long time, until I started hitting them
and putting holes in them. Then he wouldnt let me
do that anymore.
We hunted about
everything that you
could hunt, and
always ate what we
shot. I learned then,
at an early age, there
was nothing like getting to spend a few
hours a day in a tree
stand with nature.
Crawl in before the
sun rose, and listen
to the forest come
alive in the morning
or crawl in a stand
in the afternoon and
listen to the woods
go to sleep in the
evening.
I dont get to hunt
as much as I once
did, due to work and
a duck blind quite often and have found it is one of
the best places to get away from it all and clear your
mind.
62
Some people have the opinion that it is boring, I

value it as an opportunity to relax and enjoy what
very few people that dont hunt get to see. Also, it is
a time to be thankful for how lucky we have it compared to others from different places. It is also a very
great source of meat for the table.
Now with two young boys, I have found I enjoy it
even more than when I go by myself. Its very rewarding as a parent to pass these skills on and see
my boys react to seeing ducks come into the decoys,
or having that doe or buck walking right under our
tree stand and not know that we are there.
I believe hunting and
Left to right: Drew Palmer, Bryan Haynes, Brent Burroughs. A frigid mixed bag morning out of
Bryan Haynes duck blind. Everyone enjoyed a hot breakfast, hot coffee, and plenty of great
Kansas waterfowl action.
lessons and experiences

that we may not get by not
being a part of it.
As you can see I am very
passionate about it. Some
of my greatest memories
with family and friends are
deo-ing.
But probably more so
cause my entire family
does it.
About the photos:
The ducks stacked on a

log was a hunt on the Arkansas River a few years ago
just east of Geuda Springs. Very, very cold. We kept
icing up. In the picture is myself, Drew Palmer, Chase
Barker, Devin Avery and Brent Burroughs. One of my
favorite hunts of all time due to the surroundings and
the company.
Jeff Tex Freeman, Jacob Hocker, Drew Palmer, Brent Burroughs, Luke Hocker, Ryan Drussel.
A Kansas farm pond goose hunt. A windy and frigid morning with great friends.
Huck (my dog) with the goose in his mouth was a

hunt a few years ago that Drew and I went on out at
the Slate Valley Sportsman Association private marsh
over by Geuda Springs. We had some geese come in
and shot several. Drew took pictures of (Huck) as he
was coming in.
The deer photo is of myself and my oldest son, Kolby, 6 at the time. I shot that buck on Veterans Day
evening, right before dark. Heard him walking and
used a grunt tube to call him into about 8 yards, and
shot him with my Bow. Then went up and got Kolby
and my brother-in-law, Stephen Jennings, to help me
get him out.
He was shot on
my place east
of town. Kolby is hooked
and goes duck
hunting with
me as often as
he can, and is
starting to go
deer hunting
more often.
63
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Kansas Hunter Fall 2015

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Kansas Hunter Fall 2015

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Kansas Hunter

WINFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.

Check out our Departments

President, Winfield Publishing Co.

We can cater your meetings, or we can bring

501 Hwy K15, Dexter KS

Kansas Hunter Magazine

Kansas Hunting Seasons

RABBITS (Cottontail & Jack rabbit)

(Mourning, white-winged, Eurasian collared, ringed

(Eurasian collared and ringed turtle only)

RAIL (Sora and Virginia)

GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKEN

Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and Nov. 21 to Jan. 31, 2016

Kansas Hunter Magazine

SAFE HUNTING RULES

| 3-Species Classic hunt

| The power of the finger

New event invites hunters to bag a deer,

Finding a new way to wait for that trophy

| Welcome back, Bobwhite

Duck hunters use their knowledge and

After years of scarcity, quail and other

| Get that Thanksgiving turkey

| Scratch that trapping itch

| A slice of humble pie

An experienced Kansas trapper tells how

Antelope hunting in western Kansas

For advertising information:

To get a copy mailed to you:

The adult may NOT hunt.

New hunting rules for 2015

At designated wildlife areas, paper card daily hunt

Kansas Hunter Magazine

DOGS TO RETRIEVE BIG GAME

Dogs may be used to retrieve big game animals.

ANTLERLESS DEER PERMITS

While deer hunters who have purchased a permit that

Public hunting areas in south-central Kansas

For more information contact contact Kansas Department of Wildlife,

512 SE 25th Ave.

6232 E 29th St. North

NEWS and EVENTS

Blue Valley Wildlife Area

created through conservation partnerships

Quail and pheasant lovers

with a Quail Summit hosted on Feb. 20, as

prominent role at our 2016

attendance of hunters throughout the nation as we elevate the

Kansas Hunter Magazine

More about the show:

Upland bird hunters have more room to roam

The Tuttle Creek project is Pheasants Forevers

3-Species Classic hunt

Kansas Hunter Magazine

Were really trying to

Gear that works

THATLL HOLD A CUP-A-JOE.

Sleeps 6 with 4 twin

The Barns @ Timber

The Barns @ Timber Creek

Flint Hills Adventures, Inc.

X-ACT CONTOURTM FLOOR LINER

Kansas Hunter Magazine