Adventure Sports Outdoors Feb. 2013

Sports Outdoors

LISTEN TO THE REDNOSE GANG! Sunday Mornings 7-10am on

WOAM 1350 AM Radio! Streaming LIVE at:

www.ASOMagazine.comClick on: Radio Listen Live!

Subscribe to ASO Magazine! 12 BIG Issues…Only $18.95! See pg. 6.

Subscribe to ASO Magazine! 12 BIG Issues…Only $18.95! See pg. 6. ISRA.orgISRA.org

INSIDE:! Great Buys on

Guns & Ammo for Conceal Carry

! Feb. Boat Shows! Chasin Muskie

with Dan Vinovich! Hunting Coyotes! Ice Fishing!! & Much More…

February 2013

ASOMagazine.comASOMagazine.net

Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee

EagleNestResort.com

001(2)_001.qxd 1/20/13 11:57 PM Page 1

2 ADVENTURE SPORTS OUTDOORS “THE VOICE OF THE AMERICAN SPORTSMAN” February 2013

002_001.qxd 1/21/13 4:15 PM Page 1

February 2013 ADVENTURE SPORTS OUTDOORS “THE VOICE OF THE AMERICAN SPORTSMAN” 3

(309) 647-3421 • www.BuellsMarine.com700 E. Linn Rt. 9 E • Canton, IL 61520 • fax (309) 647-1500HOURS: M-F 8am - 5pm • SAT 8am - 12noon

Tr a c k e r • Ta h o e • R a n g e r • L o w e • Wa r E a g l e • Q w e s t • G i l l G e t t e rCentral Illinois’ Boating Super Center & Largest Stocking Jon Boat Dealer!

OPEN HOUSE: MAR. 8 & 9, Fri. 8am-5pm & Sat. 8am-3pmOPEN HOUSE: MAR. 8 & 9, Fri. 8am-5pm & Sat. 8am-3pm

Come to our Open House… Enjoy Refreshments! Boating Accessories SAVE 15% Off *! 2012 Models Close-Out Priced to Sell!Come to our Open House… Enjoy Refreshments! Boating Accessories SAVE 15% Off *! 2012 Models Close-Out Priced to Sell!Ranger Aluminum Bass Boats Coming Soon!

NEW 2013 Ranger Z520C MA$$IVE PRICE REDUCTION ON THIS IN-STOCK MODEL!

BIG $avings for the New Year!

Qwest Pontoons

War Eagle 756 Tomahawk

(*15% OFF excludes electronics & trolling motors)

Apex Mini Pontoons

Gillgetter

GIGANTIC YAMAHAOUTBOARD $ALE!PLUS EXTENDED WARRANTIES…

SEE BUELL’S FOR DETAILS!

6

66

6

6

6

(309) 647-3421 • www.BuellsMarine.com700 E. Linn Rt. 9 E • Canton, IL 61520 • fax (309) 647-1500HOURS: M-F 8am - 5pm • SAT 8am - 12noon

Tr a c k e r • Ta h o e • R a n g e r • L o w e • Wa r E a g l e • Q w e s t • G i l l G e t t e rCentral Illinois’ Boating Super Center & Largest Stocking Jon Boat Dealer!

OPEN HOUSE: MAR. 8 & 9, Fri. 8am-5pm & Sat. 8am-3pmOPEN HOUSE: MAR. 8 & 9, Fri. 8am-5pm & Sat. 8am-3pmCome to our Open House… Enjoy Refreshments! Boating Accessories SAVE 15% Off *! 2012 Models Close-Out Priced to Sell!Come to our Open House… Enjoy Refreshments! Boating Accessories SAVE 15% Off *! 2012 Models Close-Out Priced to Sell!6

(*15% OFF excludes electronics & trolling motors)

COME SEE ALL THE NEWLOWE JONS, BASS BOATS & PONTOONS

IN STOCK NOW!

1860 RX Side Console Pkg.

X230 Tri Log Pontoon

ST 175 Camo

MERCURY OUTBOARDS BLOWOUT $ALE!DURING OPEN HOUSE ONLY: EXTENDED WARRANTIES

AVAILABLE ON MERCURY MOTOR PURCHASES!

REBATE$ REBATE$ ON ON

SELECTSELECTLOWE LOWE

BOATS!BOATS!CLOSE OUT

PRICE$ ON REMAINING

& TAHOES STILL IN STOCK!

FM 175WT

66

6

6

6

OPEN HOUSE! 5 4 6 3 7 4 8 3 5 4 6 3 7 4 8 3 5 4 6 3 7 4 8 3 5 4 6 OPEN HOUSE!

6TC-W3

Outboard Oil $99.95 for a

5 Gallon Container($20 a gallon!)

Limited Quantities & BIG

$AVINGS!

SPECIALS SPECIALS ON TRAILERS!ON TRAILERS!

003_001.qxd 1/21/13 2:04 AM Page 1


RV Hookup’s & Fishing RV Hookup’s & Fishing Packages Available!Packages Available!

HUNTER'SHUNTER'SHAVEN LODGEHAVEN LODGE

PRIVACY AND PRIVACY AND BREATHTAKING VIEWS BREATHTAKING VIEWS

ALL IN ONE!ALL IN ONE!Beautiful Home Available…

Great for Reunions ,Hunter/Fishermen Outings

& Much More!Eagle Nest Cabins…

ALL LOCATED RIGHT ALL LOCATED RIGHT ON THE WATERS EDGEON THE WATERS EDGE!!

Private fishing and swimming pool access

when in season.

P.O. Box 187 • Samburg, TN 38254www.EagleNestResort.comwww.EagleNestResort.com • • [email protected]@eaglenestresort.com

1-877-EAGLE-01 1-877-EAGLE-01 •• 1-731-538-21431-731-538-2143

PPRRIIMMEETTIIMMEE FFIISSHHIINNGG PPAACCKKAAGGEE3 Days & Nights Starting Thurs. or

4 Days & Nights Starting Sun.Mar. 17 - May 18

OONNLLYY$$330099$$228899

Feb. 1 - Mar. 16 & Starting May 19

OONNLLYY $$222299Prices are per person + tax & license. Prices subject to change.

Packages Include: Lodging, Boat & Motor, Bait, Gas & Ice. Minimum of 2 people and $75 Non-refundable deposit required.

DDUUCCKK && GGOOOOSSEE HHUUNNTTIINNGG PPAACCKKAAGGEESS

OONNLLYY$$554499$$664499

Minimum of 4 People. Hunts Also Available for Small Parties and Drive-Ins.

Shooting Times: 30 minutes before sunrise until 3:00 P.M.

2Days

3Days

Russ, Ryan and Ron, The Dyer Brothers are expert callers and excellent at Russ, Ryan and Ron, The Dyer Brothers are expert callers and excellent at bagging the legal limit of birds. They look forward to hunting with you soon!bagging the legal limit of birds. They look forward to hunting with you soon!

withkitchenwithoutkitchen

PRIVATE 2 HOUR EAGLETOURS AVAILABLE!

GREATGREATFISHING!FISHING!

Good for 2 people with 2 nights lodgingincluded. Deposit required. Guided Eagle

Watching Tours not included.

Good ThruFeb. 2013

004_001.qxd 1/21/13 2:05 AM Page 1


©Copyright 1994Published monthly by: Red Nose, Inc.Harry & Cathy Canterbury, Owners

TREMONT OFFICE1408 Downing Ct. • Tremont, IL 61568

(309) 925-HUNT (4868)Home Office: (309) 925-7313Harry’s Cell: (309) 360-0487Cathy’s Cell: (309) 370-6922

E-mail: [email protected] Web: AdventureSportsOutdoors.webs.com

ADVERTISING & SALES:Call Toll Free: (877) 778-HUNT(4868)

[email protected] Sweckard • Accounts & Office ManagerCell: 309-241-6591 • [email protected]

Carroll Gentry • So. IL Rep. • 618-988-8230PRODUCTION: AD CREATION & LAYOUT:

Becky Fee - Graphic Artist (309) 642-2402 • [email protected]

FEB. 2013 • ISSUE #195

Deadline for ASO editions is the 10th of each previous month.

Please send only digital media files.

Gebby’sFamily Restaurant

726 E. War Memorial Dr.Peoria Heights, IL

(309) 685-7811

DAILY HOMEMADELUNCH SPECIALS

ServingBreakfast

andLunch

6 A.M. to 2 P.M.

8319 W State Rt. 9 • Bartonville, IL 61607 • Across Pekin Bridge at Rt. 9 & 24Owner: Alan Lippert • fax 309-633-1374

309-633-4545 • e-mail: [email protected]

See Online Gun Selection! We Buy & Sell Guns &

Archery Equipmentwww.FreddieBearSports.com

ON THE COVER:Eagle Nest Resort, Reelfoot Lake,

Tennessee. 1-877-EAGLE-01www.EagleNestResort.com

Photos by Dan Burch Photography, Dyerburg, TN. 731-676-9496

www.burchphotography.zenfolio.com

has already reached thirty.Five young men werekilled this past weekendand no one cares. They areon a record pace to have over500 murders in 2013.

The question we and the so calledruling class should ask is why? Is itthe war on poverty where peoplecan stay home and get free food,free rent, free phones, free cash,and free utilities, free anything andnot look for a job or try to be self-reliant? Is it all the violence on TVwhere if they don’t kill at least 50people the movie doesn’t make anymoney?

Is it the violent video games thatall the kids have available to them?Is it the single parent homes wherethey don’t get any attention nor dothey get discipline? Is it theschools that won’t discipline kidsbecause they may get sued? Is itbecause God has been taken out ofschools and every other public in-stitution? Is it because we arebroke giving money to the unde-serving and had to close thousandsof mental facilities and basicallyput those folks on the streets?

Is it because we don’t have capi-tal punishment anymore? Is it be-cause life in prison is better thanbeing on the streets? Is it becausewe just don’t care as long as it isnot us?

It is all these reasons and a dozenmore is why kids are killing kidsand until you stop and revaluate itwill go on and on forever. A gunnever killed anyone unless therewas someone pulling the trigger.To take the life of another man

Canterbury Tales157 types of guns illegal in thiscountry. She along with many oth-ers thinks that by banning thesetypes of guns we could save lives.If this was true we would all be infavor of a ban.

This ban also includes quite afew shotguns that are consideredassault looking. Where do theystop? I have no idea. But they planon taking all they can as long asthey can. The chance they get thiswild bill through the Senate is notlooking too good but there is achance some parts of the bill willpass. They shoot for the stars andhope to catch the moon on the waydown.

By the way the shooter in New-town did not use an AR-15, he usedtwo semi-automatic pistols. It wasjust a convenient time to jump onthe AR-15. I own an AR-15 andhave for 20 years since the last gunban scare during the Clinton years.The ban lasted about 10 years anddid absolutely nothing to curb vio-lence in the country. When I was akid murder was something thathappened in a bar rarely, in a rob-bery rarely and when it did happenit was a big deal and you talkedabout it for months if not years.

Now in the town I grew up inPeoria they have an average of 20murders a year. That’s the oneswho die and not the ones who areshot. We have all become verycomplacent and have the attitudewell I’m glad it was them and notme. What has happened to societynot just in Peoria but all over theUS?

Chicago had over 500 murderslast year and as of Jan. 27, 2013

Diamond Cabins Lawn & GardenSheds, Garages& Storage Units

• Deck Overs• Utility• Cargo

• Car Haulers• Wood Pellet Grills• Portable Bldgs

Published by Red Nose, Inc. Red Nose, Inc. is not responsible forany injury received as a result of information or advice given.

Contents may not reflect opinions of Red Nose, Inc.

The gun grabbing lobby is up tofull speed. Democratic Senator Di-ane Feinstein of California has in-troduced a bill that would make

Mark WertzAttorney at Law

Concentrating in the Practices of:• Personal Injury Claims• Worker’s Compensation• Fed. & State Criminal Defense

Vonachen, Lawless, Trager & Slevin456 Fulton St. • Ste 425

Peoria, IL 61602(800) 986-6080 • (309) 676-8986

[email protected]

Cont’d. on pgs. 8-9

HarryCanterbury

MosersQuality Shoes Since 1918

2027 S.W. Adams St., Peoria, IL • (309) 674-4400 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9am-5:30pm • Sat. 9am-4pm

FREE PARKING IN REAR

928

SALE • SALE • SALESALE • SALE • SALE$$ 10 10 OFFOFF Reg. Pr ices!Reg. Pr ices!

847

Full Range of Sizes & Widths For Men & Women.

Men’s B-4E, Sizes up to 16.

005_001.qxd 1/28/13 10:11 PM Page 1


OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! ICE COLD BEER! ICE COLD BEER!

On Rt. 9 at the Danvers Y, Danvers, IL 309-963-8300

Name________________________________Address_____________________________City_______________ State____ Zip_______

!$$1818959512 BIG Issues! onlyonlyDon’t Miss An Issue!Don’t Miss An Issue!

Call Toll-Free 1-877-778-HUNT(4868)or Mail payment & form to: ASO, 1408 Downing Ct., Tremont, IL 61568

61 ......Cabela’s National Walleye Tour Kicks off April, 2013 62 ......Ed DeVries, BAI News 64 ......Jason Mitchell, Punching Bluegills66 ......Steve Welch, Illinois Fish Talk68 ......Emily Hauter, New Year’s Resolutions and Goals 69 ......Gerald Sampen-Outdoor Connection, Alberta Rockies/Swamps of Florida70 ......Mark Kayser, Carry enough gun to do the job when predator hunting71 ......Fight the Winter Blues with Heat Holders 72 ......Dave Genz, Developing a Touch for Bite Detection74 ......Retriever Puppy Training Tips75 ......Dessel LaRue, Survival on Lake Superior 76 ......Deer Creek Am Legion, Valentine’s Day Dinner/Dance77 ......Lester Rench, Central IL K-9: Planning Pays 78 ......Donna Tontelli, Father & Son Day at Mallard Farms 80 ......In the Field81 ......Hunting at Irish Acres with Mike O’Bryan82 ......Hunting Cold-Weather Whitetail Bucks83 ......Chase Moore, Perfecting Your Pattern 84 ......Premium Steel Shotgun Ammo for Duck Hunters 85 ......Bob Platt, When is ice safe?86 ......State Funds Dwindling, IDNR Forced to Raise Fees 87 ......Father & Son Hunting Trip to Wisconsin88 ......Howard Heatherwick, Elk Hunt Memories 90 ......Ice Fishing Wisconsin 92 ......First Annual Veterans Trap Shoot in Montrose Iowa92 ......Hide-a-way Bus trip to ISRA’s IGOLD Wed, Mar. 6th93 ......First Annual Veterans Trap Shoot in Montrose Iowa 94 ......The 2013 Boat Show in Springfield Feb 22-24 95 ......Keli Van Cleave, Product Flare for a New Season96 ......Nici Haerter, Shell Fish with Attitude 97 ......Marlene Odahlen-Hinz, Bringing Home the Bacon98 ......Anita Williams, Spearing Northern Pike99 ......Bill White, Baked Northern Pike100 ....Last Pheasant Hunt at Hilst Chandlerville Farm101 ....Tom Nauman, Morel Mania 102 ....A.K. Thompson Dirt Church, About a Bulldog103 ....Kris Winkelman’s Kitchen 104 ....Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Show Cancelled by Reed Exhibitions104 ....News from GrandviewOutdoors 105 ....Mary Ann Vance, Real Estate Chatter 106 ....Dan Gapen, HARGATE108 ....Patti Smith Presents Homes for Heros109 ....Raber Packing Co Crossbow Winner110 ....Dave Evans, MN Memoirs: Red Nose Respite113 ....Dozens of Bobcats Harvested in South Dakota's East River Season 114 ....Jack Hart, The Good Ole Days Part 1115 ....Guana Cay Angler Scores Tuna Dolphin Wahoo Slam115 ....Smith & Wesson® Donates $50,000 to American Veterans Afield (HAVA) 117 ....Dan Galusha DAN’S FISH ‘N’ TALES®, Year Around Survival Kit 119 ....Keith Norrington, The Excursion Steamer Capitol

GUIDE TO ASO WRITERSGUIDE TO ASO WRITERS7 ........Mom's Recipe: Snow Goose Done Right8-9 ....Canterbury Tales continues. Wiegand Annual Coyote Hunt10 ......Norman V Kelly, A Game Of Terror, Conclusion13 ......ISRA: Rich Pearson, 14 ......ASO Valentine’s Day Gift Guide15 ......John Ackerman, Chaplains Last Heroic Act of Bravery18 ......Mike Roux, Deep-Freeze Pork 20 ......Bob Murray, Meandering Murrays: Has Anything Changed 21 ......IDNR Newsbits22 ......FEB Outdoor IL Calendar of Events 22 ......NWTF Withdraws from Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show23 ......Illinois 2012-13 Deer Harvest Totals 180,669 25 ......Dave Shadow, Fishing-Hunting Classes and Shows 26 ......Wild Game Cooking Lineup at National Pheasant Fest Feb 15-16-1727 ......Colby Simms, SimmsOutdoors.com: 2013 Midwest Fishing Forecast 30 ....Why Buy Bogs Boots31 ......Winter Weather Means Walleye on the Current River32 ......Joe Jerek MDC confirms photo of Mtn Lion in Warren & Van Buren 33 ......Mo Managed turkey hunt application deadline Feb. 2833 ......Young Mo hunters check 2,197 deer during second youth weekend 33 ......Mo Deer harvest 14,921 for alternative methods portion of season34 ......Eagles Days set for Mingo NWR and MDC Duck Creek CA34 ......MDC stocks rainbow trout in two KC area lakes for winter fishing35 ......Deer Hunting Lease Now Available at Emiquon36 ......Flex Hone Great for Shotgun and Rifle Maintenance38 ......Wayne Baughman, Go to a Winter Sport Show39 ......Jason Houser, Getting Ready for Turkey Season 41 ....Woo's Corner, Getting Organized To Go Fishing 42 ......Babe Winkelman, Ice Fishing Line 43 ......Daniel Vinovich, Chasin’ Fatties! 46 ......Dave Herschelman, Elusive Luck!48 ......Bill Cooper, Beaglein' Bunnies 50 ......Don Dziedzina, Southern Illinois 51 ......CPO Reports November 2012 – Part 155 ......Roland Cheek’S Campfire Culture, Sea Mystery 56 ......Kirby Schupp, Gunsmithing: TheShotGunShop.net Maintenance 58 ......Ray Simms, Bass in the Mud 60 ......Tim Huffman, Flipping in Cold Water

Pepper Ridge Taxidermy LLC(309) 838-0000 • [email protected]

FULL SERVICE TAXIDERMY:- All Tanning Done

In-House

TWO LOCATIONS: - Main Office: 17 Rutherford Ct., Bloomington, IL- New 1500 sq.ft. Facility: 423 W. Boundary Ave., Stanford, IL

THE SHARPESTKNIFE YOU WILL

NEVER LOSE!

The Havalon Piranta-EDGE with Blaze Orange Handle

The Havalon Piranta-Z Black Zytel

Pro Skinning Knife

MANY HAVALONKNIVES TO CHOOSE

FROM STARTING AT $35.95

FULL COVER CAMO FOR YOUR OFF-ROAD MACHINE!

SERIOUS CAMO FOR THE SERIOUS HUNTER!

PRICES START AT ONLY $25.00!

STOP IN OUR STORE TODAY!ESPY MOTO Sports

2452 Washington Rd. Washington, IL (Sunnyland)

Phone:

(309) 698-3068

006_001.qxd 1/27/13 1:14 PM Page 1


CHILI Goose breast meat can be tough

and dry, especially on older birds.This recipe is a creative and easy wayof making a pile of goose breaststaste great quickly.

In a large pot place 20 goosebreasts, cover with water

Stir in: 2 packages of dry onionsoup mix

Bring the water to a rolling boil,then turn down, cover and cook forabout two hours.

When the meat pulls apart easily,drain the liquid and let the meat coolwhile you chop up and sauté:2 bell peppers2 large onions10 cloves of garlic m/l

Crumble the meat and combinewith the veggies.

Pour in: 2 jars spaghetti sauce, 1can kidney beans, 1 can brown beansin sauce

Add: chili powder, hot sauce, sea-soning salt & pepper to taste

When you’re satisfied with the sea-

soning, cover and let it cook till sup-per.

Longer the better and like all stews,soups and gumbos, it’s better the nextday.

As it cooks, you may need to addliquid to keep the moisture levelright. I prefer tomato juice and beer.

TASTES-LIKE-RIBS LEGS & THIGHS

The legs and thighs are the bestpart of any waterfowl. The meat isjuicy and tender is worth the time to

TREMONT OIL COMPANYTREMONT OIL COMPANY“Your Small Town Full Service Station”

TREMONT OIL FEATURES PROFESSIONAL, DEPENDABLE,

FAST COURTEOUS SERVICE WITH VERY REASONABLE PRICES.

FIND SUPER LOW PRICES ON ALL TIRES! Tire purchase prices include installation, road

hazard & lifetime tire rotation. Full Service Gas! Route 9, next to CITGO in Tremont, IL

309-925-2251 • g [email protected]

16971 E. 2000th Ave • Effingham, IL 62401217-844-2233

www.funnemanfront ierarms.com

OPEN: T-F 9am-5pm • SAT 8am-12noon • Closed SUN & MON

Funneman Frontier Arms, LLC.

Sales, Trades & RepairsGunsmithing

GUN CLEANING! Reloading Supplies

Muzzle-LoadingAccessories

CUSTOM GUNSMITHING

AVAILABLE! Certified Armorer!Certified 1911 Pistol Smith on Staff!

remove. Remember, when yourfriends are taking the legs/thighs offthe birds, you’ve got to pull the skinfar enough back to get the whole“flap” of meat on either side of thethigh.

This is so easy and good. It makessense to do this recipe in concert withthe goose chili because you also needto start the goose leg recipe by boil-ing the meat for a couple hours.

In a large pot of water put 20 gooselegs and thighs, attached

Stir in: 2 packages of dry onionsoup mix

Watch the meat closely as it boilsbecause you don’t want the meatactually falling off the bones orthey’ll fall apart on the barbeque.Once the meat is done simply popthem on the grill and slather lots ofgood barbeque sauce or a dry rubmix.

I promise that you cannot make

Mary Ann Harrell

HOT DEALSHOT DEALS$5.00 ANY FOOTLONG SANDWICH$1.99 BREAKFAST SANDWICHES$3.79 SINGLE TOPPING PERSONAL PIZZAS

BP Amoco Stop 24 MartRt. 9, Tremont • PIZZA (309) 925-4217

FOOD HOURS: M-F 5am-1pm • SAT 7am-12noonFishing Bait & Accessories • Mobile Phone Cards

WE SELL LOTTO!

WEACCEPT! COLDEST BEER IN TOWN!

enough of these. Leftovers, thoughuncommon, are great for in-the-fieldsnacks the next day. Pop them in aZiploc and put them in your blind bagfor next morning’s hunt. You’ll be ahero.

Mom’s Recipe

G.M. Bartelmay Guns Inc.Central IL Browning Headquarters • 911 W. Jefferson St.• Morton (309) 263-8032

THE BEST TARGET SHOTGUN EVER BUILT. Built strong enough to compete year after year, round after round-of breaking

clay targets. The new Fire Lite Mechanical Trigger delivers a smooth pull with a lighter squeeze than other Citori

Citori 725Citori 725Maxus SportingMaxus Sporting

M,T,W,F 9AM-6PM • SAT 9AM-2PM • CLOSED TH & SUN • OPEN ANYTIME BY APPT.

12 gauge, with available adjustable combBeavertail forearm absorbs recoil • High-post rib

Gas-operated autoloader • Power Drive Gas System reduces recoil and cycles a wide range of loads. Vector Pro™

lengthened forcing cone

BT-99BT-99A5 HunterA5 Hunter

The new Browning A5 uses kinetic energy for powerful, shortrecoil-operated Kinematic Drive System. Vector Pro™ lengthenedforcing cone, Speed Load Plus, Humpback Aquisition Advantage.

Snow Goose Done Right

WATCH ASO-TV Sat. Feb. 23

& Sat. Mar. 30at 5 p.m.

on PBS TV,WTVP Ch. 47

007_001.qxd 1/27/13 1:21 PM Page 1


MARIETTA TAP112 W. Coal St. • Marietta, Il 61459 • Eddie & Lorrie

Your Friendly Neighborhood Tavern Where Its’ Easy To Enter…But Hard To Leave.

We Feature The Best Drinks In Town & TheColdest Beer Around.

“WHERE GOOD FRIENDS & GOOD TIMES GET TOGETHER”

926-6901926-6901Hours:

Open SundaysM-F @ Noon

Sat. @ 10am Stop in For a Cold One This Upcoming Season!

Black Top InnBlack Top Inn10956 N. Manito Rd., Manito, IL • 309-545-9980

Home of the 1/2 pound Burger, Ice Cold Beer & Good Spirits!

Rocket Tire has been giving customers the highest standards in sales & quality service for over 50 years.

300 Edmund St. Peoria, IL(309) 676-0124 • RocketTire.com

Open: M-F 7:30am - 4:30pmSat. 7:30 - 11:30am

Steve's Hilltop TaxidermyDeer • Exotic Game • Life Size Mammals

Big Game • Birds • Fish • Habitat SceneryFull Service Taxidermist...

All work performed by Owner, Steve Jockisch736 175th St. • Just off Rt. 116 • St. Augustine, IL(309) 465-6575 • cell (309) 368-8590www.steveshilltoptaxidermy.com

Blake from Congerville with his coyote kill. Great job!

Weigand Annual Coyote Hunt, about 65 guys hunted on Sat. Jan 26. They took 2 coyotes! Thanks to Pat Sullivan & Harry for taking photos.Good

friend ArtHunizkerhad a fun

day on the hunt.

Congratsto Mr.

Wetsteinon

killing his

coyote.

Truckload of

coyotehunters!

008_001.qxd 1/28/13 11:02 PM Page 1


KELLY SEED & HARDWARE CO.202 Hamilton • Peoria, IL • (309) 674-0368

BIRD SEED, FEEDERS, HOUSES & BATHSWildlife Plot Mixes • Wildlife Plantings

Deer Clovers • Buckwheat • Japanese Millet Proso & Pearl Millet • Sorghum • Sunflower Seed

~ Nice Selection of Prairie Grasses for Filter Strips ~

The Hialeah ClubThe Hialeah ClubGoofy Ridge, IL

Food & Spirits • OPEN EVERYDAY5am Breakfast, Bar Opens at 6am, Sun. 12noonWED. 25¢ DRAFTS • MENU SERVED ALL DAY!

(309) 535-3442

and you could get 6 chili dogs atVelvet Freeze for $1.25. Of coursewages then were $4.00 an hour andto rent a house or buy one was only$120 a month. A new car was$3000 and a hamburger was 15cents at Sandy’s. The dollar is cer-tainly not worth what it used to be.An 870 shot gun was $110. and amotel room was 10 bucks. I ameither getting real old or our moneyis getting worthless.

ASO has clients with some greatprices for a decent and inexpensivevacation. At least at Reelfoot Lakeyou can have a great time fishingfor a fair price. See ads pages 4, 25& 69. Crappie season starts inMarch, but Jan Hayes says they’recatching them now.

I will be at the IGOLD eventscheduled in Springfield on March6th.. IGOLD stands for IllinoisGun Owners Lobby Day. It is puton by the Illinois State RifleAssociation (ISRA) and has beenfor years. It is one day you need toput on your calendar. It is in themiddle of the week on a Wed. Ifyou can attend please go. Thefreshman legislatures will be thereand it is a good time to let themknow who they work for. About athird of the assembly will be newand it is an opportunity to say helloand let them know how you all feel

should only happen when that per-son is trying to either hurt or killyou or a member of your family.Not over a pair of sneakers or theyjust didn’t like the way they partedtheir hair.

Just a small note on buying gunsor ammo there is hardly any outthere. I bought two bricks of 22’s inWisconsin a couple of weeks agoand they were his last two. The guysaid he doesn’t think he will haveany for a year. Manufacturers aremaking -223 -308 -45 -357 -40 cal.and every other popular round 24/7and are backed up four years onsome orders. My advice is buy itif you can but don’t buy it if it istoo high. There will be more downthe line in time and this is a scaremore than anything else and willonly last a while.

I just went to 3 stores Big R,Walmart and Dunham’s looking for00 buck to hunt coyotes. I found 2boxes and was lucky to find them.This ammo scare is real so just beprepared.

Being or getting old is a big thingon my mind lately. I bought a sodathe other day and paid $1.89. thengot a donut to go with it, total wasover $3.00. I remember when gaswas 25 cents, soda was a 10 cents,

about Illinois gun laws. There will be a bus leaving from

Mackinaw at the Hide-a-WayTavern on Route 9 on the morningof the 6th. Myself and a number offolks from around here will be onboard. It is a great way to travel for$25 you can relax all the way downand back. Call Don Meyer at 309-359-6118. Please make your reser-vations by Feb. 15th.

Went with my friend Pat Sullivanon a Coyote hunt near Congervillethe end of January. Artie Weigandand his bunch have been doing thisforever. Artie himself shoots atleast 200 coyotes a year and shouldbe well over 1000 in his life time.It is a lot of fun and we had a greattime. There are some pictures onpage 8 showing the guys and theday’s kill.

Reed Expositions a Britishowned company has canceled theHarrisburg Pennsylvania show acouple weeks prior to the show.Why? Because Reed said nofirearms will be allowed on displayat the show. I don’t think they real-ized the reaction from vendorswould be so strong. The boatindustry decided to side with thefirearms industry along with every-one else and canceled out of theshow. Reed changed their policy on

firearms at the last minute thinkingeveryone would go along with theirnew gun policy. Find completestory on page 104. As BenjaminFranklin said during theRevolutionary War “We eitherhang together, or we’ll hang sepa-rately.”

Locally, February will be the lastmonth to go to most sport shows &expos. Take your family to some ofthe shows in our area starting withthe Tinley Park Fishing Show, Feb9 & 10. The Henry Decoy ShowSun. Feb 10 only one day. CentralIllinois Outdoor Expo in Arthur isFeb 22 & 23 and the Boat Show inSpringfield at Illinois StateFairground is that same weekend.

Cathy & Terri put together aValentine’s Day gift guide on page14. Check out some great gift ideasfor your sweetheart. Our friendPatti Smith started Homes forHeroes see more on pg 108. NormKelly is participating in the 1930’sBorder Radio Show, presented bythe Prairie Storytellers Guild, seepage 82.

Godspeed to our military & sup-port our Veterans.

Keep your worm wet & yourpowder dry.

Until next month, Harry

Café From Yesterday “Like a museum displaying the history of Beardstown.”

Great food including a full menu…Stop by today!

112 E. 2nd St. • Beardstown, IL217-323-3887

Open: Mon. & Tues. 6am-3pm; Wed. & Thurs. 6am-8pm; Fri. & Sat. 6am-9pm; Sun. 7am-2pm

TALES… Cont’d. from pg. 5

BUSINESS FOR SALE!

B&B Live Bait - Wholesale & RetailSince 1983

Find a Full Line of Bait & TacklePond Feeding Available

1025 LaSalle St. Ottawa, IL 61350Call: 815-433-0432

Email: [email protected] Ron Baudino…over 30 years in Business

Wholesale Supplier of Live Bait to Retailers

009_001.qxd 1/28/13 11:16 PM Page 1


� ��

Irish House HotelManager: Kristen Schenk

Indoor Pool Continental Breakfast� ��

IRISH HOUSE HOTELRt. 99 S. • Mt. Sterling, IL 62353

217-773-4100 • [email protected]

CHUBB’SEXTRA VALUE WINES & LIQUORS651 N. MAIN 309/647-3914 CANTON

Open:M-Th 9am-10pmF-Sat 9am-11pmSun 11am-10pm

PLAY ILLINOIS STATE LOTTERY AT CHUBB’S • • PLAY ILLINOIS

PLAY ILLINOIS STATE LOTTERY AT CHUBB’S • • PLAY ILLINOIS

STA

TE

LO

TT

ER

Y A

T C

HU

BB

’S

STA

TE

LO

TT

ER

Y A

T C

HU

BB

’S

• Weekly Beer Specials• Complete Line

of Liquors• Great Selection

of WineICE

SODASNACKS

A Game of Terror Pt. 2

byNorman V. Kelly

WAS IT A TERRORISTATTACK?

In very shortorder the type of airplane was identi-fied. The pilot was beyond identifica-tion but as the gas from the airplanetanks exploded the debris from theairplane went into hundreds ofpieces. For the experts it was rela-tively easy to find all the identifyingnumbers they needed. Yet, it was atleast 3 weeks before all that informa-tion was public knowledge. A smallman with a rumpled suit and a mousyvoice met with the FBI lady incharge. He glanced at the notes in hishand, slipped it back in his jacket andclearing his throat he walked up tothe microphone.

“The airplane was a Cessna 421 B.We know where it took off from andwe know who the owner was. Weknow where he kept the aircraft andwe are preparing our final statementconcerning the aircraft. We do knowthat the tanks in that craft carried 206gallons, and we have the receipt indi-cating that they were filled to capaci-ty the night of the crash. No addition-al information will be forth cominguntil after our report has been filedwith the proper authorities. Membersof my office will not comment fur-ther on the contents of our investiga-tion.”

Peorians mourned its dead, attend-ed many, many funerals and tried toaccept the horrible fate of their lovedones. It was a sad, mournful time.The folks that lined the basketballcourt as well as the players had virtu-ally no chance to escape the fire wallfrom the gasoline that formed abovetheir heads. Many fans had their cam-era phones on and as time went onthe local and national TV stationsshowed many of them. The most hor-

rifying ones were on You Tube andother computer links. Six weeks afterthe plane hit the Civic Center therewere still reporters and media peoplehere in town, some returned severaltimes to follow up on stories theywere seeking. The president of theUnited States addressed ‘The folks inPeoria,’ and the area around thetragedy looked like a flower shop,even in the dead of winter.

I have been a season ticket holdersince 1955, graduated from Bradley,and knew so many, many people thatit was gut wrenching as we learnedthe names, read the obituaries andattended the visitations and funerals.It was our own September 11th andthe pain was as real as an open knifewound.

I did a little study of all the agen-cies that took part in the investigationhere in Peoria, Illinois. The PeoriaSheriff’s Department, the Peoria

Police Department, the fire depart-ment, and the coroner’s office and atleast four Bomb Squads, including aFederal Bomb Squad. There wererepresentatives from the NationalTransportation Safety Board…andswarms of people from the FederalAviation Administration. There weremore than a dozen FBI agents withall kinds of specialties trying to lookbusy. The CIA people were not veryconspicuous but I was told three ofthem were leading the investigation,but hell, they all thought they weredoing that. The Illinois State Policewere here along with special agentsfrom the Attorney General’s Officeand the Secretary of State. TheHomeland Security people took overand they dominated the behind thescenes investigation into the‘Terrorist Attack’ as local peoplecalled it from day one. However notone of the so-called officials uttered

010_001.qxd 1/24/13 1:58 PM Page 1


DAILY & YEARLY MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLEHunt Lick Creek Game Preserve, located on 991 acres of beautiful terrain in Central Illinois, with 189 CREP acres

and a 55 acre lake that offers great fishing!HUNTING SEASON: Oct. 15th - Mar. 31stHUNTING SEASON: Oct. 15th - Mar. 31stFISHING SEASON: Mar. 15th - Nov. 1stFISHING SEASON: Mar. 15th - Nov. 1stPheasant, Chukar, Quail and are a full service club.

ALSO...We waive the membership fee on active duty military!

Operating since 1991

Upland Hunting & Fishing at its Finest!Upland Hunting & Fishing at its Finest!

(309) 347-7191Cell: 309-645-6157 www.lickcreek.com

Carter’s Gun Shop, Inc.202 W. Comanche • Shabbona, IL 60550 • [email protected]

(815) 824-2354Open: 8am-12noon & 1pm-5pm • Closed Sunday & TuesdayYour Northern Illinois Gunsmith • Antique To Modern

Firearms Repair A Specialty • New Rifle Barrels InstalledSame Location Since 1951

those words. Here in Peoria we knewthe officials were well aware of whoowned the plane but so far they wereall hush hush about it. Throw inmaybe a hundred media people andof course our own local reporterswho wanted more than anyone to getthat story about the plane owner to ushere in Peoria before some jerk fromCNN broke the story.

I got a tip from the guy that tookmy job over at OSF, and he told methat he had been contacted severaltimes but refused to talk to anyone.What he told me would have madeheadlines but it would have to waitawhile before it was public knowl-edge. He told me that four guys withshort hair and dark suits came into hisoffice and asked to see every recordthe hospital had on Dr. NathanRelinger…remember him?

Of course the news of that leakedout. Saint Francis is one big family ina small town. It amazes me that thelocal Journal-Star did not get hold ofthat news. It is my guess that they didbut were told NOT to print anythingabout it. Anyway, it was maybe twoweeks more before we began to getthe story. The official guys can intim-idate…I can tell you that. I did not

warrant a personal interview butsome FBI Agent called me and askedme about Dr. Relinger. I told him thatall my reports were there in my oldoffice but he wanted to know when Isaw the doctor last and anythingabout him that might not be in therecord.

He seemed very excited to hear thatI saw the doctor and his friend namedMike at the Bradley games. I told theFBI guy that that was all I knewabout Mike, and didn’t even know hislast name. I did suggest that he go tothe Bradley Ticket Manager and seewhat they had on Dr. Relinger sine hewas a season ticket holder. Hell, I hadno idea what he would find, but hegenuinely thanked me. I was an old,retired PI and I thought that the doc-tor and his pal Mike came to thegames to check out the Civic Centerand the precise location of the bas-ketball arena…but I kept mythoughts to myself. Maybe he wasjust a BU fan like the rest of us…youthink?

DOCTOR WHO?There was a nice picture of Nelda

Relinger, the doctor’s wife in thelocal newspaper and her pretty six-

year old daughter. That was the firsttime that the folks in Peoria wereallowed to connect Dr. Relinger withthe airplane crash into the PeoriaCivic Center. However…it indicatedthat Dr. Relinger did indeed own theplane, but that was as far as the arti-cle went. I checked all the obituariesand sure enough…there he was listedamong the deaths. There was not oneword about him piloting the air-plane…however. I mulled that overfor a long time. I was anxious to hearsomething about Mike…but so farnot a word.

I was certain that the FBI, HomeLand Security, INTERPOL and manyforeign agents had investigated Dr.Relinger from when he was born inGermany, to his life in London, NewYork, and certainly Peoria, Illinois.Of course they would prefer never toenlighten anyone, let alone the folksin Peoria, Illinois. But before it wasall over we learned more thanenough.

The follow up article was a lotmore forthcoming than I would haveexpected, what with all those damnsecret agencies involved. I knew thisa bit ahead of the game because myfriends at OSF were called upon toget the DNA from what was left ofDr. Relinger’s remains. They took a

DNA sample from his child and werenow certain that the man flying theairplane was alone and that that pilotwas the man I recruited…one Dr.Nathan Relinger. That set the dogs ofthe media on the trail, starting first atSaint Francis and talking to everyphysician, including my old boss. Itwas a buzz fest here in Peoria. I wasrelieved to see that the agent had fol-lowed up on Mike and from NeldaRelinger they learned he came toPeoria about eighteen months beforethe plane crash. She said Mike was anold friend of her husband and that thetwo spent a lot of time together. Theyflew to sports events together and satnext to each other at the BU games.The authorities made it crystal clearthat Mrs. Relinger was above suspi-cion and she cooperated in everywaypossible. He rented a house right outhere where I live in Rolling Acres. Helisted his name as Mike Miller on thelease and that he said he was fromChicago. Of course all that informa-tion was false. They traced his carand driver’s license which consistent-ly listed the name Mike Miller.INTERPOL and our local policemanaged to get all kinds of printsfrom the house and the abandonedcar. His real name was not Mike

Have your deer processed by the best!Visit our website:

www.housermeats.comfor prices & hours

We make 4 kinds of salami, bratwurst,Italian, jerky, hot stixs & mild stixs,

deer donation information, maps & more!

HH OO UU SS EE RR MM EE AATT SS22 11 77 -- 33 22 22 -- 44 99 99 44

RR UU SS HH VV II LL LL EE ,, II LL

Cont’d. on next pg.

WAYNE’S 121 CLUBLocated in Tremont, IL on Old Rt. 121 • 250 S. Baer Rd.

Stop By & Say Hello!

Come Play BagsGolden Tee Golf

Silver StrikeBowling!

Pizza • SnacksCold Beer

Celebrating26 Years!

011_001.qxd 1/24/13 7:44 PM Page 1


BARNS N BOARDSOld, Rustic Building Materials Available at…

Barn Siding • Planking • H& Hewn & Sawn TimbersDirk Fox • Morton, IL • 309-253-1317

www.barns-n-boards.com • [email protected]

DAVE GARRISONCell Phone (309) 208-8894

CCOOOOKK RREENNTTAALL -- MMOORRTTOONN“We Rent Almost Anything”

110 Penn St. • Morton, IL 61550

(309)266-9114

Need It? Rent It!

Member American Rental Association

• COVERED & OPENTRAILER RENTAL

• TOW BEHIND GIANTROASTER GRILL

WITH SPIT

THE FINAL BRIEFINGIt was not until April back down at

the Peoria Civic Center Theatre thatthe authorities agreed to meet onemore time to tell us all they knewabout the death and injuries of ourcitizens. Hell, we knew they wouldnot tell us everything. A long table saton the stage and each person had amicrophone in front of them. Themoderator was an FBI agent fromChicago and he introduced each per-son so we could hear their preparedstatements. After the ‘show’ he wouldmeet with the media and he alonewould answer questions.

In summary Dr. Nathan Relingerwas identified as a ‘Lone wolf terrorcell.’ Most of his early life he wasconnected first with a CommunistGroup in East German and a terrororganization in London. They did notidentify what terror group that was.He was apparently aided by thisgroup while going to college andmedical school. They tried everywaythey knew to see some connec-tion…some form of communicationwith a group…but they admitted thatthey could not.

In other words they had no ideawho financed him or why he chose toattack the civic center. There wasnothing in his house, computer,office, airplane or car to indicate whyhe was determined to do what he did.

His reputation once in the United

Miller I can tell you that for certain. So the relationship between Mike

Miller and Dr. Relinger seemedplanned and calculated. The neigh-bors knew very little about the man.“He was friendly and single.” Hestayed pretty much at home and toldhis neighbor that he worked as amechanic….but never mentioned thegarage. Of course Mike Miller waslong gone and the authorities knewhis real name but certainly did notshare that with the public. Their vastnetwork across the world wouldprobably run him down one day.

The investigation showed MikeMiller received seven packages fromthe United States Post Office, UPSand FedEx. Every one of those pack-ages contained electronic devices andthings that the FBI said would beconnected in some way with an igni-tion device used in bombs. One ofour local bomb guys felt that it wasused to trigger the ignition that wouldignite the gas tanks in the airplane.He went on to tell us that had theplane been rigged with a powerfulbomb there would be very little of theCivic Center left. Now that scared thehell out of us and we caught our-selves thanking our lucky stars that itwas just the plane and the tanksexploding. Seems silly…Iguess…but that’s how we felt.

States was all red blooded American.Not one living soul said a derogatorything about him and people…likeme…that knew him were shockedwhen he was identified as a terror-ist…mass murderer or whatever elseyou wanted to call him.

The CIA and Homeland Securityexpected a group somewhere to stepforward and take ‘credit’ for theslaughter…but that never happened.

Mike Miller…alias not known tous…came here and telephone recordsshow he was in immediate communi-cation with Dr. Relinger. Out atMount Hawley the manger showedall the maintenance records on theCessna, and in several instancesMike Miller had signed off as a certi-fied mechanic. So the FBI indicatedthat it was Mike who rigged the air-plane and the ignition apparatus tothe 206 gallons of gasoline in thetanks on board the plane. How didMike just disappear? “He probablyhad more than one passport or per-haps he never went anywhere and isstill in the United States. We willnever stop looking for Mike Miller.”

THE AFTERMATHAnd so Peorians buried their dead,

the wounded healed and the fear haswaned a bit. We are building amemorial to Bradley’s team and allthe fans that died that horrible night.ISU lost their entire team and coach-es and are building a memorial aswell. That keeps us busy as we try to

go on with our lives. They arerebuilding the arena as we speak.There were so many of us touched inso many ways by this horrible attackon our city and our people. Bradleycancelled the rest of the season as didISU and the next season is in doubt.All those young men gone, all thosepeople…our loved ones….ourfriends. Dr. Relinger fooled all of uswho knew him, worked with him,and considered him a friend. Hebrought to Peoria, Illinois a form ofhell that we could not have imagined.May he burn in Hell!

EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION.

Norm is a local historian and author. He welcomes your

comments at:[email protected].

Listen to Norm on Sunday mornings 7-10 a.m. with the Rednose Gang on

WOAM 1350AM radio. Listen Live at:

ASOMagazine.com

DUCK’S TIRE REPAIR

Fast Service Since 1988.Firestone & all tire brands

available as well as farm tires.Service truck will come to you!

Emergency Service 24/7: 309-759-4272

Gale “Duck” Duckwiler309-759-4447

8950 E. Sand Branch Rd.Summum, near Astoria, IL

Morrell’s Package Liquors1/2 mi. West of Astoria, IL on Route 24

309-329-2826Owners: Zane & Joanie Morrell

[email protected]

TERROR… Cont’d. from previous pg.

012_001.qxd 1/24/13 1:54 PM Page 1

State of Illinois six months to institute procedures to allowqualified citizens to carry defensive firearms.

As expected, the court’s decision prompted uproar fromthose uninformed souls who believe that institution of con-cealed carry will thrust the nation back to the days of the WildWest. On the other hand, those who have studied the issueknow that the experience of the 49 states that do provide forconcealed carry have seen nothing of the sort. In fact, numer-ous studies have strongly suggested that concealed carry notonly provides citizens with a means of self defense, but alsoserves as a deterrent to crime. In short, there appears to be novalid reason, from a public safety standpoint, to prohibit quali-fied citizens from carrying defensive firearms.

Nonetheless, the state’s response to the court decision wasa request that the full court of appeals review the decision -with hopes that it would be overturned. This move troublesthose who believe that the right of self defense is innate.

By hoping to overturn the ruling, the state is essentially say-ing that it was for the better that Mary Shepard was unable todefend herself that horrible night of September 28, 2009. Byhoping to overturn the ruling, the state is asserting that thestate, and the state alone, will decide who is worth defendingand who is not; who shall live and who shall die. Regardless ofwhat the state believes, most citizens believe that such poweris reserved for one with much higher authority than the State ofIllinois.


whom victimization is not an option. Thus, they choose to carrydefensive firearms despite the fact that doing so exposes themto penalties greater than those faced by the criminals that theyare defending themselves against. To discourage self defense isto encourage criminal aggression – the inequities of which runafoul of this nation’s founding principles.

For many years, the Illinois State Rifle Association has at-tempted to right this wrong through the legislative process.Year in and year out, legislation that would allow qualified citi-zens to carry defensive firearms has been introduced into theGeneral Assembly – only to wind up on the legislative scrapheap.

Thanks to the efforts of a small bloc of Chicago-based legis-lators, concealed carry legislation has only made it out of com-mittee once in the past two decades. On that occasion, the leg-islation garnered a majority vote in the House of Representa-tives. Unfortunately, the bill fell a few votes short of the super-majority requirement declared by House Speaker Michael Madi-gan. Meanwhile, 49 other states passed legislation that allowstheir citizens to carry defensive firearms for the protection ofthemselves and their families.

The stalemate between the Chicago bloc and the good citi-zens of Illinois was jarred loose by the shocking events of Sep-tember 28, 2009. While 70 year-old Mary Shepard and an 83year-old friend were working in their church, a 6’3”, 250lbparolee with a history of violence broke into the church and beatthe two women nearly to death.

Ironically, Mary Shepard held concealed carrylicenses in two states. However, due to Illinois’prohibition on the carrying of defensivefirearms, Mary Shepard complied with the lawand was thus unarmed the night of her attack.

With no apparent legislative solution to thisglaring inequityin sight, MaryShepard turnedto the courts forrelief. In her2011 lawsuitagainst the Stateof Illinois, Shep-ard contendedthat Illinois’ banon concealed car-ry infringed uponher 2nd and 14thA m e n d m e n trights and thuscaused her to be-come the victimof this horriblecrime. Of course,the state dis-agreed withShepard’s asser-tion.

Ultimately, thecase came beforea 3-member pan-el of the 7th Cir-cuit Court of Ap-peals. Uponhearing the case,the appeals courtsided with Shep-ard and gave the

G O O D P EO P L E J U S T W A N T T H E C H A N C E

TO D E F E N D T H E M S E LV ESEvery day, thousands of Illinois citizens wake to the difficult

choice of either being branded a felon, or becoming a victim ofviolent crime. Good people are saddled with that choice be-cause the Illinois General Assembly has stubbornly refused topermit trained, well qualified citizens to carry defensivefirearms.

Meanwhile, there’s a guy across town waking to decisions ofhis own. Should he find a liquor store to boost or just mug thefirst tourist he sees? Maybe today’s the day he carjacks an SUVor maybe today’s the day he assaults that young housewife wholives down the block. In any case, violent criminals all acrossthe state know that the General Assembly’s inaction on con-cealed carry means that the public has to learn to live withthem, and not vice versa.

Through principle or necessity, there are many Illinoisans for

From theDesk of:

Rich Pearson,

ISRA ExecutiveDirector isra.org

013_001.qxd 1/27/13 1:40 PM Page 1


ASO Gift GuideUnique Gift Ideas

for Valentine’s Day! The Trafik Jam features many

unique gifts including a wide varietyof homemade jewelry from localartists. Call today & Kim can get youlined up for all your gift giving needs,Gift Certificates are available.

A box of melts instead of choco-lates, a delicious aroma, less fatten-ing, last longer & a mood enhancertoo! Homemade scents, non soy. You

can customize your box and varioussizes available, prices starting as lowas $5.00. GUYS don't delay!

Miller’s Art & Gift Gallery,prints, decoys, sculptures & more.

Great Prices! pg. 14.

Little D Designs jewelry frombeloved Drake Taylor, and mom

Beverly. pg. 14.

Buck Girl, Camo Clothing forWomen by Women,

Be a Buck Girl! pg. 97

Town and Country Styling &Tanning Salon, Buck Girl products.

AND MORE! pg. 96

Dealer for…

Miller’s Art & Gift GalleryMiller’s Art & Gift Gallery1532 N. 8th St. • Pekin, IL • (309) 347-7571

Open 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tues. – Sat. (Call for an Appointment)

GOING OUT OF BUSINESS! Help Lyman Retire! 50% Off AllGOING OUT OF BUSINESS! Help Lyman Retire! 50% Off AllInstock Prints, Decorative Decoys, Statues & Much More…Instock Prints, Decorative Decoys, Statues & Much More…

Terry Redlin’sNewest Print

“MorningShores” Beautiful Decoys!

Rose Mary Millett’s“Sitting Pretty” &“Rustic Outlook”

Find the perfect gift for ANYONE at the Jeweler’s Bench!Jewelry for Hunters, by

Hunters…Beautiful, Affordable,

Unique Custom Designs & Laser

EngravingGo see them at their

New Location!8208 Old Rt. 13 W.

Marion, IL (Old Miller’s World)

618-997-9100Order Online: DandKJewelrybyDesign.com

www.DuckBandBrand.com

Deer CreekAmerican LegionValentine’s Day

Steak Fry Dinner DanceSat. Feb 16th

Bring your Valentine out for anight of great food& entertainment.Two grilled Steak dinners, (cooked

to order), complete with baked potato, green beans, salad & roll.Plus 2 glasses of Wine $40.00 per

couple. Choose from 3 kinds of wineoffered. Enjoy Great Music afterdinner with Dave Chastain Band

playing 8pm-12.

ASO GET-AWAY GUIDEASO has many great sponsors

that offer great vacations. Surprise your sweetie!

Gift Certificates Available!

REELFOOT LAKE TENNESSEEEagle New Resort, Samburg, TN,

pg. 4 Sportsman’s Resort, Tiptonville, TN

pg. 25Cannon Dam Cabins & General

Store, Mark Twain Lake, MO, pg. 31Shawnee Bay Resort, Kentucky Lake,

pg. 88ILLINOIS

Anthony Acres Resort, beautiful Lake Sara, Effingham pg. 38

Riverbank Lodge in Petersburg onbanks of Sangamon River pg. 66

Sunny Slope Lodge & Hunt Club,Logan County pg. 36

Irish House Hotel, Mt. Sterling, pg. 10

Westwoods Lodge for an excellentdinner, Springfield, pg. 81 LAKE SHELBYVILLE

Spillway Motel, Bait & Tackle, Great Fishing! pg. 66

Gateway Inn, Sullivan, pg. 66Sullivan Chamber, pg. 95

WISCONSIN Mercer Chamber, WI, pg. 90

Deerfoot Lodge & ResortChippewa Flowage, pg. 91

MINNESOTALake of the Woods, MN pg 111Zippel Bay Resort, Lake of theWoods, Williams, MN, pg. 27

Cyrus Resort, Lake of the Woods,MN, pg. 64

Devil’s Lake North Dakota, Ice Fishing & Winter Sports, pg. 123Woodland Resort, Devils Lake Only

Full Service Hunting & Fishing Lodge,pg. 60

014_001.qxd 1/28/13 1:40 AM Page 1


pany. The conversion included additionallifeboats, armament including a 3 inch 50caliber gun forward, and a 4 inch 50 calibergun aft, and an additional four 20mmguns, and changes to the large windows inthe pilot house so that they would be re-duced to slits to afford more protection.When they finished, the Dorchester wasnow listed to be able to carry slightly morethan 900 passengers and crew.

January 23rd 1943, found the Dorch-ester taking on troops in New York bondfor the European Theater. Among thecrowded 902 passengers and crew embark-ing aboard the Dorchester that day werefour newly graduated Lieutenants in theUnited States Army; the Reverend GeorgeL. Fox of the Methodist Church, JewishRabbi Alexander D. Goode, ReverendClark V. Poling of the Reformed Church inAmerica, and Father John P. Washingtonof the Roman Catholic Church.

Four Chaplains LastHeroic Act of Bravery

“It was the finest thing I have seen or hope tosee this side of Heaven.”

John Ladd, Survivor of the Sinking of the USAT Dorchester

February 3rd, 1943 would be a dark dayin America military history. But would alsoserve as an inspirational event that wouldinspire the whole nation in a way very fewother events have.

On this dark night in the frigid NorthAtlantic Ocean off the coast of Greenland,four holy fathers of man, four sheppards ofvery different faiths and background, wentforward to meet their holy father united bythe belief of their individual faiths andunited by their common goal to save thelives of those men around them.

The United States Army Transport (US-AT) Dorchester was launched from theNewport News Shipbuilding and DryDock Company on March 20, 1926 as a5,649 ton civilian cruise ship. She was de-signed to carry up to 314 passengers and acrew of 90 along the East coast betweenMiami and Boston.

It was the outbreak of World War II thatfound the Dorchester transformed into anArmy Transport vessel in New York by theAtlantic, Gulf, and West Indies SS Com-

Central Illinois Outdoor ExpoFeb. 22 & 23 (Fri & Sat)

Otto Center in Arthur, Illinois

Reverend George L. Fox was bornMarch 15, 1900 in Lewistown, Pennsylva-nia. Overwhelmed with a desire to serve hiscountry he left high school and lied abouthis age (he was 17 at the time) in order tojoin the Army to serve in World War I.Serving as a medical corps assistant, he washighly decorated for bravery and wasawarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart andthe French Croix de Guerre. Upon his dis-charge, he entered Moody Institute in Illi-nois where he met and married his wife,Isadore G. Hurlbut. They would have oneson, Wyatt, and a daughter, Mary. Overthe coming years he would serve the con-gregation in Downs, Illinois, while attend-ing Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloom-ington. Upon graduation he moved toserve the congregation in Rye, New Hamp-shire, while attending the Boston Universi-ty School of Theology. He was ordained aMethodist minister on June 10, 1934, and

would head off to serve congregations inWaits River, Union Village, and Gilman,all in Vermont. Reverend George joinedthe Walter G. Moore American LegionPost and later was appointed state chaplainand historian for the Legion. In mid-1942,that overwhelming urge to serve his coun-try found him once more and he decided tojoin the Army Chaplain Service. He wenton active duty August 8, 1942, the sameday his son Wyatt enlisted in the MarineCorps.

Rabbi Alexander D. Goode was born inBrooklyn, New York, on May 10, 1911.Desiring to follow in his father’s footstepsand become a Rabbi, he entered the Uni-versity of Cincinnati, then on to HebrewUnion College and later received his Ph.D.from John Hopkins University. Rabbi Alexmarried his childhood sweetheart, TheresaFlax, and they would have a daughter, Ros-

www.JohnCAckerman.com


015_001.qxd 1/24/13 11:06 PM Page 1


Rosalie. He received assignments to serve aSynagogue in Marion, Indiana, and BethIsrael Synagogue in York, Pennsylvania.Rabbi Goode applied to become a chaplainwith the U.S. Navy in January 1941, buthe was not accepted at that time. Right af-ter Pearl Harbor, he tried again, this timewith the Army, and went on active duty onAugust 9, 1942.

Reverend Clark V. Poling was born Au-gust 7, 1910 in Columbus, Ohio. Hismother died when he was 8 and his fatherre-married a year later. He would attendHope College in Holland, Michigan andthen Rutgers University in NewBrunswick, New Jersey. Reverend Clarklater entered Yale University's DivinitySchool in New Haven, Connecticut andwas ordained in the Reformed Church inAmerica. He would be assigned to the FirstChurch of Christ, in New London, Con-necticut, and later the First ReformedChurch in Schenectady, New York. Rev-erend Clark would marry Betty Jung andthey would have a son, Clark, Jr. (Corky).Two months after his death, his wife wouldgive birth to their daughter, Susan. As thecountry went to war, he decided to becomean Army chaplain. He went on active dutyon June 25, 1942.

Father John P. Washington was born inNewark, New Jersey on July 18, 1908. Hebegan his studies at Seton Hall in SouthOrange, New Jersey, and later attendedImmaculate Conception Seminary in Dar-lington, New Jersey. Ordained a priest onJune 15, 1935, his first parish was at St.Genevieve's in Elizabeth, New Jersey, andlater at St. Venantius in Orange, New Jer-sey, and St. Stephen's in Arlington, NewJersey. Shortly after the Pearl Harbor attackhe applied for a chaplain in the UnitedStates Army and went on active duty May9, 1942.

Their backgrounds, personalities, andfaiths were different. Rabbi Goode, Rev-erend Poling and Father Washington hadall served as leaders in the Boy Scouts ofAmerica, but no evidence of any relation-ship amongst them is known. The four ofthem would first become associated togeth-er when assigned to Army ChaplainsSchool at Harvard University and theyquickly became friends. Now they weremeeting once more to board the Dorch-ester to head off to the war.

The Four Chaplains and all aboard theDorchester knew the dangers that lie belowthe ocean’s surface. Recently German sub-marines had been sinking Allied ships atthe rate of 100 every month. The Dorch-ester would be sailing through an area thathad become infamous as "Torpedo Junc-

tion". The four chap-lains kept themselvesbusy holding religiousservices and seeing tothe morale of the men.Fellow passengers recallthem as being insepara-ble and always in goodhumor.

The night of Feb. 3,1943, found the Dorch-ester nearing the southern tip of Green-land, about 150 miles from its destination.At 12:35 AM an officer aboard the Ger-man U-233 spotted the Dorchesterthrough a periscope. The submarine in-stantly fired three torpedoes at the Dorch-ester, with two striking the starboard sideof the ship far below the waterline. Thepower aboard the ship was knocked out,hundreds of men were killed immediatelyby the explosions, and the ship wasplunged into darkness and chaos.

The four chaplains instantly sprang intoaction. Coolly they brought order out ofchaos leading the men to where the lifejackets were stored and began handingthem out. While they were doing this theyencouraged the men with prayers and ad-monitions to keep their courage up, andtended the wounded as best they could. Itquickly became apparent that there werenot enough life jackets to go around.

Dorchester Captain Danielsen had or-dered the men to sleep in their clothingand keep their life jackets on, but many of

the soldiers sleeping deep in the ship's holddisregarded the order because of the en-gine's heat and because the life jackets wereuncomfortable. This and the fact thatmany others had been lost or left behind inthe chaos that followed the explosions lefttoo many men for too few life jackets.

Further reducing the effort to save livesof the soldiers was the fact that the shipquickly began to list severely, preventingthe launch of some port side lifeboats, andsome lifeboats capsized through over-crowding. Realizing the gravity of the situ-ation they now found themselves in andwithout a word, each of the chaplains tookoff their life jackets and gave them to thefour frightened young men closest to them.

The altruistic action of the four chap-lains constitutes one of the purest spiritualand ethical acts a person can make. Whengiving their life jackets, Rabbi Goode didnot call out for a Jew; Father Washingtondid not call out for a Catholic; nor did theReverends Fox and Poling call out for aProtestant. They simply gave their life jack-

START WITH BUYING YOUR GUN FROM RON!EVERYDAY SPECIALS

ON NEW & USED GUNS!A LARGE SELECTION OF

COMMEMORATIVE & COLLECTIBLES! Open: Tues. - Fri. 9am-5pm & Sat. 9am-3pm

Ron’s Gun & Knife Shop

503 N. ChurchThomasboro, IL217-643-7667

Stained glass window of the

Four Chaplains andthe Sinking of theDorchester is at

the Pentagon

FOUR… Cont’d. from previous pg.

016_001.qxd 1/24/13 11:07 PM Page 1

ets to the next man in line.The Dorchester sank 27 minutes after

the torpedo hit, taking 627 men down withit. Far more would have died but for the or-derly distribution of the life jackets by thechaplains. The 230 who had been fortu-nate enough to reach lifeboats struggled todistance themselves from the sinking shipor they be pulled beneath the ocean swellsby the chasm created as the transportslipped into a watery grave. Then, amid thescreams of pain and horror that permeatedthe cold dark night, they heard the strongvoices of the Chaplains.

"Shma Yisroel Adonai Elohenu AdonaiEchod." "Our Father, which art in Heaven,Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdomcome, Thy will be done."

Looking back they saw the slanting deckof the Dorchester, its demise almost com-plete. Braced against the railings were theFour Chaplains. There praying and singinggiving strengthto others bytheir finalvaliant declara-tion of faith.Their arms werelinked togetheras they bracedagainst the rail-ing and leanedinto each other

for support.One of the

witnesses tothis act, JohnLadd, latersaid, “It was thefinest thing Ihave seen orhope to see thisside of Heav-en.” As the sur-vivors told thestory of the Four Chaplains, their heroismentranced the nation. In their death they il-lustrated a cause of unity without unifor-mity, encouraging goodwill and coopera-tion among all people.

On December 19th, 1944, all four chap-lains were posthumously awarded the Pur-ple Heart and the Distinguished ServiceCross. Congress attempted to confer theMedal of Honor on each of the four chap-

lains, but thestringent re-quirements forthat medal re-quired heroismperformed “un-der fire,” andthe bravery andultimate sacri-fice of thesemen did not

technically qualify, since their actions tookplace after the torpedo attack. Therefore,members of Congress decided to authorizea special medal intended to have the sameweight and importance as the Medal ofHonor. This award, the Four Chaplains'Medal, was approved by a unanimous actof Congress on July 14, 1960. In 1988,February 3rd was established by a unani-mous act of Congress as an annual "FourChaplains Day.”

In an address recognizing the anniver-sary of the sinking of the Dorchester onFebruary 3rd, 1951, President Harry Tru-man said their memories “will standthrough long generations to teach Ameri-cans that as men can die heroically asbrothers so should they live together inmutual faith and goodwill.”

This February 3rd, on the 70th anniver-sary of the sinking of the USAT Dorch-

ester and also interestingly on a Sunday,please take a moment to remember the sto-ry and heroism of the Four Chaplains.Please remember their example that reli-giously we have more in common than wehave in difference. Please remember theunified strength shown through individualprayer while at deaths doorstep. Please re-member that more unites us than dividesus.

Please remember Reverend George L.Fox, Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, ReverendClark V. Poling, and Father John P. Wash-ington and their last heroic act of bravery.

John C. Ackerman(309) 635-7624

www.JohnCAckerman.com

NOW OPEN IN HAVANA…WE ARE YOUR HUNTING & FISHING

HEADQUARTERS!Located on Rt 136 next to County Market

1001 E Laurel Ave. Havana, IL 309-543-3024

FarmandHomeSupply.com

NOW OPEN IN HAVANA…WE ARE YOUR HUNTING & FISHING

HEADQUARTERS!


017_001.qxd 1/24/13 11:04 PM Page 1


Welcome to...

The Brick TavernWhere even the ducks come to party!

All-You-Can-Eat Meals Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nights

Sandwiches & Soups SaturdayDaytime Meals Sunday

309-546-9013Rt. 78 • Bath, IL

WANTED TO BUY:INDIAN INDIAN RELICS RELICS OF ALL OF ALL KINDSKINDS

APPRAISALS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.Contact Brian: (217) 642-5379

(217) 871-5379 • [email protected]

For those of us that spend winter daysoutside, there are several descriptions weuse for bitterly cold conditions. Some say,"frigid". Others may say "arctic", and stillothers may use the term, "unbearable".But when we stepped out of the lodge insouth-central Missouri on that late Januarymorning, the only thing that came to mymind was that it was "stone cold". The 7-

degrees was being pushed around by 20mile-an-hour winds. That is stone cold.

Why would three relatively intelligentmen choose to leave a warm fireplace and acozy lodge to walk out into those condi-tions? We were on a mission. My newcameraman, Jason Waters, and I had trav-eled to southern Missouri to hunt withJustin Hoffman. Hoffman owns and oper-ates STONE CREEK HUNTINGRANCH (www.stonecreekhunting.com).Our mission was two-fold; we were goingto try to call in a wild boar with a newCASS CREEK BOAR CALL and also filmthe hunt for Justin. We had a great plan,but had not counted on the harsh condi-tions.

Justin had our hunt planned. STONECREEK RANCH is well over 500-acres,but has more that its share of wild hogs.We were going to move from ridge toridge, spotting with binoculars. Justin usu-ally uses the tried-and-true huntingmethod of spot-and-stalk on this property.Today would be a bit different because ofthe calling aspect of this hunt.

We glassed for about 2-hours before wespotted the boar I wanted. "He's a brute,"Justin said as we watched the boar from agreat distance. "I hope you can get himin," he continued. "We've never killed onethat big here," he ended.

Now the work started. If you are not fa-miliar with the Ozark Mountains of south-ern Missouri and plan to hunt there, bringyour best boots and get in shape. It is agood thing this place has hogs because it isway too rough to grow any crops.

We finally got close to the locationwhere we first saw the big boar. Justin wasworking the call so that Jason could film

and I could shoot. TheCASS CREEK WILDBOAR CALL makes fivedifferent sounds includ-ing a feeding frenzy, con-tented feeding, socialgrunts, fighting boars andfeeding piglets. Since thishog was so big we decidedto try the fighting boarcall.

Within seconds ofJustin turning on the elec-tronic (battery operated)call, hogs were comingfrom all directions. Wemust have seen 8 to 10hogs responding to thesounds of the call. Butthe one I wanted was notamong them.

"We need to get higherup this mountain," Justinsaid. We moved uphillseveral hundred yards. "Let's try here," Isuggested. "Before we get all the way to thetop." Justin hit the call again and the ex-citement began.

We had walked right by the huge boarand when we saw and heard him he was al-ready at a charge from behind and belowus. He was foaming from is chompers andcoming at a dead run. The situation wasway too fast and way too close to shoot.Justin managed to run the hog off by hit-ting him in the snout with a softball-sized

rock, as Jason was being backed into abrush-pile.

It took us a few minutes to recover fromthat encounter. "Our work is cut out for usnow," Justin said. "We just educated thatbig boy. He won't come back to the callnow and he knows we're here. Get readyfor a lot of hiking," he ended.

This charge took place at about10:30AM. We did not even see the boaragain until after noon. Then we had twospot-and-stalk rounds that put the huge

DEEP-FREEZE PORKBY MIKE ROUX

www.mikeroux.com

Mike Roux’s STONER CREEK monster put lots of pork in his freezer for the rest of the

long, cold winter. (Photo by Justin Hoffman)

018_001.qxd 1/24/13 11:18 PM Page 1


CLARK BOAT CO.CLARK BOAT CO.Fishing, Commerical & Duck BoatsFishing, Commerical & Duck Boats

Route 62 West • 1600 State St. • Bellevue, IAwww.ClarkBoats.com • 1-800-781-BOAT(2628)

Small or Custom House Boats!

Custom DuraSport & Commercial

Plate Boats!

Custom PerformancePontoons!

V or Flat Bottom Boats Can Be Custom-Ordered to Meet Individual Requirements!

APPROVED

hog within 50-yards of us, but we couldnot get the camera and my crosshairs onhim at the same time.

At about 3:00PM we spotted him on aridge top, feeding. At Justin's direction, wemade a move to get in front of and belowhim. Justin's knowledge of the land andhis experience with these animals provedinvaluable.

After making our move, Jason double-checked the camera and I did the samewith my rifle. I was shooting one of thenew THOMPSON/CENTER ARMS .50-caliber Encores called the Pro Hunter. Ihad taken three deer with this Pro Hunterin the fall and was very comfortable with it.I scoped my muzzleloader with an ALPENOPTICS APEX Model 4030, 3x9 variable,and was shooting 250-grain HORNADYLock-N-Load SST-ML sabot bullets. Thisis the deadliest muzzleloading combinationI have ever shot.

We heard the boar just seconds before heappeared on the opposite hillside above us.I heard Jason start the camera and heardJustin whisper to verify that he was the onewe had been hunting. At about 50-yardsthe boar stopped and started rooting in theleaves. I had the crosshairs of the APEXjust behind his front shoulder, but therewas no word from Jason.

For those of you that have never been in-volved in filming a hunt, the cameramancalls the shot. Not until he is satisfied withwhat he sees through the viewfinder canthe hunter take the shot. If the cameramancalls the shot and the hunter cannot shoot,the whole process starts over. A kill on filmis not made until and unless both the cam-eraman and the gun have perfect shots.You cannot imagine how difficult this cansometimes be.

The boar continued to feed down thehill. My crosshairs never left his chest. Atabout 30-yards I heard Jason whisper,"Shoot!" Smoke filled the air as my ProHunter belched out the HORNADY bul-let. The slug hit its mark and the giantboar went only 40-yards.

The hog weighed well over 400-poundsand had cutters that were bigger than any Ihave ever seen. It was hard work and wewere as cold as three guys could be and stillbe having fun.

There is, however, one very humoroussituation that I must pass on to you. Ourhands were so cold and the boar was soheavy we could not get him lifted up ontothe small bed of Justin's ATV. We wres-tled the hog for over an hour before we de-cided to go back to the lodge and get a pal-let to use as a stretcher. Even with this, it

was all the three of us could do to get himlifted and loaded.

STONE CREEK HUNTING RANCHoffers the very best hog hunting anywherein the country. They also offer great huntsfor exotic species, as well. Their lodge iswarm, comfortable and beautiful and thefood is good and plentiful. Justin Hoffmanis a great host and a better guide. This willbe an annual destination for me from nowon. Contact Justin at the Ranch at 573-435-0188, or at home at 314-952-4346, orcheck out their website atwww.stonecreekhunting.com.

BASS BABY

&BASS

HUNTER BOATS

IN STOCK! Charlie Hogg • OwnerCharlie Hogg • Owner

130 South Division • Carterville, IL130 South Division • Carterville, IL(618) 985-8277(618) 985-8277

www.crappieproshop.netwww.crappieproshop.netONLY$595

Bass Baby

Find Us & Like Us On FACEBOOK!Find Us & Like Us On FACEBOOK!

Congratulations to Grant Haider for taking this

beautiful 10 pointer. Thanks to Laurel Haider

& Greg Dickson of Triangle Sports in Antioch for sharing Grant’s trophy

with ASO! See Greg to get lined up for ice fishing!23480 W. Grass Lake Rd.

in Antioch, IL (847) 395-0813 Way to go Grant…Nice buck!

019_001.qxd 1/24/13 11:17 PM Page 1

The MeanderingMurray’s

By Bob Murray


Has Anything Changed?I have been reading outdoor maga-

zines all my life. I started off with Boy’sLife and graduated to Field and Streamand Outdoor Life and of course I have aspecial niche for Adventure SportsOutdoors. Over the years the subjectmatter has remained the same. Oh,there are now publications that specializein every aspect of every sport, but at theend of the hunt the basics are the same.

Sure, the amount of game has changedin some arenas, and the evolved changesin technology and equipment has madeour approach to any sport different fromour fathers and grandfathers trips intothe wild. Or has it?

Let’s talk about fishing. Have thedelivery systems really changed? No.You have a weighted bait that pulls the

line off of the reel (bait casters, spinningrigs, and spin casters), or fly outfits thatreaches the quarry by delivering a verylight bait with a heavier line (floating orsinking line with a leader). I am sureOrvis and Shimano would argue that weare light years out from a hundred yearsago. Equipment we are…in the basicsof the sport it is all the same.

In fact I feel that if you are learning,to let’s say, use a bait caster, you shouldlearn with a reel that doesn’t have all thedrag and braking systems or outfittedwith a “dial a cast” or whatever the newfad of the day may be. If you’re oldenough, you can remember a bait casterthat was outfitted with a control unitcalled…your THUMB! It’s like learn-ing to drive. Learn on a stick shift first

829 E. Camp St. • E. Peoria, IL [email protected]

309-694-4867 • 1-800-962-9934www.mwfco.com

Rt. 29 • Rome, Illinois • (309) 274-WOLF (9653)www.wolfhollow.org • [email protected]

.Archery Pro Shop. Indoor Shooting Range.Bow Tuning & Repairs

. Bait & TackleLarry & Celeste Pollack

15704 Vonachen Dr.Chillicothe, IL 61523

Closed on Mondays.

! FOID CARDS !OPEN: Tues.-Fri. 10am-6pm

Sat. 10am-4pmClosed Sun. & Mon.

FRIENDLY CUSTOMER SERVICE IS OUR #1 PRIORITY!

and no vehicle can ever throw you acurve. It’s the same with a bare bonesreel.

Go to fly fishing. A split bamboo rodhas been around since La Choy inventedbamboo shoots. Is there anything bet-ter? Some argue; no there is not. Hasany company invented a piece of equip-ment that will avoid “whip cracking”your line? No they have not. We stillwear waders, goofy looking hats andvests that had to be the inspiration forVelcro.

Hunting changes? The bullet still firesfrom the end of the barrel and the arrowmust be pulled back and released inorder to bag any game. I suppose that acompound bow could be argued to be amajor change with the “let off” and camratio making it more accurate. Hey, youstill have to pull it back and let itgo…the basics are still the same.

Camo has changed the way we dress tohide from our prey. I still contend thatwhether it be camo or a red and blackplaid shirt; if you move you’re busted.My hat is off to the makers of Gortex forstaying dry but it does not change thebasics of any sport other than comfort.

Transportation has made hugeinroads. I know guys with bass boatsthat cost three times what a car costs.All-Terrain Vehicles have shrunk therealistic size of the areas in which werecreate. Along with a GPS any moron

with an itch to explore or do whatever,can hop on that Honda 450 and targetany area there is. Of course a failure ofthat GPS could strand said moron wayout in the boonies.

How you get anywhere, to say huntducks is irrelevant cause it; what? Itdoesn’t change the basics. You still blowyour duck call from your diaphragm,and that call is still pretty much the sameas Grampies duck call. Oh, they havemade recordings and speakers to replacethat huffing you do into your call butyou can’t use them in most places or formost species.

Our sporting heritage has a rich histo-ry that in the last few generations haschanged dramatically. From us old guysdrooling over the Savage .22/.410 overand under to the 12 year old of todaygleaning crappie fishing tips from one ofthe many experts featured in AdventureSports Outdoors, we share the samethings that have been shared for manyyears. The basics are still the same theyjust have a different bit of spin on them.

To those that have trashed the out-doors in the past; it is time for a newstart. Keep it clean out there.

Contact Bob & Cheryl at: [email protected]

Beer • Liquor • Wine • Soda • Ice • SnacksLive Bait • Tackle • Roll Your Own Tobacco

Hunting & Fishing Licenses & Stamps

820 S. Main St., Lewistown, IL (309) 547-1094

By Casey's on Rt. 24 • Paul Dinkheller, Owner

Expanded Bait Shop, Several Expanded Bait Shop, Several Sizes of Minnows Now Sizes of Minnows Now

Available & Much More!Available & Much More!

020_001.qxd 1/24/13 11:52 PM Page 1


GCR Tire CenterGCR Tire CenterBridgestone Firestone

642 E. Main Street • Galesburg, ILWe Provide Excellent Quality forall Cars, Trucks, Trailers & RV’s

• Complete Tire Service • Brake Service• Wheel Alignment • Shocks & Struts Suspension• Professional Repairs • Road Service

Specializing In Hard to Find Tires For Your 4x4 or ATV

Phone: (309) 343-1141 • Fax: (309) 343-3490

Chain-O-Lakes Largest & Best Equipped Bait & Tackle Store!Chain-O-Lakes Largest & Best Equipped Bait & Tackle Store!Rod & Reel Repair ! Professional Service ! Bulk Quantities Available

Muskie suckers • Flatheads • Large & Small Shiners • Roaches • CrawlersSpikes • Mousies • Leeches • Chubs • Waxworms

Chain-O-Lakes • Loon • Deep…Southern WI Fishing Info Available!

23480 W. Grass Lake Rd. Antioch, IL 60002

847-395-0813

W W W. T R I A N G L E S P O R T S . B I ZW W W. T R I A N G L E S P O R T S . B I Z

i l l inois.gov/news/Do c uments/deer-LW-CWD-firstsegment-Jan2013.pdf

Spring Youth Turkey: Spring Youth Turkey Spe-cial Hunt Area online permit applications will beaccepted online from Jan. 15-Feb. 18. For more in-formation on 2013 spring turkey hunting, checkthe IDNR website at this link: www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/turkey/Pages/SpringTurkey-Hunting.aspx. Spring Youth Turkey Season CountyPermits will be available over-the-counter from ID-NR license/permit vendors beginning on March 5.

Apply Now for Outdoors Access for Youth TurkeyHunting: The Illinois Recreational Access Program(IRAP) is now taking applications from younghunters for 2013 spring turkey hunting.! Youthhunters will be assigned a hunt site in one of the23 counties in which private property has beenleased by IDNR. Most assigned hunting areas areat least 40 acres in size and all have been evaluat-ed for turkey activity and the high possibility of agood hunting experience for the youth. Eligibleyouth hunters must be under the age of 16 at thetime of the hunt and must have completed ahunter safety education course.! Applicants canapply for two of the three turkey seasons for whichIRAP has leased sites for the spring of 2013 –Youth Season, 3rd Season and 4th Season.!!!Formore information, go to www.dnr.illinois.gov/con-servation/irap.! Youth are encouraged not to missout and apply early.

Pere Marquette Bald Eagle Programs: Enjoywatching bald eagles on the Illinois and Mississip-pi rivers near Pere Marquette State Park this win-ter by participating in one of the park’s popular

Bald Eagle Days tours. The site interpreter at PereMarquette presents informative programs aboutbald eagles with all programs beginning at thePere Marquette Visitor Center at 8:30 a.m. Reser-vations are required and may be made by calling618/786-3323. Programs are on select datesthrough early March. To check the schedule ofprogram dates, go to the Pere Marquette StatePark web page and click on “Bald Eagle Days” atthis link: www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/ R4/PEREMARQ.HTM

Kaskaskia Eagle Trek: Families are invited toattend the HeartLands Conservancy Eagle Trek onSat., Feb. 2 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the KaskaskiaLock & Dam, 4800 Lock & Dam Road, Modoc, IL.The free event features eagle watching, World BirdSanctuary programs, lock & dam tours, plus chil-dren’s activities. Sponsors include the IDNR, U.S.Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and WildlifeService, HeartLand’s Conservancy, SouthwesternIllinois College, Kaskaskia Regional Port District,Lower Kaskaskia Stakeholders, Inc., ChesterTourism Committee, and CLIFFTOP.

Camping Reservations: Make your reservationnow for campsites and shelters for many IDNRsites for 2013. Reservations can be made onlinethrough the ReserveAmerica website at www.re-serveamerica.com using a Visa or MasterCard.For more information, check the IDNR website at

dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/Programs/Camp-ing

Follow the IDNR: Keep up to date with eventsand information on outdoor recreation and naturalresources in Illinois through IDNR postings onFacebook and Twitter. Find us at: www.dnr. illi-nois.gov/about/Pages/SocialNetworking.aspx

Earth Day in the Parks: Teachers can apply nowfor the 2013 Earth Day in the Parks program,which promotes stewardship of our natural re-sources by Illinois school children. During Apriland May, students and their teachers fromthroughout Illinois will come to participating Illi-nois state parks to take part in natural resourcesstewardship activities such as planting nativetrees and wildflowers; building and installing nest-ing/roosting boxes; removing invasive exoticspecies; and building brush piles for wildlife. Stu-dents will be helping the environment and wildlife,participating in outdoor activities to increasetheir fitness, and learning that their actions canmake a difference in the world. Students are en-couraged to return to the state park to see andstudy the results of their work. Some classes maywant to perform additional volunteer work at thepark. Applications to participate in Earth Day inthe Parks are accepted through Feb. 28. For de-tails, go online to www.dnr.state.il.us/educa-tion/CLASSRM/EDITPinstruct.htm

IDNR Newsbits2013 Illinois Licenses Now Available: Illinois

fishing, hunting and sportsman’s combination li-censes for 2013 are now available from DNR Directlicense & permit vendors, online through the IDNRwebsite www.dnr.illinois.gov/online/Pages/de-fault.aspx or by calling 1-888-6PERMIT (673-7648). The system is available 24 hours a day.The 2013 licenses purchased now will be validthrough Mar. 31, 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Late-Winter/CWD Deer Seasons: Deer huntersin Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 7,749deer during the first segment of the 2012-13Late-Winter/CWD Deer Seasons on Dec. 27-30,2012. The harvest total represented an 18.3 per-cent increase over the same portion of the seasonin 2011-12, despite nine fewer counties beingopen to those seasons this year. During the 2011-12 Late-Winter/CWD seasons, hunters harvested6,550 deer from open counties. The final segmentof the Late-Winter/CWD seasons will be conduct-ed on Jan. 18-20, 2013. Unfilled firearm, muzzle-loader, and youth deer permits issued for an opencounty are valid during that period, provided theywere issued for an open county. For those withoutthose valid unfilled deer permits, permits for theLate-Winter Deer Season and the Special CWDDeer Season are available over-the-counter atDNR Direct license vendors (see below). The topfive counties’ harvest for the first segment of theLate-Winter/CWD seasons: Pike (411), Fulton(389), Jo Daviess (351), Adams and Jefferson(tie - 256). For a list of all participating countyharvest totals, go to the IDNR website at www.dnr.

Free Estimates • Personal Service • Quality Products

More than 100 years in the building materials business!

406 S. 5th Ave. • Canton, IL(309) 647-0396 • fax (309) 647-2724

Your lumberstore…and so

much more!BLARNEYCASTLE

Delicious Homemade Pizza…Enjoy sizes up to 16 inches!Delicious Homemade Pizza…Enjoy sizes up to 16 inches!Fri. Night Special: Catfish Dinner with all the TrimmingsFri. Night Special: Catfish Dinner with all the Trimmings

32 oz. Schooner of Cold Beer Only $3.50!32 oz. Schooner of Cold Beer Only $3.50!Family Owned for Over 70 Years! Open Tues. – Sun at 3:30 p.m.

309-274-2694 • Old Rt. 29 in Rome, IL309-274-2694 • Old Rt. 29 in Rome, IL

021_001.qxd 1/25/13 12:02 AM Page 1


LAKEZONE CONVENIENCELive Bait & Tackle • Shell Gas & Diesel Fuel

Soda • Snacks • Cold Beer • Block & Bagged IceJct. Hwys. 154, 37 & I-57 • Whittington, IL 62897

(618) 629-2780 • OPEN 24/7!

FEB. 2013CALENDAR OF EVENTS

February 1-3• Illinois Deer and Turkey Expo, Prairie CapitalConvention Center, Spring fieldhttp://www.deerinfo.com/illinois

The Depot Bait & Tackle ShopOPEN 7 DAYS…ALWAYS 1-HOUR BEFORE SUNRISE!

MON.-SAT. TIL SUNSET & SUN. TIL 6PMOwners: Becky & Duane Thorne

305 S. Union St. • Victoria, [email protected]

309-879-2401OUR BAIT IS GUARATEED TO CATCH FISH OR DIE TRYIN’!

February 9• Illinois State Museum ‘Super Saturdays’children’s program "Mosaics, Murals, andMore: African American Artists," 11 a.m. – 3p.m., Spring field.www.museum.state.il.us/events

February 10• Raccoon and opossum hunting seasoncloses, North Zone

For more info: www.dnr.illinois.gov

February 11• Deadline to apply for third lottery drawingfor Illinois Spring Wild Turkey Hunting permitshttp://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/turkey/Pages/SpringTurkeyHunting.aspx

February 13• Ill. St. Museum Science Series Lecture:"The Ancient City Under Present-Day East St.Louis: The Results of the New Mississippi RiverBridge Project," 7 p.m., 1011 E. Ash,Spring field. www.museum.state.il.us/events

February 15• Squirrel hunting season closes, statewide• Extended season for mink and muskrattrapping closes, statewide

• Raccoon and opossum hunting seasoncloses, South Zone

February 18• Deadline to apply for Spring Youth TurkeySpecial Hunt Area permits (online) http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/turkey/Pages/SpringTurkeyHunting.aspx

February 23• Ill. St. Museum “Celebrate CulturalDiversity” event, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Spring fieldwww.museum.state.il.us/events

February 28• Crow hunting season ends, statewide

2014 North 4th St.Clinton, IA

563-243-4696RandRSportsInc.com

…is the Premier Outfitter in the Area! CALL our knowledgeable staff for help

with all your hunting and fishing needs…Large supply of hunting, fishing & marine equip. Special orders available at no additional cost!

Lots ofFirearms &Discounted

Bows!

NWTF Withdraws from EasternSports and Outdoor Show

The National Wild Turkey Federation haswithdrawn from the Eastern Sports and OutdoorShow in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania due to thedecision to ban the display of modern sportingrifles. RMEF believes the actions taken by Reed,a British company, are detrimental to theSecond Amendment and our right as Americansto bear arms.

RMEF reached this decision af ter carefuldeliberations and taking into account the stanceof our members, volunteers, industry partners

and fellow hunters. We urge Reed Exhibitions toreconsider its policies to avoid a divisive andpolitical atmosphere so RMEF can take part in anevent that generates needed revenue forimportant on-the-ground conservation andhunting heritage projects in the region.

As a leading advocate for the preservation ofour hunting heritage, the NWTF believes it is animportant time to take a clear stance on itssupport of sportsmen and the SecondAmendment and the clear link between the two.

The NWTF has canceled its booth space andwill be rescheduling the NWTF sanctioned callingcontest that was slated to take place at theEastern Sports and Outdoor Show once asuitable venue is determined.

“We feel strongly about the importance of theSecond Amendment in pursuit of our mission ofpreserving our hunting heritage,” said SkipMotts, President of the NWTF PennsylvaniaState Chapter. “We reached out to our chaptersfrom across the state and receivedoverwhelming support for taking this stand.”

The NWTF works to pass on the right to huntto future generations, including reducing legal

barriers to creating new hunters andintroducing almost 100,000 people to outdoorsports annually. The right to bear arms isanother pillar of the hunting tradition that theNWTF fully supports. The efforts to preserve ourhunting heritage can be undone if new barriersto hunting are created by limiting the tools thatthe vast majority of sportsmen depend on tohunt.

The NWTF will host its National Conventionand Sport Show in Nashville, Tenn., from Feb. 15to 17. The NWTF welcomes any attendees orexhibitors to consider coming to the NWTFConvention and Sport Show. The NWTF isworking to add booths to the already sold out

show in an attempt to accommodate companiesthat have decided to change plans about exhibitingat the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show. ContactApril F lowers at [email protected] forinformation on reserving a booth.

A national nonprofit organization, the NWTF isthe leader in upland wildlife habitat conservationin North America. Through dynamic partnershipswith state, federal and provincial agencies, theNWTF has helped restore turkey populationsthroughout North America, investing $412 millionto conserve 17.3 million acres of habitat. TheNWTF and its dedicated volunteers also introduceabout 100,000 people to the outdoors every yearthrough NWTF outreach programs. www.NWTF.org

022_001.qxd 1/25/13 12:37 AM Page 1


Cardinal Corner409 Grand Tower Road • Grand Tower, IL 62942

On the Mississippi River • Hwy. 3 (Halfway between IL 146 & IL 149)618-565-1064 • Your Hometown Store!

Every morning serving biscuits and gravy and fresh doughnuts!Buffet Pizza made fresh the way you like it! Order yours today!

Sub sandwiches made to order or meats/cheese by the lb.Hours: 6am-8pm 7 Days a Week • Open unt i l 9pm dur ing the SummerSee You at the Corner…THE CARDINAL CORNER!

Archery

CheckStation!

Illinois 2012-13 Deer Harvest Totals 180,669SPRINGFIELD, IL – Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 180,669

deer during all 2012-13 seasons. Illinois deer seasons closed last weekend ashunters concluded the Archery Deer Season and the last segments of the Late-Winterand Special Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) deer hunting seasons on Jan. 20.

The total preliminary deer harvest for all seasons of 180,669 compares with atotal harvest for all seasons of 181,451 in 2011-12. During this year’s deer seasons,hunters took 49 percent does and 51 percent males. Illinois’ record deer harvestoccurred in the 2005-06 season, when 201,209 deer were taken.

“We hope Illinois deer hunters had an enjoyable time afield this year, and tookadvantage of the many hunting opportunities afforded them,” said Paul Shelton,IDNR’s Forest Wildlife Program Manager. “In the coming months, deer biologists willbe reviewing all available data and making any needed program changes in order toensure the continued well-being of Illinois’ deer herd for this and future genera-tions.”

The 2012-13 Illinois Archery Deer Season concluded on Jan. 20, and hunters inIllinois took a preliminary total of 59,728 deer during the archery season (Oct. 1,2012-Jan. 20, 2013), compared with the archery deer harvest of 61,974 in the2011-12 season.

The 2012-13 Late-Winter Antlerless Only and Special CWD deer seasons also con-cluded on Jan. 20, with a combined preliminary harvest total for both seasons of14,726 deer, compared with a harvest of 14,906 deer taken during those seasonslast year. The seven-day split seasons for the Late-Winter and CWD hunts were Dec.27-30, 2012 and Jan. 18-20, 2013. Hunters in Boone, DeKalb, Grundy, Jo Daviess,Kendall, LaSalle, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties and KaneCounty west of Ill. Rt. 47 participated in the CWD season, while another 56 countieswere open for the Late-Winter season. The Special CWD season is used to assist incontrolling the spread of chronic wasting disease in the Illinois deer herd, while theLate-Winter season provides additional harvest opportunities as a deer populationmanagement tool.

Hunters took a preliminary total of 99,461 deer during the 2012 Illinois Firearm DeerSeason (Nov. 16-18 and Nov. 29-Dec. 2, 2012), 3,630 deer during the 2012Muzzleloader-Only Deer Season (Dec. 7-9, 2012), and 3,124 deer during the 2012 IllinoisYouth Deer Season (Oct. 6-7, 2012).

Preliminary county harvest totals for all the 2012-13 Illinois deer seasons are detailedbelow, followed by a table of comparable figures for the 2011-12 seasons.

Convenient Drive Thru Cold Beer & Liquor • Ice • SnacksHunting & Fishing Licenses

Sesser Sun Mart

203 W. Franklin • Sesser, IL • (618) 625-5858

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

Sun. - Thurs. 6am - 11pmFri. & Sat. 6am - 12midnight

WESSEL’S DISCOUNT GUNS101 East Main Street, Teutopolis, IL 62467

217-663-0302 cell • 217-857-3553 [email protected] •[email protected]

Hours: Mon-Thur. 5am-11pm; Fri & Sat 5am-12am;

Sun 6am-11pmHenry H0004 V 17HMR Lvr Rfl ..................................................Now $464.95Henry H001ML Mares Leg .22LR Lever Pistol ..............................Now $299.99Henry Mare’s Leg .45LC .44 Mag + .357 Mag Lever Pistol Lvr Rfl..Now $721.95Henry H002C Survival Camo Take Down Lvr Rfl ..Now $269.95 Black $227.95Henry H006 44 Mag Lvr Rfl ......................................................Now $699.99Henry H006C + 45 LC Lvr Rfl....................................................Now $699.99Henry H001M 22 Mag Lvr Rfl ....................................................Now $359.99Henry H06 Mini Bolt Lvr Rfl ........................................................Now $199.99S&W M22A-22LR Real Tree AP Camo................................................$319.99S&W Body Guard 380 ..............................................................Now $379.99S&W 22A 22 LR 7” Pistol ..............................................................$299.95Taurus Raging Judge 5RND 6 1/2 BRL 45/410 MSRP $825 ..........Now $699.99Ruger 10/22 Blued/Black .22 LR ..............................................Now $209.95Windham Weaponry R16A4T .223..............................................Now $819.99Ruger SR 9C 9mm 17 RND ........................................................Now $399.99Ruger 10/22 Mos. Oak Inf. s/s.22 LR ........................................Now $289.95Marlin XT22 .22 Mag Tube Fed ..................................................Now $219.95Thompson Center Dimension .223 ............................................Sale $469.99Heritage Revolver . 22 LR/22 Mag Holster MSRP $249 ..............Now $209.95NAA Wasp 22 LR/22 Mag Mini Revolve .....................................Sale $249.99Ruger LCP - LM .380 Auto w/laser ............................................Now $336.95Ruger P345 .45 ACP MSRP $550..............................................Now $399.99Ruger Mark III 22/45 6’ 22 LR ................................................Now $265.99Ruger .22 Mark III 4” BRL .22LR MSRP $344 ...........................Now $265.95Springfield Armory - XDM 9MM w/Gear Pk ................................ Now $565.95Hipoint 380 ACP ......................................................................Now $139.99Hipoint 9MM or 380 ACP .........................................................Now $149.99Glock 21 Gen4 .45 ACPl ...........................................................Now $566.95Glock 27 Gen ..........................................................................Now $515.95Armscor RI 1911 .45 ACP $399.95 Nickel ..................................Now $444.95H&K US P9 9MM Used ..............................................................Now $444.99H&R Ultra Slug SB1920 20GA Wood ..Now $252.95 Thumbhole Now $329.95Remington 11-87 12 Ga. Super Mag Syn 28” MSRP $859 ...........Now $594.99Remington 770 .243 7” Pistol..................................................Now $499.95Mossberg 935 Semi-AutoMSRP $739 ........................................Now $549.99Mossberg 835 Turkey Thumbhole ..............................................Now $339.99Mossberg 500 Flex Grip 12GA ..................................................Now $395.95Mossberg 715 + Tactical .22 25 RND Rifle ................................Now $253.95C2 Taser w/Laser MSRP $389 .................................................Now $289.99Ruger LCP (3701) .380 ...........................................................Now $293.95Savage 93R17 Wood 17 HMR w/scope........................................Now $286.95Rockriver WYL E Hide .223 Car ................................................Sale $1199.99Ruger 10/22 Cattle Drive 22 CK Rifle ........................................Now $367.95Rossi 972 S/S 357 Mag 6” ......................................................Now $381.95Rossi .410 Single Shot ..............................................................Now $149.99Taurus Judge 3” S/S 3” Chamber 45/410 .................................Now $498.95Hipoint .40 S&W ......................................................................Sale $149.99Taurus Judge Public Defender Poly 45/410 ................................Now $383.95Taurus MDL85 38 Special BL ....................................................Now $269.99Taurus MDL94 22 LR Bl ..................................................................$315.99Taurus MDL 44 44 Mag 8” Barrel ..............................................Now $529.95Glock 17 Gen 4 9 MM ................................................................Now $519.99CI Ak-47 Underfold 7.62x39 ....................................................Now $549.99CI AK-47 7.62x39 ...................................................................Now $549.99CI Zastava Pap 7-62x39 Pistol 2 Mags ......................................Now $579.95Aramalite 223 ........................................................................Now $829.95Stoeger 20 Ga. Condor o/u ......................................................Sale $339.99SF XDS Slim .45 ACP 3.3” FS 5+1Black/Black............................Now $499.99 S/S Two Tone ..........................................................................Now $549.99S/S ........................................................................................Now $329.99H&R Ultra Slug 20 Ga. Lam. Shot ..............................................Now $299.99Savage 220 20 Ga. Shotgun ....................................................Now $457.95Remington 870 Combo 3” ........................................................Now $465.95Tactical ..................................................................................Now $299.99Kec Tec KSG Tan 12GA 14 Shot ........................................................$950.00Sig Sauer 2022 9 mm Diamond Plate ........................................Now $488.99Charter Arms Pink Lady .38 Revolver........................................Used $299.99

GO TO GALLERYOFGUNS.COM & CLICK ON RETAILER SEARCH. LOCATE VIP CODE BOX & ENTER WESSELS.

F R E E S H I P P I N G !

2012 All SeasonsCounty Archery Youth F irearm Muzzleloader LW/CWD TotalAdams 1347 105 2539 89 526 4606Alexander 214 15 453 26 CLOSED 708Bond 362 26 754 16 129 1287Boone 115 2 142 2 25 286Brown 917 53 1409 78 430 2887Bureau 758 37 1401 65 237 2498Calhoun 774 46 990 71 310 2191Carroll 641 20 1152 38 196 2047Cass 644 35 813 42 CLOSED 1534Champaign 384 17 341 26 CLOSED 768Christian 454 40 663 20 CLOSED 1177Clark 843 29 1322 55 342 2591Clay 538 35 1219 31 194 2017Clinton 341 30 755 13 65 1204Coles 602 19 669 22 92 1404Cook 158 CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED 158Crawford 777 20 1168 29 226 2220Cumberland 418 25 934 14 130 1521DeKalb 182 6 195 7 39 429DeWitt 514 13 468 33 CLOSED 1028Douglas 171 8 193 8 CLOSED 380Dupage 35 CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED 35Edgar 460 21 844 30 119 1474Edwards 202 14 431 13 79 739Ef fingham 409 31 935 15 132 1522Fayette 687 64 1723 50 281 2805Ford 64 6 136 5 CLOSED 211Franklin 870 42 1309 34 CLOSED 2255Fulton 2009 106 2816 112 674 5717Gallatin 298 20 512 25 CLOSED 855Greene 809 52 1352 35 260 2508Grundy 399 12 470 22 105 1008Hamilton 539 29 1189 36 165 1958Hancock 728 42 2076 90 408 3344Hardin 457 32 1027 43 CLOSED 1559Henderson 257 13 634 13 115 1032Henry 527 16 846 36 CLOSED 1425Iroquois 465 31 828 44 CLOSED 1368Jackson 853 62 2215 47 CLOSED 3177Jasper 534 62 1161 29 CLOSED 1786Jef ferson 1379 95 2184 84 524 4266Jersey 546 29 932 30 183 1720JoDaviess 1053 55 2541 98 636 4383Johnson 638 44 1716 50 CLOSED 2448Kane 349 3 53 1 13 419Kankakee 317 8 249 22 CLOSED 596Kendall 242 9 114 10 28 403Knox 975 49 1606 58 312 3000Lake 423 CLOSED 9 CLOSED CLOSED 432LaSalle 916 28 1202 36 266 2448Lawrence 413 14 590 26 CLOSED 1043Lee 434 16 784 18 98 1350Livingston 305 15 613 33 CLOSED 966Logan 260 26 491 29 86 892Macon 458 19 327 23 CLOSED 827Macoupin 853 66 1815 53 294 3081Madison 1113 42 924 24 167 2270Marion 1089 66 1774 64 299 3292

P H E AS A N T S FO R E V E R G R A N D P R A I R I E I L L I N O I S B A N Q U E T • S AT . F E B . 9 T H

American Legion Hall • Lacon, ILTickets: Greg Simmons, 309-493-5201

Email: [email protected] [email protected]

P H E AS A N T S FO R E V E R S I LV E RA N N I V E RS A RY I L L I N O I S R I V E R VA L L E Y

B A N Q U E T • S AT . F E B . 2 3Top Gun Raf fle, Wildlife Art, Gun Raf fles

& Special New Member Raf fle, Plus So.Dakota Pheasant Hunt Raf fle

Countryside Banquet Hall of Rt. 8 inWashington/SunnylandTickets: Bob Wiseman,

[email protected] Nick Ripley, 309-444-3416

P H E AS A N T S FO R E V E R G R U N DY C O U N T Y I L L I N O I S B A N Q U E T • S AT . F E B . 2 3

5:30 p.m. Morris County Club, Morris , IL Tickets: Mark Mitchell,

[email protected]

Cont. on next pg.

023_001.qxd 1/26/13 2:11 PM Page 1

2011 All SeasonsCounty Archery Youth F irearm Muzzleloader LW/CWD TotalAdams 1364 51 2394 93 461 4363Alexander 197 11 536 51 CLOSED 795Bond 396 19 786 23 114 1338Boone 127 2 129 7 19 284Brown 929 29 1224 88 374 2644Bureau 742 17 1280 70 247 2356Calhoun 903 24 1126 75 332 2460Carroll 561 6 955 38 131 1691Cass 564 11 674 30 94 1373Champaign 399 9 338 40 CLOSED 786Christian 516 19 687 24 91 1337Clark 802 26 1330 82 264 2504Clay 637 30 1351 45 256 2319Clinton 397 15 845 18 72 1347Coles 694 12 788 29 87 1610Cook 167 CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED 167Crawford 820 14 1136 51 216 2237Cumberland 435 11 956 29 126 1557DeKalb 192 2 182 10 51 437DeWitt 619 11 454 24 CLOSED 1108Douglas 173 5 242 10 CLOSED 430Dupage 61 CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED 61Edgar 451 16 785 44 112 1408Edwards 225 8 411 23 96 763Ef fingham 476 25 1050 33 107 1691Fayette 771 35 1952 65 358 3181Ford 73 2 139 8 CLOSED 222Franklin 804 20 1314 48 CLOSED 2186Fulton 1822 48 2581 143 576 5170Gallatin 357 13 582 50 CLOSED 1002Greene 786 17 1386 43 275 2507Grundy 435 6 435 35 128 1039Hamilton 550 31 1173 66 190 2010Hancock 757 27 1992 123 328 3227Hardin 462 27 1093 85 CLOSED 1667Henderson 246 6 619 25 72 968Henry 435 6 762 30 105 1338Iroquois 487 15 796 48 CLOSED 1346Jackson 880 27 2229 74 CLOSED 3210Jasper 609 29 1259 68 CLOSED 1965Jef ferson 1436 53 2315 115 441 4360Jersey 567 9 882 36 189 1683JoDaviess 1013 38 2229 102 504 3886


Gas • PizzaSubs • Burgers

OPEN:Mon. – Sat.

5:30am – 10pmSun. 6am – 10pm

309-329-2929Located on Hwy. 24 in Downtown Astoria, IL

309-267-4788309-267-4788Windshield Repair • Replacements • Repair Rock Chips

We Come to You! Free Mobile Service! Locally Owned • 27 Years Experience

Insurance Approved • We Specialize in Service!Bob Smith, Owner • Hours: M-F, 8-5 • Sat. 8-12

Pekin, IL

River CityMarine Works

3303 N.E. Adams • Peoria, IL 61603(309) 685-3297

Repair Service For Props • New & Rebuilt Props

Marshall 334 20 777 25 76 1232Mason 377 15 620 30 CLOSED 1042Massac 377 24 701 34 CLOSED 1136McDonough 485 24 1074 40 205 1828McHenry 561 10 415 10 66 1062McLean 608 29 784 35 173 1629Menard 330 16 468 32 94 940Mercer 384 29 1019 28 125 1585Monroe 327 20 1011 27 96 1481Montgomery 674 44 1047 27 170 1962Morgan 543 30 974 38 CLOSED 1585Moultrie 266 17 301 24 CLOSED 608Ogle 686 22 1097 31 210 2046Peoria 1142 60 1494 41 296 3033Perry 670 23 1294 41 349 2377Piatt 192 9 194 6 CLOSED 401Pike 2838 168 3071 246 916 7239Pope 851 25 1582 58 CLOSED 2516Pulaski 252 25 659 36 CLOSED 972Putnam 289 6 520 21 75 911Randolph 856 83 2222 66 450 3677Richland 416 16 751 20 124 1327Rock Island 587 15 969 43 171 1785Saline 467 40 1028 27 177 1739Sangamon 746 32 874 37 152 1841Schuyler 902 53 1706 76 478 3215Scott 252 15 490 31 133 921Shelby 691 34 1272 34 158 2189St. Clair 618 30 891 21 138 1698Stark 152 8 342 10 55 567Stephenson 447 13 1048 31 221 1760Tazewell 729 35 834 21 CLOSED 1619Union 750 40 1803 54 CLOSED 2647Vermilion 929 35 949 33 232 2178Wabash 191 9 310 8 CLOSED 518Warren 268 9 758 25 80 1140Washington 375 17 1098 34 CLOSED 1524Wayne 892 53 1721 43 430 3139White 568 33 872 24 306 1803Whiteside 491 23 869 21 131 1535Will 837 14 387 15 CLOSED 1253Williamson 862 33 1676 47 CLOSED 2618Winnebago 389 7 504 13 89 1002Woodford 608 41 977 43 165 1834Total 59728 3124 99461 3630 14726 180669

4952 State Rte. 13 • Pinckneyville, IL 62274(618) 357-2583(618) 357-2583

Hicks Trading StationHicks Trading StationSouthern Illinois’ Largest Gun Shop

Come visit with Kevin & Sam and choose your next gun from over 2000 Guns In Stock!

Open 7Days aWeek!

Rifles Shotguns Pistols

Johnson 699 37 1709 81 240 2766Kane 381 1 44 5 23 454Kankakee 322 2 219 21 CLOSED 564Kendall 231 4 102 14 CLOSED 351Knox 1016 21 1479 66 273 2855Lake 446 CLOSED 5 CLOSED CLOSED 451LaSalle 1020 28 1147 61 243 2499Lawrence 390 9 560 20 101 1080Lee 496 14 703 32 90 1335Livingston 290 10 568 25 CLOSED 893Logan 294 8 424 16 62 804McDonough 562 10 1067 63 181 1883McHenry 575 3 337 12 62 989McLean 603 19 724 46 134 1526Macon 605 11 366 43 CLOSED 1025Macoupin 954 34 1736 83 277 3084Madison 1109 17 904 33 162 2225Marion 1063 42 1856 105 330 3396Marshall 360 15 767 31 103 1276Mason 383 13 595 23 73 1087Massac 404 19 642 53 CLOSED 1118Menard 311 7 423 18 78 837Mercer 423 18 963 40 116 1560Monroe 251 12 950 24 109 1346Montgomery 675 23 1177 39 154 2068Morgan 568 10 926 41 162 1707Moultrie 378 11 358 30 CLOSED 777Ogle 707 15 1034 36 198 1990Peoria 1204 32 1482 69 288 3075Perry 660 14 1244 53 275 2246Piatt 251 7 185 12 CLOSED 455Pike 2953 103 2958 309 856 7179Pope 862 22 1741 88 CLOSED 2713Pulaski 301 23 709 60 CLOSED 1093Putnam 317 5 470 29 87 908Randolph 888 53 2185 109 391 3626Richland 412 10 817 28 145 1412Rock Island 593 16 912 39 126 1686St. Clair 591 18 980 27 121 1737Saline 485 32 996 53 162 1728Sangamon 797 12 794 37 130 1770Schuyler 1028 28 1628 100 324 3108Scott 248 10 519 22 86 885Shelby 836 27 1430 70 175 2538Stark 145 3 297 14 37 496Stephenson 433 10 975 33 200 1651Tazewell 745 24 684 28 107 1588Union 715 33 1704 79 296 2827Vermilion 1061 26 960 58 214 2319Wabash 177 4 278 14 57 530Warren 282 5 616 29 101 1033Washington 395 10 1108 50 CLOSED 1563Wayne 939 33 1871 77 481 3401White 638 23 992 60 304 2017Whiteside 455 11 744 36 112 1358Will 837 7 370 33 CLOSED 1247Williamson 842 37 1741 57 CLOSED 2677Winnebago 379 2 437 16 91 925Woodford 652 14 811 51 153 1681Total 61974 1849 97820 4902 14906 181451

THE REDNOSE GANGLIVE ONLINE

SUNDAY MORNINGS 7AM - 10am AT:

www.ASOMagazine.com

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT www.ASOMagazine.net & LISTEN TO

024_001.qxd 1/26/13 2:20 PM Page 1


As February progresses, deerhunters reflect on all the times theyshould have gone to the woods, butsome obligation or lack of “initiative”caused them to sit in front of the tele-vision and watch their favorite teamplay ball. The 2012/13 Illinois white-tail deer season ended on January 20thwith the last three days being the last

“late winter firearm season”. But hey,it’s not the end of the world! With theloss of these activities, come new op-portunities!

First of all, there’s an over-abun-dance of squirrels and that season runsthrough February 15th, 2013. Alsocrow season runs thru February 28thand this is some fun shooting. Proba-bly the most popular late-season ac-tivity is coyote hunting. There seemsto be a real excess of these wily crit-ters this year but they also keep get-ting better educated every year. A fewyears ago you could see a “dog” out inthe field and stop to watch him as hepredictably would stop and turn towatch you. Now, if you even slowdown they will shift into a higher gearwhile headed for the closest cover.About the best chance to bag one is bycalling and even that is getting harderand harder. They have become “callshy” and can differentiate the subtledifferences between real noises andmanufactured ones. They can also“pinpoint” the origin of the soundmaking it very hard to fool one intocoming into gun range without somedecent decoys.

Switching subjects somewhat, it’salso time to be hitting some of thewarm-water lakes in pursuit of some

winter fishing fun and/or fine eating. Iknow some of you do this all winterlong while others are dedicated tostocking the freezer with venison andsquirrels before switching to these ac-tivities. Dress warmly and be sure toremember your life vests. That wateris very cold -- I know!

Along with the afore-mentioned ac-tivities, this is the season to increaseour knowledge of the many speciesand the hunting or fishing “tools” thatwe might use to make us successful.There’s a big list of upcoming sportsshows in ASO MAGAZINE and I’lllist a few of those below. If you don’tpick up your ASO magazine at yourfavorite sports shop, you may accessit online at: ASOMagazine.com -Click on “features” and “magazine”.For the sports show schedule click on“current issue” and select page 101.You can subscribe to the magazinewhile online also & check out the newforum on www.ASOMagazine.net.

I will host FISHING CLASSES ATLAKE LAND COLLEGE on Thurs-day nights starting Jan. 24th thru Feb-ruary 14th (four weeks)! I will alsohave “BOW HUNTING ILLINOIS &BEYOND” classes on the MattoonLake Land College campus. These arealso Thursday evening classes (four

weeks) from Feb 21st thru Mar 14th. Ron Boeser will host HUNTING

SAFETY EDUCATION classes Feb-ruary 21, 22 & 23. There are optionsshown on the website. Sign up earlyor get additional information see:www.lakeland.cc.il.us/learn or callJohnna @ 217-234-5470.

The CENTRAL ILLINOIS OUT-DOOR EXPO for 2013 will be com-ing up at the OTTO CENTER inArthur Illinois Fri & Sat FEB 22 &23. I will have a small part in those ac-tivities each day in the form of semi-nars etc.. For additional informationcontact James Aikman Taxidermy @217-259-9603 or www.arthurfesti-vals.com/outdoorexpo/expomain.htm.

The Illinois Deer and Turkey Clas-sic will be in Springfield Feb 1-2-3see www.deerinfo.com. The St LouisBoat and Sport Show is Feb 6-10, seestlouisboatshow.com. The boat showin Springfield Illinois will be at thefairgrounds Feb 22-23-24, see the-boatshowinspringfield.com. Thereare lots of other shows but these are afew of the close ones.

Have a good and productive latewinter sports season and I hope to seeyou at one of my classes or one of theshows.

It’s Faith, Family, and Fishin

FISHING-HUNTINGCLASSES AND SHOWS

by Dave [email protected]

2002 Ford Ranger Supercab, 4x4, V6, Edge, High mi.....................Only $6900 (Teddy Bear not included)

2011 Chevy Silverado Ext. 4x4, LS, All power, 22K mi. ................Only $24,9002010 Chevy Travese LT 4x4, LT, Third Seat, 55K mi. ..................Only $22,0002009 Hyundai Sante Fe 4x4, One Owner, 25K mi. ......................Only $17,9002006 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab, 4x4, Leather, Power roof, 85K mi. ......Only $17,9002005 Chevy Silverado Ext. 4x4, 5.3 V8, 71K mi. ........................Only $13,900

See www.McCormickAutoPlace.com for more photos and vehicle details!

5700 W. Plank Rd. (Rt. 116) in Bellevue, IL(309) 697-4723

2 Great Locations, On the North End& South End of Reelfoot Lake!

2540 ST. • RT. 213 • TIPTONVILLE, TN 38079 731-253-6581 • www.ReelfootLake.com

REELFOOT LAKE, TN

FANTASTIC FISHING!

3 Days & 2 Nights 2 Nights Lodging, 3 Days

with Boat, Motor, Gas, Bait.$159* Per Person

or3 Days & 3 Nights$189* Per Person

*Offers not valid March 10-May 23, 2013

FEB. SPECIAL 3-Day Fishing

3-Night LodgingLodging for 3 in Room

with 3 Beds, 3-Man Boat,

Motor, Gas, Bait.

$99 Per Person

“We offer the BESTFishing Packages

for Crappie & Bluegill!”

Lakefront Cabins & Lodge Units All with

Fully Equipped Kitchens!Jon & Pontoon Boat Rental

Bait & Tackle Shop

“Since 1978”

025_001.qxd 1/25/13 2:16 AM Page 1


Located in the beautiful Piney Region of Central Missouri. It's really Hog Heaven! Beautiful lodging accommodations!

Hunt Hogs • RamsSpanish Goats • Sika • FallowRed, Whitetail & Axis Deer

Black Buck • Elk Call Justin at Call Justin at 314-952-4346314-952-4346

w w w. s t o n e c r e e k h u n t i n g . c o mw w w. s t o n e c r e e k h u n t i n g . c o m

Wild Hog

Hunting!

Located on Rte. 111, 3 mi. S. of Chesterfield, or 5 mi. N. of Medora, IL

618-753-2003Sporting Clay RangeReleased Bird Hunts

Check out our Prices at: www.jokerswildsportingclays.com

Open: Wed., Thurs. & Fri. 1:30pm-Dusk

Sat. & Sun. 8:30am-Dusk

Gibby's on the Green(formerly Seasons Restaurant)

The Outdoorsman's Retreat!12476 Golf Course Rd., Whittington, IL

618-629-2454Full service menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Open every day 30 minutes before first tee timeSteaks • Seafood • Sandwiches

Owner: David Gibson • New Management • New Decor • New Menu

“Conservation and cuisine intersect each day onour dinner plates, so it’s important to build a connec-tion between wildlife habitat conservation and whatwe eat,” says Bob St. Pierre, Pheasants Forever’s VicePresident of Marketing, “Food is also what brings ustogether, the center of every celebration, and we can’tthink of a better occasion than National Pheasant Festand Pheasants Forever’s 30th anniversary to cele-brate the fruits of our habitat efforts.”

Georgia Pellegrini – presenting Saturday at 11AM,1PM & 4PM

“My passion for good food, for simple food, beganat an early age, on a boulder by the side of a creek as Icaught my trout for breakfast. I grew up on the same

land my great-grandfatherowned and worked...This con-nection to the land and thedeep satisfaction one getsfrom manual labor stayedwith me...I decided it wastime to really get at the heartof where our food comes fromand head to the source—Mother Nature. I bought ashotgun and set my sites on the cutting edge of culi-nary creativity intent on pushing the boundaries ofAmerican gastronomy.”

Hank Shaw – presentingFriday at 6PM, Saturday at10AM & 2PM and Sunday at11AM & 1PM

“I write. I fish. I dig earth,forage, live for food and killwild animals. I drink bourbon,Barolo or Budweiser withequal relish and wish I lived by the sea. Or on a moun-tain. Or in the middle of the Great Plains, with nothingbut shortgrass prairie as far as the eye can see. Ispend my days thinking about new ways to cook andeat anything that walks, flies, swims, crawls, skitters,jumps – or grows. I am the omnivore who has solvedhis dilemma,” Shaw says, “My hope is that the websiteand my book will help open new vistas in the world ofhunting, foraging and fishing both to newcomers andto those who’ve spent decades in the fields, forests,marshes and oceans of this great country.”

Lenny McNab – presenting Friday at 4PM & 7PM,

Saturday at 12PM & 3PM andSunday at 12 PM & 2PM

Also presenting on theWild Game Cooking Stage isLenny McNab, the ExecutiveChef at Kessler Canyon, aworld-class resort. This cele-brated cowboy cook and tal-ented entertainer is renowned for his delicious farm totable recipes and exuberant personality.

National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic is country'slargest event for upland hunters, sport dog ownersand wildlife habitat conservationists, combining a na-tional outdoor trade show, wildlife habitat seminar se-ries, and family event complete with puppies, trac-tors, shotguns, and art. The event is presented by Ca-bela's. For more information, please contact RehanNana, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Public Re-lations Specialist, at (651) 209-4973 or email Re-han.

Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservationdivision, Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprof-it organization dedicated to upland habitat conserva-tion. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have morethan 135,000 members and 720 local chaptersacross the United States and Canada. Chapters areempowered to determine how 100 percent of their lo-cally raised conservation funds are spent, the only na-tional conservation organization that operatesthrough this truly grassroots structure. www.Pheas-antsForever.org

New & Used Boats

& Engines!

Best Service Availablein So. IL!

1800 S. 10th St. (Rt. 37)

Mt. Vernon, IL

Pro 165, 175 & 185 Models All In Stock!

618-242-2864 www.MountVernonMariner.com618-242-2864 www.MountVernonMariner.com

16' JON BOATSAS LOW

AS $1695!

Pro 185

PELLEGRINI, SHAW HEADLINE WILD GAMECOOKING LINEUP AT NATIONAL PHEASANT

FEST FEB 15-16-17, 2013Conservation & Cuisine Collide at Pheasants

Forever’s 30th Anniversary Celebration

Saint Paul, Minn. –Wild game chefs Georgia Pelle-grini and Hank Shaw will be featured speakers on theWild Game Cooking Stage at Pheasants Forever’s up-coming National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic pre-sented by Cabela’s. The event comes to the Minneapo-lis Convention Center February 15, 16 & 17. The cook-ing portion of the show is presented by Gander Moun-tain.

Pellegrini and Shaw burst onto the cooking scene inrecent years with innovative perspectives, radicallychanging the way many people think about the envi-ronment and where their food comes from. Pellegrini’sadventures were chronicled in her latest book GirlHunter: Revolutionizing the Way We Eat, One Hunt at aTime, while Shaw is the author of the award-winningwild foods website Hunter Angler Gardener Cook andthe book Hunt, Gather, Cook:Finding the ForgottenFeast.

026_001.qxd 1/25/13 2:27 AM Page 1


I’m the luckiest guy in the world. Throughthe Colby Simms Outdoors’ outfitting busi-ness, my pro fishing and media careers takeme around the world, in pursuit of trophyclass fish and game at the planet’s best desti-nations. I get to fish around 250-300 days ayear or more. While the exotic fishing at ourresorts and lodges in places like Costa Rica,Mexico, Canada and Alaska are on fresh on mymind, while I’m writing this article in the deadof winter, I still never get tired of fishing inthe Midwest. After returning home from mylast media trip at our newest resort in CentralAmerica, I was still excited to get back on thewater at my favorite locations in the heart-land of the United States. Even though, I’dbeen landing billfish from 70 to 400 poundsjust days before, I was still as excited as kidon Christmas morning, catching bass,muskies, walleyes and stripers from home wa-ters and those a short drive away.

No matter how many incredible fishing ex-periences I have far away, I never get tired of

fishing right here in the good old Midwest,where I was born and raised. We are blessedwith some magnificent angling opportunitieshere, and together with my staff guides, I getto experience the best fishing in the Midweston a routine basis. 2012 produced some fan-tastic fishing for the Colby Simms OutdoorsTeam and our guests. Many of our guide serv-ice and outfitting company clients caughttheir personal biggest fish, or had the bestday for numbers of their lives, and a few werelucky enough to nab both. 2012 brought withit the worst drought we’ve seen, across muchof this land. Still, the fish didn’t seem to mind,as they fed with reckless abandon, giving an-glers plenty of opportunities. 2013 looks tobe even better at a number of our favoriteguiding locations, as various bait fish andgame fish species are in abundance in qualitysizes, and ready for another year of growth.Let’s talk about some of the very best optionsfor the coming spring, summer and fall sea-sons.

2013 MIDWEST FISHING FORECAST2013 MIDWEST FISHING FORECASTRED HOT ANGLING IS EXPECTED THIS YEAR

ACROSS THE MIDWESTBy: Colby Simms with Ray Simms & the CSO Team

Photos by: The Colby Simms Outdoors Photographywww.ColbySimmsOutdoors .comwww.ColbySimmsOutdoors .com


*Kinkaid LakeIt’s no surprise to most

of my magazine readers,TV viewers and pro fishingfans that my home watersat Kinkaid Lake still rank atthe top of my list of Mid-western favorites. Thisgorgeous wilderness lake insouthern Illinois has con-sistently been rated in thetop 10 muskie waters in theentire world, producinghigh numbers of fish andgiant specimens as well.It’s the number one choicefor muskie fishing for Rayand me, as well as most ofour staff guides across theUnited States and Canadatoo. The largemouth bassfishing at Kinkaid is incred-ible as well, both for numbers of fish and tro-phies too, and many consider Kinkaid by farthe number one bass fishing water in Illinois.It’s the only major lake in the area containingsmallmouth bass, and this species has doingbetter every year since the state first beganstocking efforts. Kinkaid is quite possibly thebest lake around for giant crappies too, in-cluding the near state record caught just afew years back. Kinkaid also produces greatfishing for bluegills and sunnies, white bass,

channel and flathead catfish and walleyes.Kinkaid is where I began guiding and fishingprofessionally full-time, more than a decadeago, and what a lake to call home. I get tospend more than a couple hundred days fish-ing Kinkaid each year, and I love every minuteof it!

*Saint Francis RiverThe Saint Francis River in southeast Mis-

Multiple championship title winning tournament pro & guide Colby Simms shows

off a pair of big Midwestern white bass.

3 NIGHT CABIN, 2 DAY CHARTERStarting at $295/person • Deluxe Cabin $375/person

WEEK CABIN Starting at $720 • Deluxe Cabin $1560

CHARTER FISH MINNESOTA’S LAKE OF THE WOODS AT

ZIPPEL BAY RESORT!WALLEYES • NORTHERNS • WILDLIFE • CABINS • JACUZZIS • FIREPLACES • CHARTERS • CAMPING

BOATS • CANOES • KAYAKS • PADDLE BOATS • LODGE • DINING • LOUNGE • HOT TUB • FLOATING GAZEBON E W H E A T E D S W I M M I N G P O O L ! !N E W H E A T E D S W I M M I N G P O O L ! !

F U L L S E R V I C E R ES O R T ! O P E N Y E A R R O U N D !C A L L FO R B R O C H U R E !

1 - 8 0 0 - 2 2 2 - 2 5 3 71 - 8 0 0 - 2 2 2 - 2 5 3 7w w w . Z i p p e l B a y . c o mw w w . Z i p p e l B a y . c o m

6 0 8 0 3 9 t h S t . N W • W i l l i a m s , M N 5 6 5 8 6Call me to insure your 2013 crop for multi-peril & hail.

Also offering coverage for your buildings, equipment, liability and vehicles.

Carrie Elliott Agency1300 S. 14th St.Pekin, IL 61554

[email protected]

027_001.qxd 1/25/13 12:56 PM Page 1


black bass, it’s tough to justify spending time onanything else.

*Webster LakeWebster Lake in northern Indiana is a hot spot for

muskie activity. This lake is relatively small com-pared to the others, but it holds a good sized popula-

souri is a unique gem among fisheries. This clear,rocky wilderness river winds through some of themost beautiful country imaginable. Our guides favortwo species, depending on the section of the riverthey’re fishing, and I certainly agree. The small-mouth bass and the white bass rule this river. Small-ies are more common in the far upper reaches, whilewhites are everywhere in the bottom end of the uppersection above Wappapello Lake. Still, both of thesehard fighters can be found in abundance throughoutmost of the river, and in large sizes too. Largemouthbass are also common, and rock bass, also calledgoggle eye, are very common too. Fishing for large-mouth and rocks is awesome up and down most ofthis stream. Big bluegills, crappies, channel and flat-head catfish, walleyes and various sunfish speciesalso provide great sport in this special place.

*Kentucky & Barkley LakesThe Kentucky and Barkley Lake chain in western

Kentucky offers the best trophy bass fishing in all ofthe Midwest. Kinkaid would be my second pick fortrophy largemouth, and it can provide faster action,but Kentucky and Barkley are probably the best betfor double digit largemouth bass across much of thecountry, with exception of some lakes in the south.Additionally, these waters harbor lots of huge small-mouth bass and spotted bass as well. Fishing forbluegills, sunfish, crappies, catfish, white bass andstripers can be good too, but with so many huge

tion of these toothy predators. Webster has a highnumber of fish per acre and would probably be oursecond choice in the region for catching numbers ofmuskies, second only to Kinkaid. Webster has alsoproduced some big trophy caliber muskies for ourstaff guides as well and is definitely worth investingsome time.

*Cedar LakeAnother southern Illinois gem, like Kinkaid, Cedar

is also located in the Shawnee National Forest. CedarLake is best known for its tremendous striper fish-ing. Pure striped bass roam these beautiful waters inlarger than average sizes for the state of Illinois. Infact, there might not be a better body of water in thestate for anglers looking to tie into a large Illinoisstriper. Crappie fishing is also very popular at thislake, as it’s loaded with this species, often produc-ing fast action. Largemouth bass are another maindraw here, as Cedar produces great numbers ofquality fish, with some big ones thrown in the mix.Various sunfish and catfish species, as well aswalleyes are also available in this picturesque lake.

*Get Out ThereThese Midwestern waters offer some of the

hottest fishing in all of North America and look toproduce hot results for anglers in the coming sea-sons. We still have guide trip dates and lodging avail-able for spring, summer and fall, but after lastyear’s hot action, it’s expected to fill up quickly withanglers looking to get in on the hottest Midwesternfishing to be had in 2013. Life passes by all tooquickly. For lovers of God’s great outdoors like us,nothing matches time spent in nature with thesegreat creatures, so get out there…

To book a guided trip or guiding & lodging package to these waters contact Colby Simms

Outdoors at: 618-521-0526 / 573-358-5948 or [email protected]

Contact Phil Rose to get your BEST End of the Season Prices!Contact Phil Rose to get your BEST End of the Season Prices!

Kinkaid Village Marina 2063 Marina Road, Murphysboro, IL

618-687-5624

Southern Illinois’ Full Service Marina…Servicing All Major Brands!

FORECAST…Cont’d. from previous pg.

Internationally renowned fishing pro & media personality

Ray Simms of Colby Simms Outdoors with a big

smallmouth bass and walleye.

CSO guide & tourney champJim Lyle with a monster Midwest

largemouth bass and crappietaken on Colby Simms Tackle Hatchet Spins.

028_001.qxd 1/25/13 12:55 PM Page 1


COLBY SIMMS is an internationally renowned record holding fishing pro & media personality, as a TV & radio star, tournament pro with championship titles in muskie and bass circuits, a tackle

designer, writer & photographer, speaker & award winning fishing guide. He’s Founder & President of the Colby Simms Outdoors group of companies. Get unique top quality American made lures, find articles,

reports, photos & more, set up media work, seminars, sponsorships & public appearances, and book guided trips & fishing vacations in the United States, Canada, Mexico & Costa Rica at www.ColbySimmsOutdoors.com

PRODUCT SHOWCASEBy: Colby Simms

Bill Jordan’s Real Tree AP Camouflage Pattern

Real Tree’s AP Pattern Camouflage has proven itself to be the most versatile camo pattern today.AP which stands for all purpose blends right into

the surroundings where hunters stalk game almosteverywhere on the planet. I’ve regularly use RealTree AP pattern camouflage to take whitetail deer,squirrels, rabbits, turkeys and other game, as well

as to stalk smallmouth and rock bass in crystalclear streams in the fall and winter months, and I

highly recommend it to all outdoorsmen.

www.RealTree.comThe Bear Camp (888)804-7675

929 Candy Mountain Dr. • Thunder Bay, ON P7C 5N5

Colby Simms Outdoors Guide

Gary Dew and client display a trophy Midwest muskie.

029_001.qxd 1/25/13 12:53 PM Page 1

The Ultimate Plate, All-Welded, Aluminum Boat

Jon Boat • Flat Bottom • V-HullsModel Bow • Tunnel Hull

Aluminum & Steel Trailers • Landing Craft

ApprovedSince 1992

OQUAWKA DEALERS:

Ferris Boat & MotorSavanna, IL

815-273-1150Ted's BoataramaRock Island, IL800-540-3254J&J MarineQuincy, IL

217-223-1716Quillers Outboard

Hamburg, IL618-232-1218

Southside OutboardPaducah, KY270-443-5626

All-Weld, Custom-Designed, Plate BoatsWork & Fishing Boats

Oquawka Boats & Fabrication, Inc.Oquawka Boats & Fabrication, Inc.RR #1, Box 105J, Oquawka, Illinois 61469-0091RR #1, Box 105J, Oquawka, Illinois 61469-0091

(309) 867-2213 Website: www.OquawkaBoats.com(309) 867-2213 Website: www.OquawkaBoats.com


SPRINGFIELD’S PREMIER BOAT SERVICESNew • Used • Financing Available • Certified Technicians

2525 N. Grand Ave. East • Springfield, IL 62702Toll Free 888-235-1059 • 217-522-2408

www.eastsidemarine.com • [email protected] US ON FACEBOOK!

NEW Roughneck Frontier from Lowe Boats!

Why buy Bogs…#1 in Comfort. Bogs are the most comfort-

able boot you’ll ever wear! Lightweight, flexibleand built with a moisture-wicking lining thatinstantly disperses moisture away from thefoot. Bogs will keep feet dry and happy all daylong.

#2. Durability. Bogs are created to with-stand any and all climates and weather condi-tions. Made from natural rubber for the ulti-mate durability, Bogs have great traction andare 100% waterproof, keeping feet warm anddry through rain, mud, sleet, snow, ice and cold- basically anything Mother Nature can throw atyou.

#3. Amazing customer service. At Bogs, theymean it when they say “every foot matters.”Customer satisfaction is the company’s #1 pri-ority. Every pair of boots is 100% guaranteedto meet the highest standards that customersexpect. Hassle free exchanges and refunds noquestions asked, every time.

#4. The Street Cred, Duh! Bogs are the boot-of-choice for professional fishermen on Discov-ery Channel’s Deadliest Catch, urban roof topfarmers in Brooklyn, master microbrewers inOregon, plus outdoor landscapers, dairy farm-ers, and more. If these hard-working boots canwithstand those working conditions, they can

definitely handle a spring shower or two.5. Style. Bogs are not only the most practical

outdoor boot for spring, but they look greattoo! The Spring ’13 collection for men featuresthe new Urban Farmer in three colors - black,navy and dark olive.

URBAN FARMER - 100% Waterproof / Slip-ondesigned for the urbanfarmer, backyard gardeneror landscaper / Low profilejust above ankle heig htkeeps the dirt out but does not get too hot / In-sulated with 2mm of Neo-TechTM / 2mm Max-Wick™ moisture wicking lining to stay dry andcomfortable / Contoured comfort fit, built witha wider toe box and narrower heel / Internalrigid steel shank for shovel protection out inthe yard / Aegis antimicrobial odor protectioninsole

MOSSY OAK BLAZE EXT REME - Taking theBogs® Classic Blaze to anotherlevel, the Blaze Extreme is theultimate winter hunting boot.8mm of Neo-Tech™ insulationwith NEW Bogs Max-Wick™ lin-ing manages moisture unlikeever before. Add in 600 grams of ThinsulateTMto lock in heat for the long haul. The Blaze Ex-treme is only 5.4 lbs a pair-- almost 2 lbs.lighter than other brands’ heavily insulatedboots. Thermo-molded EVA midsole and deep

lug outsole provide great traction in the snow,so that no weather can get in between you andyour prey. MSRP $198

REALTREE EAGLE CAP HIKER - Prey, beware. In-troducing the Bogs® EagleCap Hiker, our most versa-tile hunting shoe from theBogs 365 Hunt collection.Channel Air insulates to -40 but this boot is light and fast. Constructedwith 4mm of Neo-Tech™ with Airmesh and ourNEW Bogs Max-Wick™ moisture-wicking lin-ing, the Eagle Cap Hiker keeps your feet warmbut not overheated. 100% waterproof, durablerubber upper protects against scrapes andbranches. Thermo-molded EVA midsole and lac-ing system provides solid support while climb-ing in the high country summer, fall and win-ter. MSRP $140.

MOSSY OAK BRIDGEPORT - The new Bogs®Bridgeport Hunt Slip Onwas designed to keephunters agile and com-fortable in any environ-ment. 100% waterproof and craf ted withdurable hand-lasted rubber, the BridgeportHunt Slip On has a non-slip, non-marking andself-cleaning outsole and is comfort rated fromtemperate to cold conditions. MSRP $120

REALTREE BOWMAN - The new 16” Bogs™ Bow-man of fers durability and pro-tection during the most rug gedof hunting conditions. Linedwith 6mm of Neo-Tech™ andour NEW Bogs Max-Wick™ lin-ing plus Airmesh to achievewarmth without bulk. The Bowman providesmore insulation than other brands’ “lite” bootswhile weighing in at a mere 2.6 lbs per boot.The heel kick on the back makes it easy to get

them of f. This boot will keep you up and out ofthe cold. MSRP $190

BOYS CLASSIC SNAKE0 - The daring Bogs®Classic High Snakes are water-proof and ready for anythingMother Nature may bring.Craf ted from high quality, nat-ural rubber for maximum dura-bility, these boots will last foryears. Insulated with 7mm of our waterproofNeo-Tech™ and lined with NEW Bogs Max-Wickmoisture-wicking technology. Easy pull-on han-dles are kid-tested and approved. All BogsClassics for kids are comfort rated to with-stand sub-zero temps (up to -30°F). Aegis an-timicrobial odor protection insoles keep littlefeet feeling fresh. MSRP $74.

WOMEN’S CLASSIC HIGH - Introducing the newand improved Bogs® ClassicHigh, built with durable hand-lasted rubber over a four-wayst retch inner bootie. Con-st ructed with 7mm water-proof Neo-Tech™ insulation,the Classic High features a non-marking, self-cleaning outsole as well as a NEW Bogs Max-Wick™ moisture-wicking lining to stay drierand more comfortable than ever before.

SPRING WOMEN'S LINE - Bogs Women’s Clas-sics, Rue, Rose and thenew Harper are livelierthan ever with fresh flo-ral and ret ro-inspiredveg gie prints that of ferprotection against shovels and are easy to hoseof f at the end of a day in the dirt. These gardenmust-haves feature lightweight Neo-Tech insu-lation and our breakthrough Max-Wick technol-ogy to minimize moisture and maximize com-fort.

030_001.qxd 1/26/13 2:52 PM Page 1


Quality Tackle • Fishing PermitsLive Bait • Ammo • Reloading

Hunting Permits • JOY Dog FoodOPEN:

MON.-SAT.AT 7AM

208 N. Lincoln Dr. • Troy, MO 63379(636) 528-4060(636) 528-4060

BUZZY’S BUZZY’S TACKLETACKLE

cal rivers or lakes and you may find your-self hooked up with one of these toothy,delicious Missouri fish. Walleye are arough game fish in Missouri with a dailylimit of 4 per person. The length will varydue to the water you are fishing so be sureto check your local waters regulations.

Cassens Bait & SportingCassens Bait & SportingLive Bait Wholesale & Retail

Call for Night Crawlers & MinnowsOpen Year Round!

Sporting Goods • Archery • Fishing SuppliesFishing & Hunting Licenses

NEW ADDRESS: 1446 W. Main St., Grafton, IL (618)786-3614 Archery Range Now Open!!!

Our Cabins Feature:• 1/2 mile from Boat Ramp & Marina• Modern Fully Furnished Cabins• Indoor Pool, Private Lake & Gazebo• Satellite TV. Heat & A/C, Carpeted • Restaurant within Walking Distance

Our General Store Offers:• Great Selection of Bait & Tackle• Pizza, Groceries & Beverages • Gas, Diesel, Propane• Marine & Camping Supplies• Missouri Fishing Permits

See www.CannonDam.com for Mark Twain Lake Fishing Reports & More Info!Cannon Dam Cabins • 42526 Cabin Road • Perry, MO 63462 • 573-565-3432

Cabins &

Winter WeatherMeans Walleye onthe Current River!

While walleye may be fished year roundin Missouri waters, the winter months pro-vide cool clear water that is more likely foryou to find several of these toothy fishbunched together. Not only do they put upa good fight, they are delicious too! Thetaste of a fried walleye and their cousinSauger, come in a close second only toCrappie for this angler. This is all the mo-tivation I needed as I have been making myway to a few different local waters to fishthose deep holes that have been known tohold a walleye or two.

A Few Tricks of the TradeYou can catch walleye on a variety of live

bait (minnows, shiners, nightcrawlers and

leeches) or lures (crankbaits, spoons, jigs,etc). The best choices vary, depending up-on the season, water and available preyitems. During late winter and early springmonths, walleye inhabit lakes and concen-trate near or in tributaries and along rocky

www.CrappieLures.com“WE HAVE YOUR SECRET WEAPON”

FREE BONUS Gift with Each Order!

Lots of New Items for 2013…

Prefer a Free Catalog? Call 217-224-6794

points and banks in preparation for spawn-ing. Stream fish will congregate in poolsnear traditional spawning shoals and otherrocky structures. During the winter season,try fishing slow-moving stick baits, shinersor jig and minnow combinations.

That’s Why They Call it Fishing; notCatching

One of the particular days I was able tobreak away this winter was Christmas Eve.With the forecast showing a storm frontcoming in I had my hopes for limiting outearly. Using a buck hair jig, I worked myway up and down the river jigging the deepholes and bends as I went. Unfortunatelythe day didn’t prove to be my best trip todate, but being out on the water a fewmonths earlier than expected and watchinga pair of Bald Eagles was well worth it.

Get out and Give it a ShotIf you find yourself hankering for some

time on the water this winter, get out andwork some of the deep pockets on your lo-

Trophy Walleye Sue Bockmanhoists up two of the fish she

hauled in on her family fishingtrip on the Current River.

Skyler with his dad Jeff Bockman after a day on the Current Walleye fishing.

031_001.qxd 1/25/13 1:42 PM Page 1


South 94 Bait & TackleSouth 94 Bait & Tackle

OPEN 365 DAYS A YEAR!OPEN 365 DAYS A YEAR!636-939-5249636-939-5249 • Fax: 636-447-0244

Archery & Fishing Supplies • LicensesPaintball, CO2-Nigrogen Fills

Hand Blown Glass • Indian CraftsTilapia, Pollock & Catfish Fillets

Rt. 40 W to Exit 94 N94N bound, turn left at light on Seindentop,

left around circle to Weldon Springs Rd.

MDC CONFIRMS PHOTO OFMOUNTAIN LION IN WARREN &

VAN BUREN COUNTIESBy Joe Jerek

The Missouri Dept of Conservation(MDC) has confirmed photographs of amountain lion taken by a trail camera onDec. 9 & 23, plus Jan. 3, on private landin Warren County. Then another phototaken in Carter County on Dec. 21,

2012.According to MDC’s Mountain Lion

Response Team, widely scattered moun-tain-lion sightings have been confirmedin Missouri and likely will continue.Some sightings or photographs of moun-tain lions may be of the same animal, butMDC cannot confirm individual animalswithout DNA evidence. Evidence to dateindicates these mountain lions are dis-persing from other states to the west ofMissouri. The most extreme evidence ofthis dispersal occurred in early 2011

when a mountain lion that was killed inConnecticut was genetically traced toSouth Dakota. MDC has no confirmedevidence of a breeding population in Mis-souri.

MDC receives many reports each yearfrom people who believe they have seenmountain lions and encourage these re-ports. MDC can only confirm those forwhich there is physical evidence.

Reports of sightings can be emailed [email protected], or by con-tacting local conservation agents or the

Response Team at 573-815-7901,ext.3623, or 573-522-4115, ext. 3147 or3262.

Mountain lions are naturally shy of hu-mans and generally pose little danger topeople, even in states with thriving breed-ing populations. Although mountain li-ons are protected by law, Missouri’sWildlife Code does allow people to pro-tect themselves and their property if theyfeel threatened.

For more information, visitmdc.mo.gov and search “mountain lion.”

BAIT, TACKLE &SPORTING GOODSJOE’S JUG

BUY • SELL • TRADE FIREARMSLOTS OF AMMO IN STOCK

HUNTING & FISHING LICENSES

BEAUTIFUL NEW STORE! HOT FRESH FOOD SERVED DAILYFULL LINE OF BEER, WINE & LIQUORS

3508 WEST GEORGIA ST. LOUISANA, MO 63353

573-754-6687

Open: M-F 8am-5pm • Sat. 9am-1pm • Sun. Gone Fishin’4041 W. Outer Rd. • Arnold, MO 63010

1-800-455-0206 • 636-464-8688We Accept:

When you think batteries…............THINK

BATTERIES FOR:Car, Truck, ATV, Marine, RV, Camera, Camcorder, Cellphone, Cordless

Phone, Watch, Keyless Entry, Scooters, Medical, Alarm, Drill Pack & Many More. We Also Carry Blem & Reconditioned Batteries.

We Offer Fast Installs & WE PAY TOP DOLLAR FOR JUNK BATERIES!

22728 E. State Hwy 33 • Willow Hill, IL 62480618-843-7225

www.sackysfirearms.comJoin us on facebook!

22728 E. State Hwy 33 • Willow Hill, IL 62480618-843-7225

www.sackysfirearms.comJoin us on facebook!

LISTEN TO THE REDNOSE GANG! Sunday Mornings, 7-10am, Streaming LIVE at: www.ASOMagazine.comAlso be sure to Check out ASO’s other website! www.ASOMagazine.net!

MDC confirmed photo of a mountain lion taken by a trail camera on Dec. 9 on private land

in Warren County.

MDC confirmed photo of a mountain lion taken by atrail camera on Dec. 23 on private land

in Warren County.

MDC confirmed photo of a mountain lion taken by atrail camera on Jan. 3 on private land

in Warren County.

MDC confirmed photo of a mountain lion taken by atrail camera on Dec. 21 on private land near

Van Buren in Carter County.

032_001.qxd 1/25/13 1:54 PM Page 1


Managed turkey hunt application deadline Feb. 28

By Jim LowMDC’s spring 2013 managed

turkey hunts include ones for youthand people with disabilities.

JEFFERSON CITY Mo. – Turkeyhunters have until Feb. 28 to apply formanaged hunts during Missouri’s 2013spring turkey season. A list of all 19managed turkey hunts and applicationinstructions are available atmdc.mo.gov/node/11252

In addition to 10 hunts open to allfirearms turkey hunters, this year’sofferings include a managed hunt forarchers, seven hunts for youths ages 11through 15, and one hunt for peoplewith disabilities. Managed hunts willtake place during the youth turkey sea-son, April 6 and 7, or the regular turkeyseason, April 15 through May 5.

Hunters may apply individually or ingroups of up to three for most hunts.Youth hunts accept applications onlyfor single hunters or pairs. An individ-ual applying as a member of a party hasthe same chance of being drawn assomeone who applies alone. Successfulapplicants will receive notice of theirhunt dates and other information bymail. Drawing results will be postedMarch 15 through May 5 atmdc.mo.gov/node/11788

Participation in managed turkeyhunts is free. Hunters may apply foronly one hunt.

Participants in some hunts must com-plete a pre-hunt orientation. Huntersshould not apply for these hunts if theycannot attend the orientation.

The bag limit for managed hunts is

one male turkey or turkey with visiblebeard. Turkeys taken during a managedhunt count toward the season limit oftwo. Hunters who shoot a turkey duringa managed hunt before April 23 maynot take another turkey during the firstweek of the regular turkey season. All-terrain vehicles are prohibited on areaswith managed turkey hunts.

Young hunters check 2,197deer during second youth

weekendby Joe Jerek

Jefferson City, Mo. – Hunters age 6through 15 harvested 2,197 deer duringthe statewide firearms deer late youthportion, which ran Dec. 29 and 30. Topcounties were Callaway with 55,Putnam with 47, and Camden with 45.

Young hunters shot 2,193 deer duringthis portion in 2011. Young hunters alsochecked 19,277 during the earlystatewide firearms deer youth weekend,which ran Nov. 3 and 4.

The late youth portion concluded thisyear’s firearms deer season with a totalharvest of 257,307.

Deer harvest 14,921 foralternative methods

portion of seasonHunters harvested 14,921 deer during

the statewide alternative methods por-tion of the fall 2012 firearms deer sea-son, which ran Dec. 15 through Dec.25. Top counties were: Oregon with320, Franklin with 300, and Howellwith 298.

Hunters shot 15,238 deer during thisportion in 2011. The record harvestunder this portion was 15,907 in 2009.

Called “muzzleloader” portion sinceit was first held in 1988, MDC renamedthis portion “alternative methods” in2012 to reflect additional methodoptions added this past season: archerymethods, crossbows, atlatls, handgunsand air-powered guns.

Missouri’s two deer-hunting seasons,firearms and archery, provide hunterswith many opportunities to take deerwhile helping to maintain a healthy deerpopulation. The firearms season con-sists of five portions: urban, youth only,November, alternative methods and

D & D Enterprises~ Metal Recyclers ~

Located on Route 100 Just North of

Beardstown, IL

Owner Don Large: 217-323-3008

Open Mon-Fri 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sat. 8 a.m.-12noon

Call for Current Priceson Aluminum,

Copper, Iron & Tin

CompetitivePricing On All

Materials!

DISCOUNT SALES COMPANYDISCOUNT SALES COMPANY…… Known For Qual i ty, Quant i ty & Pr iceKnown For Qual i ty, Quant i ty & Pr iceHalfway Between Havana & Bath, IL on Rt. 78 • Matanza Beach309-543-9163 • [email protected]

NEW A5, 3 1/2-IN.…TAKING ORDERS NOW!COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, THE HUMP IS BACK WITH

100,000-ROUND OR 5-YEAR GUARANTEE. GET THE HUMPBACK ACQUISITION ADVANTAGE • INFLEX II TECHNOLOGY RECOIL PADSuper Low Cash & Carry Prices • Locally Owned & Operated

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!DISCOUNT SALES DISCOUNT SALES Celebrating Over 50 Years of Serving the Outdoorsman!

antlerless only. The late youth-only por-tion for firearms deer season ranthrough Dec. 29-30. The archery seasonconsists of two segments. The secondsegment remained open through Jan.15, 2013.

According to MDC, Missouri hasmore than 511,000 deer hunters, includ-ing about 70,000 under age 16, whospend about $690 million in the stateeach year on deer hunting and relatedactivities. This has an overall economicimpact of $1.1 billion in Missouri eachyear and supports almost 12,000 jobs.

Congrats to the Hoon’s for catching these fish on rainbows, tubes & crappie nibbles, 15 feet deep in

30 ft. of water. Book your trip to Cannon DamCabins on beautiful Mark Twain Lake…

Great fishing fun for the whole family! Call Kurt Meyer to make your reservation!

573-565-3432 • CannonDam.com

033_001.qxd 1/25/13 2:10 PM Page 1


291. Chaumiere Lake is in the KansasCity park system and is near Interstate35 and the intersection of North Cleve-land Avenue and Northeast 43rd Ter-race.

Statewide trout fishing regulations ap-ply. All Missouri residents over age 15and under 65 must have a valid fishingpermit, and all non-residents over age 15must have a fishing permit. The dailylimit is four trout. To keep trout, anglersmust have a Missouri trout permit.

MDC will also be re-stocking somelakes at the James A. Reed Wildlife Areain Lee’s Summit with rainbow trout inFebruary.

A winter trout fishing hotline for theKansas City metro area with updates onstocking is available at 816-525-0300,ext. 4001.

EAGLES DAYS SET FOR MINGO NWR AND

MDC DUCK CREEK CAby Candice Davis

PUXICO, Mo. – Bald eagle viewing isat its peak in southeast Missouri. To cel-ebrate the arrival of these majestic birds,

MDC STOCKS RAINBOWTROUT IN TWO KC AREA

LAKES FOR WINTER FISHINGby Bill Graham

Kansas City, Mo. – Two Northlandlakes were stocked with rainbow trouton Jan. 16 for a winter fishing programprovided by the Missouri Department ofConservation (MDC). The trout werereleased in lakes at the Fountain BluffSports Complex in Liberty, and atChaumiere Lake in Kansas City.

Both lakes received about 1,000 fish.MDC stocks the lakes during wintermonths when the water is cold enoughto support rainbow trout, which requireclear and cool water. The Fountain BluffSports Complex is at 2200 E. Old 210Highway in Liberty, east of Missouri

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge(NWR) and the Missouri Department ofConservation's (MDC) Duck CreekConservation Area (CA) will host thepopular “Eagle Days” event for the pub-lic on Saturday, Feb. 2, from 9 a.m. to 4p.m. Both areas are located on highway51, just north of Puxico. All activitieswill begin at Mingo's MaintenanceShop.

“This Eagle Days event is a great wayof celebrating the successful recovery ofour National Symbol and we hope thatmany people can come out to enjoy theday,” said Peter Rea of the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service.

Rea said the bald eagle is one of ourcountry’s greatest conservation successstories because as recently as the early1960s, they were an extremely uncom-mon site within Missouri and the rest ofthe lower 48 states.

“Today, visitors to Mingo NationalWildlife Refuge and state conservationareas such as Duck Creek can see baldeagles on a regular occurrence,” Rea said.MDC Education Consultant Pat Hol-loway said area schools have signed up tobring 1,160 students to the areas on Fri-day to view the symbolic bird in its nat-ural habitat.

“We allow schools to bring classes aday early, so school children have theopportunity and also to lessen the crowdon Saturday,” Holloway said.

The Eagle Days event is packed withlearning opportunities such as exhibits atMingo’s Visitor Center, live eagle pre-sentations and chances to view bald ea-gles in the wild on Mingo NationalWildlife Refuge and Duck Creek CA.The event is held every other year andjointly coordinated by the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service and MDC.

Due to the cold weather and frozenconditions in more northern areas, baldeagles return to Southeast Missouri inJanuary and February to fish and hunt.The bald eagle is considered native toMissouri and thanks to restoration ef-forts, is now observed nearly statewide.Missouri now has more than 120 activeeagle’s nests and the birds were removedfrom the federal government’s endan-gered species list with over 7,000 nestingpairs in the lower 48 states.

For more information on bald eaglesin Missouri, go online to HYPERLINK"http://www.mdc.mo.gov" mdc.mo.gov.For more information about the EagleDays event, contact Mingo NationalWildlife Refuge at (573) 222-3589.

The“Cabin”

The “Cabin” Features:• Rustic Pine Millwork• Six-Panel Pine Doors• Vaulted Ceilings• EL Baseboard Heat• Tile Floor - Kitchen/Bath• Cedar Siding or Log Siding• Pine Wood Floors• Pella Dbl. Hung Windows

• Natural Hickory Cabinetry• Rustic Lighting• Modular Construction• Ready for Occupancy

Approx. 3 Days After Delivery

• Buyer Must Provide Foundation & Hook-Ups

You can own the vacation home of your dreams for less than you think!

866-937-5544 • www.csihomesonline.com

Building Top Quality Homes for Over 38 Years!CSI Manufacturing, Inc.

PO Box 138 • Cambridge, IL 61238

Photos by Noppadol Paothong, courtesy MDC

034_001.qxd 1/25/13 2:30 PM Page 1


801 N. State • Freeburg, IL 62243 • Owner: Chuck Dori618-539-9881

Sales & Service

Tohatsu Sportsman’s

Edition Camo, 20 hp, 4-stroke

POLAR kraft Sportsman & Fishing Models Plus 9.8 hp,

4-stroke models!

Membership Fees • $200/yr.Corporate • $1000/yr.

PLAN YOUR HUNT TO BIG OAK THIS YEAR!

(217) 732-4238(217) 732-4238(217) 737-3581(217) 737-3581(217) 642-5895(217) 642-5895www.big-oak.comwww.huntingparadise.comemail: [email protected] Old. Rt. 121Lincoln, IL 62656

Big Oak Hunting Paradise offers great Mid-west hunting for pheasants, chucker &

turkeys on private grounds. At Big Oak, youcan bow hunt turkeys along our flowing

streams and throughout oak timbers.

DAY HUNTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

“CCOO--CCHHII --11” CharterLake Michigan SportFishing At Its Finest!

North Point Marina

Fish in Comfort aboard the fully equipped Charter Boat “CO-CHI-1” out ofNORTH POINT MARINA at the Wisconsin-Illinois border.• Fish on a large clean boat with a friendly, knowledgeable captain• Fish with a PROFESSIONAL CHARTER SERVICE(We do a better job because Salmon fishing is our FULL-TIME business)

WE HAVE AVERAGED 11.7 FISH PER TRIP FOR THE LAST 28+ YEARS!

(847)872-1191For information and reservations call or write: CAPTAIN Mike Smith. “CO-CHI-1” Charters,

P.O. Box 43, Winthrop Harbor, IL 60096

Deer Hunting Lease NowAvailable at Emiquon

The Nature Conservancy in Illinois isaccepting proposals for the lease of upto 1,200 acres of its Emiquon Preservefor deer hunting during the 2013 sea-son. The lease will be exclusively fordeer hunting.

The area to be leased supports a vari-ety of habitats including bottomlandand upland forest, marsh and tall grassprairie. To ensure consideration forleasing, proposals must be received atthe Conservancy’s office by close ofbusiness on March 4. Interested individ-uals can get more information by email-ing [email protected]

The proposed lease area is part of theConservancy’s 6,700-acre EmiquonPreserve along the Illinois River in Ful-ton County, Illinois. The preserve is onstate routes 78 and 97 between Lewis-town and Havana and adjacent to theUS Fish and Wildlife Service’sEmiquon National Wildlife Refuge.

The Conservancy purchased the ma-jor portion of this property in 2000 withthe goal of restoring and maintainingnatural ecological processes that sup-port the diversity and abundance ofplant and animal communities native tothe Illinois River Valley. Restoration be-gan in 2007 and results to date havebeen impressive. For example, morethan 240 bird species have been docu-mented on the property since restora-tion began, including 90 percent of thewetland-associated threatened and en-dangered bird species in Illinois. In ad-dition to white-tailed deer, other mam-mals seen frequently on the site includemuskrats, beavers, weasels, river ottersand coyotes.

Deer hunting has not been permittedon the site since the Conservancy pur-chased Emiquon, and with the proper-ty’s diversity of habitats and relativelylarge size, deer are thriving with numer-ous reports of large bucks. The Conser-

vancy sites several reasons for imple-menting deer hunting now.

Hunting is an important managementtool for The Nature Conservancy. Morethan 350 thousand native hardwoodtrees and shrubs have been planted atEmiquon, and deer browsing and rub-bing has damaged many of these youngtrees. Hunting is being employed as atool to help control deer populationsand reduce the damage they are caus-ing, allowing plant communities to re-cover their full vigor and diversity. Ad-ditionally, concentrations of deer are of-ten associated with correspondinglyhigh rates of agricultural crop depreda-tion and deer-vehicle collisions.

Emiquon’s operations are totally sup-ported with private funds from mem-

bers and donors, and income from thedeer lease will help offset some of theongoing operation expenses. Hunterswere some of the early conservationistsin our state, and they continue to sup-port habitat protection through huntinglicense fees and taxes on guns and am-munition. Other recreation opportuni-ties offered at Emiquon include boating,fishing, wildlife viewing and waterfowlhunting. For more information aboutthe Conservancy and its preserves, visitnature.org/Illinois

The Nature Conservancy is theworld’s largest conservation organiza-tion, working in all 50 states and 34countries. The Conservancy’s missionis protecting the lands and waters onwhich all life depends.

035_001.qxd 1/25/13 3:09 PM Page 1


DIY Shotgun and RifleMaintenance and Restoration

Gets Professional ResultsUsing Flexible Hone

Professional-level maintenance ofrifle and shotguns can be performed

at home with an inexpensive, easy-to-use honing tool.

Many serious hunters opt to performrifle and shotgun maintenance and condi-tioning themselves. However, many find itdifficult – or even impossible – to achievethe proper cleaning and surface finishingresults using the options available to them.These can include steel and bronze wool,sandpaper wrapped around a dowel, brush-es, and other homemade remedies

It is common for many shotgun and rifleenthusiasts to send their firearms to gun-smiths and other professionals for cleaningand restoration of chambers, barrels andforcing cones. Unfortunately, many gunowners find this to be both expensive andtime consuming.

“I always sent my shotgun to the gun-smith for finishing and polishing,” says JimCharles Johnson of Wilmington Delaware.“They did a wonderful job but it took acouple of weeks and it would cost me plen-

Hamm’s TavernHome to Generations of Hunters & Fishermen

Located on Rt. 100Near Anderson Lake Conservation Area

Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner! 7 Days a Week • Open 12noon on Sun.

New Owners: Donnie Hamm & Geno Saal Call: 309-759-4100

ty. Postage alone was $75.00.”Instead, serious gun buffs, including col-

lectors of vintage models, often opt to domaintenance and restoration themselvesturning to a flexible, drill-mounted honecalled the Flex-Hone. Available fromBrush Research Manufacturing, the prod-uct is characterized by the small, abrasiveglobules permanently mounted to flexiblenylon filaments.

Using a flexible hone is a simple processthat basically requires the means to hold apart securely such as a padded vise, the useof a low speed electric hand drill, and somecommon sense.

Available in a variety of lengths and gritsdesigned to meet the various bore or gaugesizes of most types of guns, the Flex-Honeenables shotgun and rifle owners to achievea rust-free, beautifully polished micro sur-face finish. As a result, many firearm man-ufacturers are today selecting the Flex-Hone for final finishing operations.However, the tool functions just as well inthe hands of a DIYer.

RiflesFor rifles, an area that often requires

periodic conditioning is the chamber.Even new, higher end rifles can arrive withsmall pits and occlusions in the chamber asthe machining process utilized by manufac-

turers is very difficult.However, a less than highly

polished chamber can createseveral problems for the rifleowner, including ejectionproblems and scarring of brasscasings.

Naturally, with rifles theproduct is not to be used inthe barrel as it could affect theexisting rifling.

Todd Waggerman wasusing a small piece of 800 gritsandpaper used on a 30-06that belonged to his wife’sgrandfather. The gun hadbeen in a closet since 1974 andhad a spent casing left in the chamber.

“The brass corroded and left a strangeraised area in the bottom of the chamber,”explains Waggerman. “The rifle worked,but the spent cases stuck in the chamberafter the first 5-10 rounds fired.

In an attempt to clean the chamber,Waggerman folded the sandpaper in halfand fed it through a gun cleaning patcheye, then screwed into a section of thecleaning rod that he then turned at lowspeed using a cordless drill.

The results, he admits, were poor, untilhe tried the Flex-Hone.

“The Flex-Hone removed the residue

Located on over 750 Fulton & 200 Logan Co. Acres!Fishing • Weekend Cabin Retreats • Reunions

and corrosion and extraction is fine now,”says Waggerman.

ShotgunsThe Flex-Hone quickly, safely and thor-

oughly cleans out any barrel damage thathas occurred from oxidation and corrosion,blends out scratches and removes the nicksand pits that cause plastic adhesion.

A flexible hone will also remove the builtup residue in a barrel, and leave a superiorsurface resulting in greater accuracy,reduced wear and longer life for a shotgun.Standard barrel hones are 34 inches longand available in 10-, 12-, 16- and 20-gauge

Quail & Pheasant HuntingQuail & Pheasant Hunting

Flex-Hone quickly, safely and thoroughly cleans out any gun barrel

Sunny Slope LodgeSunny Slope Lodge& Hunt Club& Hunt Club

Weekend packages Weekend packages available with overnight available with overnight

accommodations! accommodations! FOR DETAILSFOR DETAILS::

www.huntsunnyslope.com www.huntsunnyslope.com 217-447-3550217-447-3550

036_001.qxd 1/28/13 1:57 AM Page 1

the polishing myself in half an hour,” saysJohnson. “This saved me time and mon-ey. If you can operate a drill you can pol-ish your barrels, chambers, forcing conesand cylinders yourself. I followed the in-structions and had no problems at all.”

Jim O'Hanlon, a cowboy action shoot-er form Port St. Lucie, FL had similar re-sults.

“Using the Flex Hone simplified thecleaning process and gave more consis-tent results,” says O'Hanlon. “As a cow-boy action shooter, we shoot double shot-guns that are not allowed to have ejectors,just extractors. Shells must fall out of thechambers with ease for fast reloads.”

Hanlon adds that he also competes inBlack Powder categories, which can cre-ate what he calls “a really sticky cham-ber.”

“The Flex Hone gives that final, glasslike smoothness that allows my extractionof empty shells to be fast,” says Hanlon.

For more information, contact BrushResearch Manufacturing, Brush ResearchMfg. Co., Inc., 4642 Floral Dr, Los An-geles, CA 90022; (323) 261-2193; Fax:(323) 268-6587; e-mail: [email protected] or visit the website:www.brushresearch.com

For a simple Flex-Hone for FirearmsInstructional Video go to our YouTubepage.! http://www.youtube.com/BrushResearch


sizes.When used in shotgun chambers, the

polished finish allows fired cases to ex-tract more easily, which puts less strainon extractors and ejectors. It will also en-sure that debris is far less likely to adhereto the chamber walls and any that doesremain will be much easier to removeduring the normal cleaning procedure.

The forcing cone can also be polishedusing a flexible hone with a specially de-signed tapered profile Flex-Hone. Forc-ing cones are the first thing the shot andwadding encounter as the transition ismade from chamber to barrel, the coneliterally forcing the larger diameter pay-load down to barrel size, so it is subject-ed to considerable force, as its name im-plies.

This can lead to considerable foulingbuild-up close to the cone, the surfacefinish of which can be less smooth thaneither the barrel or chamber, as manu-factured. Not only does the fouling cre-ate added resistance but can induce cor-rosion to take hold under it. Even regu-lar cleaning may not remove it all. Hon-ing with the Flex-Hone will ensure foul-ing build up is minimized.

Johnson, who had been utilizing pro-fessional services for polishing and fin-ishing and paying the cost plus $75 inpostage, tried the Flex-Hone.

“With the Flex-Hone, I accomplished

Mitch Prochnow with Grandpa Boband his first trophy buck...a 9-pointer!Mitch passed his IDNR Hunter Safety

course in June 2012. His Grandpa Bob Prochnow went online and got

him a shotgun deer permit for McLean County. But before the

hunt Grandpa and Mitch spent severalhours of target shooting and he was

dialed in at 100 yards! Mitch took hisbuck at 123 yards, dropped him in his

tracks on Nov. 18th.

Proud Grandpa told ASO,“Watching Mitch take his

first trophy buck at 10years old made it the hunt of my lifetime!”Thanks so much for

sharing Mitch’s first huntwith ASO! Way to go

Mitch! We hope to hearfrom you again soon!

037_001.qxd 1/25/13 6:25 PM Page 1


THE THE MORNING MORNING

IS MINEIS MINEBy: Wayne Baughmanw e d a n c e 2 @ p i ke n e t . n e t

For More Information Call:(217) 868-2950

Or Write To:P.O. Box 1371 • Effingham, IL 62401

www.anthonyacres.com

O n Be au tifu l Lake Sara

• Fishing• Water Sports• Golf• Family Fun• Reunions• Business Meetings• New Rooms

Anthony Acres on Lake Sara hasGreat Fishing forLargemouth Bass,

Channel Cat, Crappie, Bluegill,

White Bass & Walleye!

the winter doldrums.This year’s show was similar to the 2012 venue

with about the same number of exhibitors. Al-though there were some different lodges than lastyear and a few that exhibited in 2012 that didn’thave a booth this year. This is understandable be-cause of the aggregate cost of travel, booth spaceand manpower expense. Over the past severalyears lodge operators have become quite selectiveas to the communities where they promote.

The bulk of the exhibitors were from the west-ern portion of Ontario, roughly covering the areaof Lake of the Woods, Eagle, Separation, Cedar,Perrault lakes eastward to Dryden. There were acouple of lodges from Manitoba represented aswell.

I always do a cost comparison between lodgesas well as a comparison with previous year’s costs.This year’s offers are nearly identical to 2012 andseveral operators are highlighting the fact thatthey have not increased their charges over lastyear. I speculate that they have been slammedwith the same economic problems that haveplagued the U.S. the past couple of years, resultedin fewer tourist using their facilities.

I had big plans to fish Ontario in 2012 but thedrought that hit our area put a stop to that. With acow herd that needs regular attention, I had tostay home and daily provide a source of water. Icould have had a neighbor look after them but hewas having plenty of similar problems of his ownand did not want to impose on him.

I am again intending to go this year. The onlyquestion at this point in time is which lake. I amgenerally interested in the larger lakes that offermulti-species of fish and large enough to offer achange of scenery ever day.

Now back to the show. In addition to the lodgebooths the show had a nice display of trophy fishand a mounted Musk Ox. Also present was CopeMarine, a Lund dealer located at O’Fallon, Illinois.He had three of Lund’s most popular models onhand. I am really impressed with the workmanshipthat Lund puts into their products and with someof the innovations they have incorporated. For ex-ample; I really like the casting platform they haveat the aft end of some models that quickly convertinto additional seating just by flipping the castingplatform.

Cope Marine also had on display another real in-novation. A 2.5 hp kicker outboard that runs onpropane. The motor is equipped to operate onsmall propane canister that snaps on to top of themotor. These little one pound canisters are thetype used for camping stoves. One canister willrun the motor about 2 hours at half speed. A larg-er 20 pound canister with hose is available andwill run the motor for some 40 hours at half speed.The motor is well built with all of the features afisherman could want. Construction wise it is vir-tually identical to Yamaha of similar size. Withhardly any fuel emissions problems, I see this littlepower house being popular with environmentalconscious outdoorsmen. The list price is only

Charlie’s Cycle Supply“Specializing in 4-stroke Service”

MOTORCYCLE & ATV REPAIR ON ALL MAKES & MODELS!Complete engine rebuilding, parts & accessories

Over 30 Years Same Location! RR1, Rt. 78, Toulon, IL 61483

309-995-3319 TIRE SALE!

$1049.I enjoyed the show and recommend that every-

one attend a show this winter. ASO has a completelist of Illinois shows on page 101. It’s a nice way tospend the day, book a fishing trip and see all thelatest products. Until next month…

State of the Art Shooting Range…Open to the Public!

American Firearms & Ammo Supply8919 N. University St. • Peoria, IL • 309-683-0111

• Veteran Owned & Operated •New Hours: Tues.-Fri. 10am–7pm

Sat. 9am-5pmSun. 12noon-5pm

www.AmericanFirearmsandAmmo.com

Taurus • Colt • Remington • Springfield ArmsFind All Makes & Models of Firearms

NEW INDOOR RANGE OPEN!

Go To a Winter Sport Show

I made my annual pilgrimage to the All CanadaShow in St. Charles in early January. This journeyhas become a tradition that I anticipate to offset

BASS BOAT FOR SALE

2009 21’ Skeeter ZX250 with 250hp Yamaha V-Max Series 2. Always garagedor kept on covered boat lift. Fully loaded with too many options to list!

Call: 573-358-7734 or 618-521-0526

Reduced Price! $38,500

Charlie Belleville, from Cope Marine shows off the Lehr outboardmotor that operates on propane fuel.

Cope Marine has headquarters at O’Fallon, IL.

038_001.qxd 1/25/13 6:43 PM Page 1


setting in my blind waiting to arrow atom turkey. But, before I could kill aturkey, I still had plenty of pre-seasonpreparations to accomplish.

The jakes and toms I saw on that ear-ly spring day in my cornfield weresearching for hens. They were doingthis because the weather was gettingwarmer, hours in the day were longer,and the urge to breed was almost un-bearable. Even though the hens werenot ready to breed yet the toms wereand they were gobbling to prove it.

When I spotted this big flock of malebirds I knew things were changing inthe turkey woods. During the wintertoms have their own flocks; so do thejakes, as well as the young and oldhens. Knowing the jakes abandonedtheir own flock to join up with the old-er toms it would only be a matter oftime before mating took place. But, forthe time being the hens were not recep-tive to the advances of the jakes andtoms. Eventually, the males will comein close contact with the hens as theyall begin to search for foods like lushgreens and forbes, insects, leftovercrops and acorns.

As the days get longer and the tem-peratures rise the hens also become in-terested in breeding. The gobbling thatthe toms did a few weeks earlier to es-

tablish a pecking order are now beinganswered by willing hens. The largeflocks of toms and jakes are breakingup into smaller groups of two or threemale birds.

It is because of all these changes thatare about to and are happening withthe turkey flocks that make pre-seasonscouting so important. In order tohave constant success from one seasonto the next or even from one day to thenext, pre-season scouting is a must.

When I scout I locate roosting sitesfor early-morning excursions. Oncethey get off the roost that they normal-ly follow. This route will normally takethem to feeding areas and to water.

When I look for roosting areas I lookat the ground under potential roostingareas for droppings and feathers. 0nceI find roosting areas I try to imaginewhere they will fly. If I will not be ableto kill a longbeard after fly-down thatmeans I will have to hunt through themorning, and maybe the afternoon instates where legal. In order to accom-plish this I have to know where thebirds go after the fly down. Once Iknow this I can then set up according-ly.

When I scout for turkeys I set back ata distance and use a good pair of binoc-

ulars to locate the birds. I look forturkeys at likely food sources, waterand travel routes. Do not forget tolook closely in the shadows along thefield edges. This is where you will finda lot of turkeys.

Not only am I scouting for birds, butalso for good places to set-up. If Iknow in advance where to set-up, itwill make getting there in the dark eas-ier. I also want to have places to huntat different time throughout the day.As the turkeys advance through theirdaily routine we hunters have to moveto new locations in order to stay aheadof the turkeys, literally. If you havedone your scouting right you shouldknow where the turkeys are and wherethey will be going.

When choosing a location to huntfrom try and avoid obstacles that couldcause the birds to hesitate. Do not geton the opposite side of streams, fences,deep gullies and thick brush lines if youcan avoid it. Turkeys have tremendouseyesight, but when it is obstructed theybecome very wary. Not only will thickbrush hinder turkey’s eyesight andcause them to spook, it also might re-strict you from drawing your bow orswinging your shotgun.


Getting Ready forTurkey Season

by Jason Houser

Twenty-fiveyears ago itwas a rarity tosee a wildturkey inCentra l - I l l i -nois where Iboth live anddo a lot ofh u n t i n g .Now, a dayhardly passes when I do not see aturkey, or hear their vocals in thespring. Times sure have changed fromwhat they were once were, from neverseeing one, to now being able to kill acouple of toms each spring, and a cou-ple more hens in the fall. We have def-initely come full circle.

I was inspired to write this articlewhen a couple of months before turkeyseason I had 14 turkeys, both jakes andtoms, walking through last year’s corn-field on my family’s farm. I couldhardly hold in my enthusiasm as I sat inthe cab of my truck, daydreaming of

! 75 Foot Indoor Shooting Range For Firearms, Air Guns & Archery! Offering a Variety of Leagues & Classes, NRA Basic Pistol Classes,

One-on-One Instruction, Gun Rental, Full Line of Supplies! Buy, Sell, Trade, Special Orders! FOID, NRA, ISRA APPLICATIONS ALL AVAILABLE!

10775 Buckhart Rd. • Rochester, IL 62563217-498-6988 • www.SiddensGunRange.com

Open Tues. - Sun.

INDOOR SHOOTINGRANGE & GUN SHOP

039_001.qxd 1/25/13 8:27 PM Page 1


Tom’s Bait Shop403 Walnut St. • Beardstown, IL 62618

Walking Distance from Beardstown Marina!Live Bait • Tackle • Boating Accessories

Local Fishing Information(217) 323-BAIT

3335 East EnosSpringfield, Illinois217-544-1232Noon till 7 P.M.Closed Sunday & Monday

Assault Rifles • All ShotgunsHigh Powered Rifles

Black Powder Inline & TraditionalAutomatic Revolvers & Black Powder

Handguns • Full line of AccessoriesCrossbows & Equipment

www.letzhuntandsport.com

Before you buy your next gun call us!LAYAWAY PROGRAM • BUY, SELL OR TRADE • LARGEST BLACK POWDER SELECTION, DOWNSTATE!

LETZ HUNT & SPORT

Spoonie’s Bar & Grill103 3rd St., Historic London Mills, IL

309-486-3574New Owner: Dena Hook

Serving from 5pm Nightly:Wed. Taco NightThurs. Livers & GizzardsFri. Catfish, Chicken, Steak, Seafood, Frog Legs

M-F Lunch Specials • Open 7 Days a Week!

Once I have found a good locationfor my set up I have to make it hunt-able. I will either hunt out of a manu-factured pop-up blind or I will con-struct a natural blind made out of whatis available. If I choose to use a store-bought blind I begin by clearing thearea of leaves and other debris where Iplan on erecting the blind.

Good manufactured blinds are notcheap; therefore the vast majority of myblinds are made from limbs and bushesthat I find in the area. Because I am abowhunter I build my blinds only highenough to conceal me, but still allowme to draw my bow back and shoot.Because the upper third of my body isin plain sight I have to wait for theturkeys head to be behind a tree, rock orbush before I draw. This can be diffi-cult if there are a lot of turkeys in frontof you.

When I am using a manufacturedpop-up blind I normally set it up thenight before, or sometimes, even themorning of the hunt. Turkeys are notscared at the sight of a new obstructionin their home range the way whitetailsare.

Because I am a bowhunter I take a 5-

SEASON…Cont’d. from previous pg.

gallon bucket, painted to match theenvironment I will be hunting in, to myhunt area a day or two before I will behunting. I also carry what I will needon my hunt in the bucket and leave itthere.

I either cover the bucket with a lid ortrash bag to keep the contents dry. Thecontents of the bucket are: a couple bot-tles of water; a couple candy bars; toiletpaper, and the big 4-inch guillotinebroadheads I use. These particularheads do not fit in my quiver and areeasy to screw in my arrows when I get tomy hunting spot. I do carry a couple oftraditional-style broadhead tippedarrows in my quiver just in case I get theopportunity at a turkey when I am awayfrom my blind. The last things I leavein my bucket are a couple of collapsibledecoys.

As long as turkeys are not disturbedtheir daily routine will remain close tothe same and the areas you have pickedout will remain good areas. Once youget an opportunity to shoot a bird it isup to you to close the deal. Always takeinto consideration the eyesight andhearing of a turkey. Turkeys do nothave the greatest of hearing, but theyare suspicious of noises. After a turkeysees or hears something suspicious theywill immediately sound an alarm putt

and then run or fly away.Do not under estimate the brain of a

turkey based on its size alone. Turkeyshave the ability to learn and rememberas well as animals with larger brains.Even though it might be legal to pre-season call, do not do it. In my opinionall that you are accomplishing is educat-ing the birds. Turkeys might notbecome hunter wise, but after hearingyour calls and then being tricked byyour calls I think they do become callwise over time. Leave your calls in youvest until season is open. If you feel theneed to practice do it for your wife notthe turkeys.

Another pre-season ritual is makingsure all of my gear is in order. Do notleave your gear at home. Every yearsomeone I know gets to their blind andrealizes they left their call, facemask,license, permit a stool to sit on, or someother important piece of gear at home.If you do take what you need to yourhunting spot beforehand like I do,make sure you have it opening day.

To prevent leaving much needed gearat home make a checklist of the huntingitems you need. As you put the gear inyour vehicle check it off the list.Another good investment is a turkeyvest. They normally have a lot of pock-ets for all of your calls and other equip-ment. Leave your gear in your vest dur-ing the off-season. This will save a lotof headaches when you go searching for

your gear only days before season opens.Pattern your guns and loads before

you hit the woods. Even though youpatterned them last year and for yearsbefore do it again. It is important toknow where your gun shoots, the pat-tern of the choke and how the load per-forms when shooting at a target the sizeof a turkey’s head.

I do all of my hunting with archerygear. I do not change my draw weightfrom my whitetail setup. If it were notfor the big guillotine broadheads I usethere would be no need to make anychanges to my equipment. But, becauseI am shooting a 4-inch broadhead I dohave to re-sight my bow.

The last pre-season task to completeis to learn the most you can about thequarry you are hunting. A confidenthunter is likely to be a successful one.Learn as much about the behavior,characteristics and habitat of the turkeyas you can. Do your pre-season scout-ing and be confident in what you learn.Know where your gun shoots at 35yards, or that with an arrow you can hita baseball-size target. Be comfortablewith the calls you plan on using. Thisis done through a lot of practice.

So, what are you waiting for? Turkeyseason might still be weeks away, but itis not too early to get ready. Do not bea procrastinator. Get ready now andenjoy a great sport in the beautifulspringwoods.CARBON CLIFF BAIT & TACKLECARBON CLIFF BAIT & TACKLE

WHOLESALE & RETAIL BAIT & TACKLEIL Fishing & Hunting Licenses • Hunting & Trapping Supplies • Pond Stocking

413 2nd Ave. • Carbon Cliff, IL 61239 • (309) 792-3460

“Serving SportsmenSince 1958”

040_001.qxd 1/25/13 8:26 PM Page 1


SMILEY’S SPORTS SHOP INC.Archery • Guns & Ammo • Fishing Tackle • Live Bait

Ammo by the Case Price • Full Line of Abu GarciaFull Service Archery Shop

See us on the web at: www.smileyssportsshop.com2049 Ireland Grove Rd. • Bloomington, IL

309/663-1133

Getting Organized To Go Fishing

Hope your new year and your fishingthis coming season will be the best everfor you. February is a tough fishingmonth for everyone not living in theextreme south. It’s not that a few basscan’t be caught it’s just the fact that itjust ain’t fun. But all is not lost as this isa perfect time to get things in order forthe spring fishing season. I don’t meanhousehold chores (we have to do thoseto keep peace in the family) I mean fish-ing chores.

The first thing is to get your Nitro Z-8 boat ready and the biggest thing thatalways hinders the first spring fishingtrip is poor batteries. Always chargeyour batteries as soon as you get in froma trip and during the winter storagecharge them at least once a month. Thisis a great time to clean out every com-partment and reorganize. Every time Ido this it always amazes me what Icome up with. Not only old peanut andbutter sandwiches but lures and tackle Ihad been trying to find for weeks. Thisis the time to check and pack your

I make sure all my crankbaits I use havea Mustad Triple grip hook on it.

If you haven’t used a Plano or BassPro Shops Extreme binder bag tacklesystem your really missing out. Theyallow you to organize everything in aneat orderly compact system. Makes itso easy to locate what you’re lookingfor in a hurry. This is how I keep myZoom worms, lizards, craws, brushhogs, flukes, and frogs in order for fastretrieval when needed. Some tourna-ments when I’m dialed in to use aZoom trick worm I will put my Mustadhooks, Bass Pro Shops’ worm weights,toothpicks, trick worms in one bag theneverything I need is handy and I don’thave to go digging for stuff.

This is also a good time to go overeach lure, spinnerbait, buzzbait, chatter-bait, jig, etc. Also check skirts, hooks,blades, and reorganize sizes and colorsso you are ready when the bite getshere. You can work on tackle for daysand not get it all done. Start with onelure, say spinnerbaits and work on themtill you finish. Then start a list andcheck off each lure when you are done.

If you know the lakes that you’regoing to be fishing order maps fromBass Pro Shops and study them. Nowis a good time to get yourself a gameplan, before you get there as to how youare going to fish the body of water. Youcan eliminate a lot of time by doing thisand spend quality time fishing the areayou want to fish.

Winter timed is when I watch a lot offishing videos especially the one’s thatare technique oriented like Bass ProShops’ Woo Daves 3 DVD set. Even

WOO’S CORNERBY WOO DAVES

www.woodaves.com

WOOSHOES

though I made the tapes, I still watchthem to refresh my knowledge. There isa lot to learn on different techniques,how to rig them, how to fish them, whatequipment you need to fish them andvideos can dial you right in to what todo and use.

The year 2012 was great for bass fish-ing with a lot of heavy weights broughtin and I believe 2013 will be even bet-ter. Don’t get in a rut fishing, get out andtry some of the new techniques likeshaky head fishing, drop shot, Alabamarigs, and swim baits. All these new tech-niques work very well all over the coun-try in our lakes and rivers so get on theband wagon give them a try .

May God Bless and remember ourtroops and thank them for their out-standing duty. Try the WranglerAngler pants on your next fishing tripand as Tony Tiger says they’re

MIDSOUTH TACKLEMaking Jigs Since 1978

128 CR 108 • Jonesboro, AR 72404870-935-4914

Toll Free 888-935-0189Check us out on the web…

www.midsouthtackle.com/shop.aspManufacturers of Quality Crappie Jigs

Made for Fishermen by Fishermen for 32 Years!

wheel bearings and fix any trailer lightsthat are out.

Tackle can be sorted and put in itsrightful place so you can find it on yournext trip. This is a good time to takeeach one of your rods and run a cottontip around each guide and make sureyou have no cracks in them and to doany other rod repair work that is need-ed. Reels need a good cleaning and oil-ing and I always get rid of the line onreels and have them ready for respool-ing. Don’t go fishing this spring withlast years line or you’re asking for trou-ble. Big bass seem to know when youhave old line on and that’s the rod theywill bite

This is also the time to work on yoursuspending jerk baits and get themweighted just right. Also time to checkyour hooks and replace any that need it.

041_001.qxd 1/25/13 8:45 PM Page 1


BBLLOOOOMMIINNGGTTOONNBest Meat on Bunn Street!

2401 S. Bunn2401 S. BunnBloomington, IL Bloomington, IL

309-828-9731309-828-9731Get a GREAT BUY on Get a GREAT BUY on

Meat Bundle Specials!Meat Bundle Specials!Open: M-T: 8am-5pm

W-F: 8-6 • Sat: 8-4 • Sun: 11-3

I C E F I S H I N GL I N E …W H AT ' SB ES T ?

Ice fishermen are as diverse as liquid-water anglers when it comes to theirchoices in equipment. From rods andreels to their lure arsenals, no twoanglers are alike and they'll argue forhours over who has the best approach.One thing serious fishermen discusswith gusto is fishing line, and whichtypes and weights are best suited for aparticular species and fishing applica-tion.

Now I don't want to get into anyarguments here. but I do want to helpreaders make good line-selection deci-sions for ice fishing - which will

absolutely help you catch more fish.Here's a quick example of what I mean:Not too long ago, I was crappie fishingon a spot that went red hot for a coupleweeks. It was a small, deep hole out inthe middle of a big mid-lake flat and thecrappies were suspended on it (about 15feet down in 35 feet of water). Wordspread like wild fire and before you knewit, there were dozens of ice fishermenpacked into a pretty tight spot "gettin'while the getting' was good."

The action was consistent, and at anygiven time you could look around andsee someone catch a fish or hear crappiesflopping in buckets in every direction.Sitting on an overturned pail not farfrom my Eskimo shelter was a guy hav-ing no luck. I could see from 30 yardsaway that the line on his rod was heavy.At least 12-pound test, maybe even 14,and tightly coiled from spool memory. Ifelt bad for the guy and walked over witha spare rod - already rigged with a slipbobber.

After chatting for a bit about what abad streak of luck he was having, Ioffered to let him try the other rod andexplained how the lighter line wouldpresent his minnow in a more naturalway - and how the limp, straight linewould help him detect those light crap-pie bites better.

He accepted and immediately begancatching crappies.

The first lesson from this story is thatwhen selecting line for ice fishing, go aslow as you can go in terms of lineweight. As a rule for fishing monofila-ment, choose 2-4 pound test for panfishand perch; 6-12 pound for walleyes; and12+ for pike.

Now, should you spool every rod inyour pail with monofilament? Myanswer is "no," but it depends upon howyou fish. If all you do is fish with bob-bers, then monofilament or fluorocar-bon lines will treat you just fine. But ifyou do some active jigging (with spoons,jigs or "darting" plugs), you'll want tospool up some jigging ice sticks withbraided line.

The main reasons for using braid"superfine" for jigging is that its incred-ibly thin, super sensitive and exhibitszero spool memory. This means you'llhave a dead-straight connection to yourbait for instant bite detection and con-nectedness to your lure. Braided line isalso zero-stretch, for solid hooksets ineven deep water.

In some cases, it's advantageous to usea combination of lines for a particularapplication. For finicky walleyes forexample, spooling up with a braid/fluo-rocarbon combo is dynamite. Use thefluorocarbon line (8-pound works nice)as a 2-3 foot leader attached to yourbraid with either a blood knot or smallswivel connector. This will give you all

the sensitivity advantages of braid withthe natural bait presentation that fluoro-carbon provides.

Most multi-species anglers can get bywith four basic rod/reel/line combina-tions. Two ultralight panfish rods (onewith light mono and the other with thelightest of braids) and two medium wall-eye sticks (one with 6-12 pound monoand one with 10-12 pound braid). If youadd pike to your pursuits, throw twoheavier rods into the mix (one with 12-14 pound mono and the other with 15-20 pound braid). For tip-up pike fish-ing, use tip-up line on the spool to theleader style of your choice (many anglersprefer steel to prevent cut leaders).

The fishing line aisle at the sportinggoods store can be a daunting place.There are so many brands, types, sizesand colors from which to choose. But ifyou keep it simple with clear monos andfluorocarbons, along with standardbraided lines in the poundages I've men-tioned, you'll be all set for fun and pro-ductive days on the ice.

Babe Winkelman is a nationally-known outdoorsman who has taughtpeople to fish and hunt for more than25 years. Watch his award-winning"Good Fishing" and "OutdoorSecrets" television shows on manynational and local networks.

Visit www.winkelman.com for airtimes where you live, and be sure tocheck us out on Facebook.

BABE’SBABE’SMONTHLY COLUMNBy Babe Winkelman

140 S. Seminary St. • Galesburg, IL 61401Phone 309-342-5800

www.simpsonltd.com • Hours: Tues. - Sat. 1-6

6000 Gun

Inventory

“WANTED”Any Collector

Firearm1 or 1,000

Illinois State Fairgrounds • Richard Orr BuildingFebruary 22, 23 & 24, 2013

9 Boat Dealers!The Boat Dock, SpringfieldEastside Marine, SpringfieldHank's Boat Sales, RaymondJLS Marine, Inc., Springfield Lake Springfield Marina, Springfield Victory Lane Marine, Litchfield Yachts to Sea, NashvilleThe Liquid Edge, Farmer CityClinton Marine, WeldonTaylor Marine Performance Ctr, Inc. Belleville

20th Annual

Show hours: Friday • 2pm - 9pm

Saturday • 10am - 7pm Sunday • 10am - 5pm

FREE Parking!Admission: Adults $5.00

Children under 12 FREE

Register to Win

Door Prizes!

Contact Jeff: 217-341-1730 • TheBoatShowInSpringfield.com

042_001.qxd 1/25/13 9:08 PM Page 1


I, myself, was itching to see a big girlchasing a glide bait to the boat and tonet the first fish of the season.

Wednesday brought a strong windshift to the south, opening even morewater, but the ice still hung on tight bythe ramp, thus, locking down the middleof the lake from access. The wind justneeded to switch to the north for a fewhours to open up the ramp.

I climbed out of my truck and walkeddown the ramp. I smirked a little as Isaw proof that other fishermen had beenwatching the receding ice.

The ice was littered with rocks andlogs. Even a concrete block lay half melt-ed in the pale colored ice. “Looks like it’sstill about 5 inches at the ramp, but therest of the lake looks fishable if the damnramp would just open,” I told one bud-dy on the cell phone. Thursday broughtin colder temps and higher winds fromthe north. It was just the wind I needed,but not much melting was going on be-cause of the drop in temperature.

My phone had been getting blown upwith the text messages and calls fromclients wondering if the lake would befishable by the weekend. Sorry to sayboys, but I will be up at Bass Pro Shopsin Bolingbrook this weekend doing sem-inars at the Spring Classic.

The first weekend of the Bass Pro

Shops Spring Classic had been a goodone. The store was packed, and the sem-inars did not have many empty seats. Iwas winging my way south on Rt. 55 af-ter the show when my phone rang. Itwas a good buddy of mine that told mea diehard had been tearing the crap outof his boat trying to break open theramp. He made some progress butripped off his transducer in the process.This just made me giggle, because it getsexpensive when you try and force moth-er nature to do anything.

Monday morning brought a beautifulsunrise and warmer temps. I was havingcoffee when my phone rang. It was oneof the local boys that I had taken somephotos of back in December with a bigfish. He promised to call me when thelake was open in exchange for a few pho-

by Daniel VinovichThe late winter sun was setting over

the parking lot as I watched a flock ofsnow geese winging their way back tothe refuge. Holes were opening up allover the north end of Spring Lake. Itwon’t be long now ‘til the ice leaves andthe hunting begins. I spent the followingday going through the list of clients,making calls to inform them that weshould be on the water by the end of theweek. Clients quickly gobbled up theopen dates for a chance at some of thebest Muskie fishing the year has to offerand a chance at a fat, pre-spawn Muskie.

tos of the biggest muskie he had evercaught.

His voice sounded a little stressedwhen he announced the ramp was open.“No way,” I said. “Yes, it is,” he said. Icould hear the clanging of rods hittingthe inside of the aluminum boat as heloaded them. He told me the frickin’ guyfrom up north who tore up his boat try-ing to get in must have cracked the rampice pretty good ‘cause there was a laneopen to the open water. I thanked himfor the info and grabbed my coat.

The morning frost covered my truckwindows as I struggled to hit the win-dows with the scraper. I was like a littlekid on Christmas Eve, every little thingwas annoying me or slowing my depar-ture. I finally put the truck in reverse

WatchASOTV on

PBS Ch. 47WTVPSat.Feb.23at

5pm


Chasin’ fatties!

8955 West Dam Ln. • Benton, IL618-724-7651 • RendLakeMarina.com

175 Stinger - Camo, Blue & Black in Stock!

ALL BOAT PURCHASES LAKE TESTED!

OFFERING BOAT RENTALS!

Stryker 17 Bass

Ask About theMercuryWarranty

Offer!

$1000 FACTORY REBATE

ON SELECT LOWE BOATS!

COME SEE US AT THE SO. IL BOAT& FISHING SHOW FEB. 1, 2 & 3 AT

WILLIAMSON CO. PAVILION, MARION, IL

LOWE & BENNINGTON PONTOONS IN STOCK!

043_001.qxd 1/25/13 10:02 PM Page 1


ramp by 11 o’clock. By 10:45, I was back at the ramp

unhooking the straps that had held herthrough the winter. Rods, extra clothes,and net all stowed. A smile engulfed myface as I watched the motor submerge inthe clear water.

Three pulls and the 9.9 Merc purredto life. Slowly, the little motor pulled atthe transom, easing the big glass boat

CORSAW LUMBER, INC. Manufacturers of Quality

Hardwood Products…Kiln Dried Lumber • Flooring • Trim • Mulch

Distributors of Appalachian Doors & Old World Stair Systems

Trim Standard & Custom MadeStair Systems & Parts • Interior Door Pre Hung or Slabs • Hardwood Mulch Wholesale & Retail • Hardwood Floors

Custom Jams Built to Your SpecsKiln Dried or Green Lumber

BUYERS OF STANDING TIMBERGOOD TIMBER MANAGEMENT, SELECT CUT26015 North County 2 • Smithfield, IL 61477

309-293-2055Russ Watson, Logger: 309-696-5461

Chuck, Marie & Mark CorsawFamily Owned & Operated Since 1968

OPEN: 7-4 M-F • 8-12 SAT • EXCEPT HOLIDAYS

and was almost out of the drivewaywhen I slammed it back into park. I ranto the garage and plugged in the boatchargers, just in case the lane was openwide enough to get my Targa on thelake.

The half hour ride to the lake seemedlike it took forever. I swear, every carwas moving at a snail’s pace. It wasalmost like they were soaking up thewarm sun. Two turns left and I would beat the lake. As I rounded the last bend inthe road, I could see, to my delight, thatthere was a jon boat on the lake. Downthe final winding slope I drove, eyesstraining to see if the ramp could acceptmy big glass boat. At the bottom of theroad was a stopped school bus, again,another delay.

My nerves were shattered as I pulledinto the parking lot, only to see a small14 foot boat on the lake. The big openpath to the water was only about 4 footwide. There was no way I was going toget my 20 foot Targa through that holewithout doing some kind of damage tothe gel coat.

Back to my truck I headed with mytail between my legs. The cell phonerang as I was leaving the parking lot.

“Hey, did you know there was a boat onthe lake,” the voice hollered at me? “Yes,but I can’t get my boat in,” I replied.The ice is still too thick, but with thiswarm day and a little wind, we should beable to get in maybe tomorrow.

Tuesday brought about the same con-ditions as I drove in the dark to theramp. I was greeted by a breathtakingsunrise as I stepped into the parking lot

to check the ramp.The dull, white col-ored ice still chokedthe ramp, but anorth wind wasslowly eating itaway.

Disgusted, Igrabbed a chain outof my tool box…Yes,a chain, or should Isay my little icebreaker. Last year, Ihad a little troublewith the skim ice atthe ramp, so I hadtaken a heavy chain,cut it into 2 foot sec-tions and tied about6 of them to a sturdyrope. A couple ofwell tossed flings andI could clear the icefrom the ramp so it would not rip off thetransducers. I gave her a high floatingtoss. The chain breaker hit its mark anda 2 foot chunk broke off the side. Severalmore tosses to the sides of the rotten ice,and I had cleared an 8 foot wide trail.

Back at the truck, I grabbed my phoneand called my two buddies. “We’re in,” Iyelled. I was on my way home to grabthe boat and I would be back at the

FATTIES…Cont’d. from previous pg.

Nowthat girl got someweight!

Ohhhh another fattyready to release!

044_001.qxd 1/25/13 10:01 PM Page 1


into the water. The water was clear asGin and not much wind, but who cared?The warm sun was beating on my faceand the light wind…well; it’s an experi-ence you just can’t explain. Not themost ideal conditions to be Muskie fish-ing, but at least we were fishing.

The next 4 hours brought a couplesmall males to the net, but not the fishwe were looking for. A cold chill randown my back as the setting sun lostmost of its heating quality. I looked atthe glide bait hanging from the leader.Small drops of water hit the surface as Ichecked my phone for tomorrow’sweather conditions. I was about to saylet’s call it a day when an enormoussplash erupted at the side of the boat.

A quick turn and I could see mybuddy’s rod had doubled over. The dragscreamed as he fought to get the fishunder control. “She slammed it right atthe side of the boat,” he yelled. “Get thedamn net,” he hollered.

I could see the hooks were firmlyimbedded in her jaw, so I went for thecamera not the net. First FATTIE of2012. My Nikon rattled off pic after picof the unhappy female. A couple sec-onds later, I grabbed the net and slowlylowered it into the water, leading herhead first into the net. He smiled whenI lifted the net engulfing her in the rub-

ber mesh. A flurry of high fives spread from the

bow to the stern. A big smile came overmy face as he hoisted the Big Fattie outof the net for a quick photo. I kept theNikon eating as he slowly lowered herback into the water. With a couple tailwags, she disappeared back into thelake. Again, the high fives were flying.We were on the lake early. Hell, it wasnot even Valentine’s day yet andPredator Guide Service had a 40-inchon the books!!

A warm feeling came over my numbhands as I whipped down my boat andstrapped her on the trailer for the ridehome. One last look over the glass likesurface of the lake as I exited the park-ing lot, and I just knew this was gonna’be a great year for CHASIN’ FATTIES!!

2012 was an ice out season to remem-ber. The big pre-spawn females werewilling and eager. Mother Naturebrought the worst winds I have seen inyears, but with a boat weighing over aton and lots of power from the 36 voltelectrics, we never missed a beat. Smilesfrom clients were more often than not!The fatties were there, and we werebringing them to the net. Several happyfishermen left with pictures of Fattiesover 44 inches, some with their firstfish, others with their biggest. A big grin

is covering my face right now as I tapthe keyboard and look at some of thephotos. 2013 looks to be another goodone. While talking to the biologist, hereassured me the hot summer that killeda few fish had not hurt the fishery onebit. He estimated we had lost only about3 percent. From a fishery that holds sev-eral thousand Muskies, that’s not even adrop in the bucket!

To add a little FLAVOR TO THISSPRING I will also be taking a limitednumber of trips to BANNER MARSH!These Lakes can produce BIG FISH andshould be a great addition to the hotbite at Spring Lake. So, if you want tobe part of the hottest time of the year ata chance for a FATTIE of your own,give me a call at 309-267-8309 or by e-mail at: [email protected]! REMEM-BER…THE FATTIES WAIT FOR NOMAN…You’re either THERE or you’reNOT!!

I’m writing this the first week inJanuary, and the phone calls from myregulars reserving open dates for theSpring Ice Out Bite have already start-ed. I never know exact dates the lakewill open, so call early and get on mycall list ‘cause when the temperaturebreaks, the lake can open in a matter ofdays. Also, I will once again be givingseminars at the Bass Pro Shops Spring

Classic in Bolingbrook, Illinois onFebruary 23-24 and March 2-3, so comeby to reserve a date in person or juststop in to catch a seminar and swap afew stories. Bring your wallet becausethe store runs some of the BEST sales ofthe year on fishing tackle during thisevent!

SEE YA AT THE SHOWS OR ONTHE WATER!!

AnotherSpringtime fatty!

S P R I N G F I E L D4151 W. Jefferson St.

Springfield, IL 217-546-2286

P R I N C E V I L L E624 W. Spring St. • Princeville, IL

309-385-43161-800-728-4734

E AS T P EO R I A215 Fairlane Dr. • East Peoria, IL

309-694-3700 1-800-728-4734

045_001.qxd 1/25/13 10:01 PM Page 1


Have you everhunted with some-one who always hadgood fortune on theirside? Although youare fishing the samesubmerged treecanopy with thesame setup, at thesame depth andsame bait – they willcatch three slab sized crappie which would fail asteroid test while you simply attempt to drownyour minnow! During their first ten minutes ofdaylight, on opening day of the firearm deer sea-son, they shoot a ten pointer which you can drivea motorcycle between the inside spread while youhad spent over a thousand hours on the samestand with nothing to show for it! They will leavethe goose pit to answer the call of nature andwhile hid in the tree line shoot two honkers as

they fly over with both being banded! My guessall of us have hunted or fished or worked with oneof these individuals. We tolerated their amazingluck in the hope some would rub off on us!

These individuals win the promotion, get thegirl, pick the right lottery ticket and otherwisemake our weak efforts at success seem fruitless.I admit it – I am jealous and upset over my at-tempts at success while others seem to come byit with little or no effort at all! “Details fly thespace shuttle” has always been my motto. Bystudiously preparing for the upcoming archeryseason through hours of analytical study, properstand placement and sharpening your shootingskills and spending the time to gain your best op-portunity seem meaningless when the buck al-ways seems to evade your set up. The buck willthen walk nonchalantly into a shooting lane, dur-ing the middle of the morning with nothing be-tween him and the “chosen one shooter” as if hewere looking to become the star of the SaturdayMorning Hunting show! Yes – Life is unfair!

I still believe, foolishly or not, success comesto those that work for it … or “you make yourown success” as the saying goes! Dumb luck willonly carry you so far. The only solace is often thepreparation and anticipation of success will beyour only friend besides losing or the lack of suc-

ELUSIVE ELUSIVE LUCK!LUCK!

by Dave Herschelman

cess in fishingor hunting isnot the end ofthe world!While viewingthe namesetched on thewall at theU.S.S. ArizonaMemorial inPearl Harborone comesface to facewith the indi-viduals whomdid not de-serve theirfate but arelost for eterni-ty as a resultof their cir-c u m st a n c e s !Out of a senseof honor,many of their surviving shipmates choose to havetheir remains entombed with their fallen broth-ers within the sunken hulk that remains as a me-morial to the fallen! My angst over a less thansuccessful hunting or fishing trip seems pitiful inretrospect when compared to real sorrow andloss for those individuals and their families! Theterm “unfair” takes on a much somber meaning!

To be analytical, those that exhibit the traits

of perpetual good luck in the field often do thework to make it happen! Sure, the big giant buckis often killed by the novice or long time hunterwho has never had this type of success, adding tothe mystique of “Deer Hunting”. This experiencemay be a “one and done” event or the beginningof a life of respect and admiration in becoming ahunter of mature animals! The record books arefull of entries where the entrant hunter has not

5 0 2 E a s t L a u re l Av e .H a va n a , I L 62 6 4 4

3 0 9 - 5 4 3 - 2 2 8 [email protected]

• SALES• SERVICE• PARTS• REPAIR

O V E R 7 0 , 0 0 0 I T E M S • F I N A N C I N G A V A I L A B L E

PREDATOR GUIDE SERVICE309-347-1728 • 309-267-8309 • [email protected]

Book your tripwith DanVinovich!

Taxidermy for the Catch & Release Angler…FISH REPRODUCTIONS!

WE WILL CUSTOMIZE YOUR FISH REPLICA TO MATCHYOUR TROPHY! CONVENTIONAL MOUNTS ALSO

AVAILABLE… FREEZE FISH 3-4 DAYS, SHIP UPS.ONLY $179 PLUS SHIPPING FEES & $50 DEPOSIT

REQUIRED. THEN SHIP YOUR BASS, WALLEYE, BLUEGILL OR CRAPPIE TO:

GROVE'S TAXIDERMY111 S. Main St. • Creve Coeur, IL 61610

309-699-5702

FISH REPRODUCTIONS!

GROVE'S TAXIDERMY111 S. Main St. • Creve Coeur, IL 61610

309-699-5702Bass

Reproduction Mounts $260 + Shipping.

Send weight, length, girth, photo & $50 deposit.

MORE THANREPLICAS...

REAL WORKS OF ART!

046_001.qxd 1/25/13 10:29 PM Page 1


duplicated or sustained “trophy success” overtheir lifetimes but it also contains those whohave achieved the pinnacle of sustained successin taking trophy deer or turkey.

Despite many hard luck tragedies in the woodsor water, if one looks hard enough there areevents that happen even to the most unlucky ofus. Several years ago, while turkey hunting withLance “Fast Eddie” Sermersheim, who had killedhis monster Tom the day earlier and was simplyawaiting my success on the Sunday in which weboth had to leave. I tried my best to fill the tagbut my excitedly hurried shot on an approachingTom was not successful.

As we drove home, our route would take uspast one of our Schuyler County hunting areas –I wanted to go on home and lick my bruised egobut Lance insisted we spend the last hour of theturkey day on this property. OK as I could barelykeep from falling asleep! Once at the spot, Lanceparked the truck and immediately worked hissurefire box call – nothing. Let’s go! No, Lanceinsisted I get in the blind on the north end of theproperty a quarter mile distant from us! Wetrudged up the hill, silently, to the blind when amonster gobble sounded just on the other side ofthe ravine from us – this was the jolt of adrena-line I needed and I hotfooted as quietly and quick-ly to the blind as I could sticking a lone hen decoyin the ground as I moved.

Lance held back in the timber only yards dis-tant, in fact, I did not have time to enter the blind

but hid behind a tree and stood motionless afterLance’s sweet soft yelps and clucks penetratedthe air! Suddenly a big red head was visible onlyyards from us behind the growth of bush honey-suckle!

Dave he’s coming Lance whispered! I could notrespond and could only hope his voice was notheard by Mr. Tom! Suddenly, Mr. Tom was twelvefeet away from me with my gun barrel lookingdown his neck! At this distance the patterncould not have been larger than a half dollar! Itworked! My consternation and apathy nowturned to joy and elation for me, not the turkey!The whole hunting trip from entering the proper-ty to taking this super Tom was all of ten min-utes!

Searching our past often reveals instanceswhere we were the fortunate one’s envied by oth-ers and usually or statistically those who work forsuccess will over time seem to experience it moreoften.

As I write this article, my spouse, Kelleyeanswers the phone and is chatting with the otherparty but is walking toward me! It is Gene Davis,my taxidermist, on the line – he has my Deermount completed and is coming to my area today,“do you want me to bring your deer?” Sure!After lamenting the big ones that got away lastseason and the good fortune of the “lucky suc-cessful” hunters on big deer, I think this makestwenty-something book deer Gene has mountedfor me! Damn that elusive Luck!

Congrats to10 year old

ChaseWenger

with his 11point buck.

WOW… what a beauty!

Chase washuntingwith his

GrandmaSherry

Higgs inrural

Fulton Co.on the 2ndday of 1stshotgun

season. Heshot the

buck with a 20 gauge at 75 yards and it field dressed at 215 lbs.Thanks to proud Grandpa Ralph Higgs for sharing Chase’s trophy

with ASO! Ralph’s daughter Jill Wenger is Chase’s mom & they areall from Canton. Plus Ralph & brother John Higgs own Melgreen

Furniture, who are long time sponsors and friends of ASO! Be sureto see Melgreen’s for furniture or home decorating ideas in down-town Farmington & on the web at: www.MelgreenFurniture.com ASO hopes to see more trophies from Chase…Way to go buddy!

047_001.qxd 1/25/13 10:28 PM Page 1

BEAGLEIN’ BUNNIESby Bill Cooper


At the roar of my single barreled12 gauge Stevens shotgun, an enor-mous cloud of dust enveloped thecottontail rabbit bounding fullspeed across my Dad’s cut soybeanfield. Rowdy, the family beagle,had pushed the bunny out of amaze of wild cane and blackberrytangles which served as a borderbetween the neighbor’s farm andours.

Rowdy disappeared into the dustcloud and proudly emerged withthe bunny in his mouth. The chub-by little beagle mix and I celebrat-ed our good fortune with my shoutsof “good boy Rowdy,” and ahealthy dose of ear rubbing forhim. Rowdy jumped with excite-ment as I stuffed the bunny into myhunting coat. Then he scurriedaway to hound the next bunny.

Rabbit hunting with beaglehounds in the 1950’s was as Amer-ican as apple pie and baseball. Itseemed everyone owned a beagleor two and looked forward to Sat-urdays between October and Feb-ruary when they could hound thebunnies.

Farm families, in particular, werepartial to rabbit hunting. It provid-ed a simple but pleasurable sportwhich gave opportunity to escapethe long hours and drudgery of

hard farm labor.Equally impor-tant, rabbit onthe table, pre-pared using oneof Mom’s secret recipes, garneredeveryone’s full attention.

“Rabbit hunting provided a riteof passage for young farm boys,”said Rev. Phil Cooper. “Boys sim-ply could not wait until they couldgo on a rabbit hunt with the olderguys, carry a gun for the first timeand learn the language of a beagleyowling on a rabbit trail. And whenthose boys took their first rabbit,everyone celebrated the eventcausing the young man to feelproud and accepted.”

Rabbit hunting provides an af-fordable hunt for many people to-day, just as it did decades ago. Thenecessary equipment is simple andinexpensive. You do not have tohave a top dollar shotgun or .22 ri-fle to enjoy a rabbit hunt. Nor doyou have to go to the expense ofowning a whole pack of beagles tohunt rabbits. One or two dogs canget the job done and provide funpacked hunts. Additionally, onedoes not have to break the bank ac-count by purchasing a high bredbeagle. Most beagles will happilychase rabbits if introduced to good

quality rabi-tat. Simplylook for rab-bit sign;d r o p p i n g s ,thick coverand teethmarks ony o u n gsaplings arethe things tolook for.

The firstwild yodel abeagle makesafter jumpinga rabbit on afrosty morn-ing is indeedmagic musicto a rabbithunters ears.“It makes melaugh everytime I hear abeagle howl-

WHOLESALE - RETAILBEEF - PORK - LAMB“VISIT OUR STEAK’N CHOP

SHOP AND TRY OURSMOKED HAM-BACON-LUNCHEON MEATS

BEEF STEAKS-PORK CHOPS-SAUSAGE PRODUCTS

Office Hours:Mon.-Sat. 7am-5:30pm

Retail Market:Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-5:30pm

Sat. 6am-5:30pm

(309) 673-0721TOLL FREE 1-800-331-0545

WE DO CATERINGMEAT BUNDLES

AVAILABLECUSTOM SLAUGHTERING

& PROCESSING1413 N. Raber Rd.

Off Farmington Rd.Peoria, Illinois 61604

Pork Bar-B-QuePolish Sausage

Butterfly Pork ChopsWeiners

Meat & Cheese TraysOn-Site Barbecue

Whole Hogs Roasted

WE ACCEPT LINK CARDS

Excalibur Seasonings!COME TO YOUR OLD TIME BUTCHER SHOP!

Feb. 9-10 • Tinley Park Fishing & Outdoor Show • Tinley Park, IL • tinleyparkfishingshow.com

Feb. 22-23 • Central Illinois Outdoor Expo • Arthur, ILOtto Center • arthurfestivals.com/outdoorexpo/expomain.htm

Feb. 22-24 • The Boat Show in Springfield • Illinois State Fairgrounds • theboatshowinspringfield.com

048_001.qxd 1/28/13 1:59 AM Page 1


ing wildly as it chases a rabbit bysight,” said long time rabbit hunterBill McKinney from Salem, Mis-souri. “I share the dog’s excite-ment as it does what it loves most,chasing bunnies. I can sit for hoursand listen to a pair of beagles workout a rabbit trail. You can tell bytheir voices how hot the trail is.”

Hunting rabbits with beaglehounds is simple pleasure, butdoes require patience on the partof the hunters involved. “Rabbithunters often want to shoot therabbit their dog is trailing asquickly as possible,” McKinneystated. “I have seen guys wade in-to the thick brush to head a rabbitoff to get a shot, when they need toexercise some patience and allowthe dogs to work the trail and bringthe rabbit around to them. Beingpatient, listening to the languageof the dogs and anticipating therabbit’s next move is the enjoyablepart of the hunt.”

Experienced beagle houndsknow what they are doing. Thedogs patiently work out the trail ofa fleeing rabbit. Rabbits are cun-ning creatures and make every ef-fort to loose the dogs in pursuit ofthem. When a rabbit is jumped bydogs, it uses its speed to put somedistance between itself and thedogs as quickly as possible. A rab-bit’s home range is relatively smalland rest assured the bunny knowsevery square inch of its habitat. Itwill quickly take advantage of ter-rain features to escape. Thick veg-etation, such as blackberry andmulti-flora rose tangles, are sure

sources of escape and evasion forbunnies.

Rabbits will also utilize featuressuch as culverts and water to at-tempt to throw dogs off of theirtrail. Experienced beagles willsoon figure out the ruse and redis-covery the scent trail. However,the time it takes the dogs to workout the puzzle gives the rabbit op-portunity to put more distance be-tween them.

Beagles have a voracious ap-petite for hounding bunnies andwill not easily give up the chase.Should a race go for long periodsof time, dog owners may want tointercept the dogs to give them adrink of water, especially inwarmer weather. Too, a small firstaid kit should be carried to takecare of minor injuries to dogs. Bri-ars rip ears and tails and discardedbarbed wire, glass or metal maycase serious cuts to dogs. Beingprepared for such scenarios isgood insurance.

The magic of a good rabbit huntis the chase and the action in-volved with it. The dog music, theantics of the rabbits, good friends,family members and the experi-ence of pushing the rabbit hides allcombine to provide outdoor fun asgood as it gets. But, to put rabbiton the dinner table, don’t forgetthat rabbits will run a full circlefrom where they are first jumped.Establish your post there and luckwill come your way if you utilize agood dose of patience and allowyour beagles to have a good timehounding the bunnies.

w w w. N a t u r a l G e a r . c o m

NaturalGear Fleece NeckGaiter, Outer Layer isthick laminated micro

fleece that is windproof,soft and warm.

Natural Gear WinterCeptor FleeceBibs, Windproof and

Water Resistant.

Natural Gear Floating Shotgun CaseCarry with Detachable Sling, Zippered

Accessory Pocket, Side Sleeve forFlags, Detachable Bird Tote, 52" Long.

Natural GearFleece

HandwarmerMuff, Elastic

Cuffs, ZipperedPocket, Waist strap lets out to 59".

Natural Gear Hybrid Fleece Jacket,Windproof and Water Resistant Fleece

is Topped with Dri-Stalk III for evenmore water resistant protection.

S-XXXL

Natural Gear Full-Zip Fleece Vest NEW! WinterCeptor fleece is totally

Windproof andWater Resistant by construction.

It is a thick, WinterCeptor

fleece is available in the Natural

pattern.

Natural Gear Hybrid Fleece Jacket,Windproof and Water Resistant 400Gram Micro Fleece is topped with Dri-Stalk III for even more water

resistant protection.

NEW! Natural GearFleece Lined Shirt

Jacket. Outer is quiet

Dri-Stalk III Polytricot Fabric.Interior is lined

with a LightFleece Layer.

Perfect for the cool days of Fall orSpring. M-XXXL

Natural Gear Layering Fleece

HenleySoft quiet fleece,3-Button Neckline& Chest Pocket.

This Light Layering Fleece

Henley is the perfect weight for

just about any weather. Soft and quiet, it will keep you comfortable nomatter what you are doing. Perfect

on a mild Fall day or as a layer undera heavy coat on a cold winter hunt.(Note, this item runs large and you

may want to buy a size down)

Natural Gear Full-Zip Jacket, WinterCeptor Totally Windproof/

Water Resistant.

Sat. Feb. 2, 2013 • Illinois Deer CampCrowne Plaza • 3000 South Dirksen Pkwy. Springfield, IL

Special Guest: Travis “T-Bone” Turner,co-host of Michael Waddell’s Bone Collector TV Show.1 out of 10 Door Prizes is a FIREARM! Tickets are $55!Includes a 2013 Deer Camp Tour Long-Sleeved T-Shirt!

Don’t forget the Illinois Deer & Turkey Classic at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center in Springfield is the same weekend!

Social hour starts at 5 p.m. A $10.00 ticket offers an all you can drink deal, PLUS a raffle ticket for a nice prize!

Also includes water and soft drinks that comes with your meal.All tickets sold in advance, contact:

Bill David 309-389-3021 or 309-573-6307, Todd David 309-697-6613, Gary Verardo 309-389-4452, BJ Vaughn 309-264-9570 or Tom Haynes 309-208-4806.

Or go to WhiteUnlimited.com website, general phone is 800-274-5471.Order today…You cannot buy tickets at the door!

049_001.qxd 1/25/13 11:31 PM Page 1


Southern Illinoisby Don Dziedzina

We’ve may have had our fill of theoutdoor shows by now and we’reanxious to be on the water. In lateFebruary and into March we’re maysee some open water but chances aresome lakes may still have ice on

them.With all if the hard water around us

it may be time to consider headingsouth to scratch that itch that the out-door shows gave us to fish open wa-ter. So if you can afford to drive fromfour to five hours south of theChicagoland area, you can be fishingin open water and catching bass andcrappie in Southern Illinois.Southern Illinois is the place to beduring February. It’s been my homeaway from home for many years. I al-ways enjoy a few days away fromChicago’s cold by taking in thewarmer weather down south.

I’ve gone snow goose hunting withmy fishing and hunting guide buddy,Todd Gessner. I’ve learned thatFranklin and Williamson Countiesare in my opinion, the top two coun-ties in the state for snow goose hunt-ing which is always a lot of fun. Butsince we would spend only the morn-ings or late afternoons in the goose

pits, during midday, we it’s a goodtime to hit the water.

There are many lakes to fish inSouthern Illinois. There’s Rend Lake,Crab Orchard, Little Grassy, Lake ofEgypt, Devil’s Kitchen and many,many more. Between Franklin andWilliamson Counties, there is watereverywhere within an easy drivefrom where ever you hang you hat forthe night.

Lodging is never an issue if you’relooking for a nice place to stay. TheFranklin County Tourism(www.FCTB.org) and WilliamsonCounty Tourism (www.visitsi.com)can help you find a place to stay, pro-vide you with good suggestions fordining, and help you in the fishingand hunting department or just tour-ing..

Bring your own boat down withyou or hire a guide for a day or two.The tourism people can help youthere too. All things considered, theidea of hiring a guide is an affordableoption with the convenience of nothaving to tow a boat, and the luxuryof having someone take you right tothe hot spots on the lakes. If youhaven’t been to southern Illinois be-fore, I suggest getting a guide to learnthe lakes and how to fish them. Thentow your boat for future trips.

At this time of year, I really enjoythe crappie fishing. Bass fishing isfun but it just seems more proper tolook for bass when it’s a bit warmeroutside.

There’s a variety of ways to go forthe crappies. Live bait or artificial

bait both will work. Small twistertailed grubs tossed up to visibleweeks and slowly retrieved will catchfish. Using a long 8 to 10 foot rodwill allow you to dip plastics or min-nows along weed edges without hav-ing your boat up close and spookingthe fish.

It’s always good to see what thebait shop owners have to say aboutthe crappie fishing. When they’re alittle deeper and around sunken brushpiles or stake beds, keep a close eyeon your depth finder and go lookingfor them. If you see fish along a fishcrib, start dipping or casting aroundit. If you see a crib and no fish, justkeep on moving and don’t waste yourtime there.

Minnows you can fish by addingone to a small jig and straight liningit or you can use a slip bobber and alight wire hook. Keep this in mindthough, minnows have to be lively.Hook them once from under the chinand up around the nostril. If you killthe minnow or it seems wore out andinactive, replace it with a fresh livelyone.

In the plastics department, smalltwister tailed grubs, tubes, minnowbody baits all work. Have a lot of dif-ferent colors because at times, onecolor will definitely do better thananother.

My top choices for crappies insouthern Illinois are Rend Lake, CrabOrchard and Lake of Egypt. They’reall very good lakes that have greatpopulations of fish that are goodsized. There’s nothing better thancrappie for the dinner plate especial-ly when they come from the coldwinter waters. And with these south-ern Illinois lakes being only aboutfour and a half hours south on I-57from my south suburban Chicagohome that makes “Great Fishing notthat far away”.

Visit Don’s blog at www.IllinoisOutdoors.com

MGCA GUN SHOW

Feb. 2 & 3Sat. & Sun. • 9 am-4 pm

$5 Admission, Free ParkingEast Peoria

Convention CenterRt 8, East Peoria, IL

050_001.qxd 1/26/13 3:23 PM Page 1


Tom’s Gun Shoppe Inc.894 S. Seminary St. • Galesburg, IL

FOID Service • New & Used Guns • Black Powder Supplies • Catalog Orders

Sig Sauer Certified ArmorerCall for Appointment

1-800-263-9159 • (309) [email protected]

TGS

TG

S

CPO cited 2 waterfowl hunters for failing tomaintain a separate bag limit. CPO snuck up on 2waterfowl hunters that he had cited last year forfailing to maintain a separate bag limit. Thehunters had their bag limits clearly separated.

A CPO in Henderson Co investigated the unlaw-ful taking of a whitetail buck. The deer was shotfrom the roadway. A bow hunter in the woods wasnearly struck by a rifle bullet. Suspects have beenidentified and multiple charges are pending.

CPO stopped an ATV being operated on a town-ship road in south Knox Co. A bloody arrow wasfound to be within the quiver of his bow case. Aninterview of the operator determined that he wasan archery deer hunter who had harvested a deerthe previous day. Additional follow-up found thehunter had failed to tag his deer and obtain a har-vest confirmation number as required. He wasissued a citation for failure to tag deer immediate-ly upon kill. The deer was tagged while writtenwarnings were issued for failure to obtain a confir-mation number before 10pm the day of harvestand for unlawful operation of ATV on ahighway/right of way.

While conducting sport fishing enforcement,CPO encountered two anglers along the Rock Riverin Rockton, IL. One angler was carrying a largeCarp and the second angler was carrying a bucket.While speaking with the anglers, CPO noticed afreshwater mussel clearly visible inside the buck-

et. Upon questioning the angler and a subsequentinspection of the buckets content, CPO discoveredthe angler was illegally in possession of severaladditional mussels. While inspecting this angler’sfishing license, CPO discovered the angler was inpossession of a resident Illinois sport fishinglicense while being a resident of Wis. CPO pho-tographed the mussels, then released the live mus-sels and seized the remaining dead mussels.Appropriate enforcement action was taken.

REGION IIICPO was patrolling Vermillion Co and entered a

deer camp which was being hunted by huntersfrom Mich. CPO found an untagged 13 pt buck deeron the back of an ATV with no one around. Afterwaiting, a Mich. man returns with his freshly pur-chased hunting license and deer tags. CPO citedthe man for Unlawful Take of Deer, Hunting OverBait and Failure to Tag Immediately Upon Kill. Twoother Michigan hunters were cited for HuntingOver Bait.

CPO arrested a Hammond man in Piatt Co want-ed on one Piatt and one Douglas Co arrest war-rants. The Piatt Co warrant stemmed from threewildlife citations he issued the man in Piatt Co inDec 2011.

CPO arrested a Clark Co man for Fishing withoutPermission & Trespass to Property on private landin Clark Co. The man was caught on the posted

Air Operations in Warren, Knox and FultonCounties. During the detail, 8 citations & 10 writ-ten warnings were issued & 5 firearms were seizedpending court action.

CPO located a deer hunter hunting over salt &deer cain. 2 citations were issued & the hunterhas a mandatory court date.

REGION IICPOs cited 3 subjects for hunting on State

property (in Lake Co) in a restricted area & forhunting deer with use/aid of bait. The subjectswere also issued written warnings for no huntinglicenses/habitat stamps.

CPO received an anonymous complaint of abaited deer stand in Lake Co. CPOs met the com-plainant and found 2 subjects hunting withuse/aid of bait. Both were issued citations.

While on patrol, CPO was informed of 3 subjectshunting in the wrong area of Volo Bog State Park.CPO located the hunters & discovered none ofthem had the proper licenses or deer tags.Appropriate enforcement action was taken.

REGION IIIThe man’s driver’s license was suspended. CPO


- e

e r

k

d s e

-

e e

A

NOV. 2012land/water by use of a trail camera.

CPO is investigating a 10 pt. buck that was shotwith a .243 rifle in Vermillion Co. CPO located aman nearby with a .243 rifle who admitted toshooting 3 times at a coyote. The rifle was seized,investigation & charges are pending.

REGION VCPO cited a man in Saline Co for hunting deer

over bait.CPO cited a Bonnie man for falsifying applica-

tion to receive landowner permits & unlawful takeof a turkey. CPO also cited a Bluford man for off-roading at Ten Mile Creek SFWA. The man buriedhis truck in the ground. CPO made a case on a Mt.Vernon man for unlawful possession of a raccoonduring the closed season & failure to tag & check-in an archery killed deer.

CPOs cited an Indiana deer hunter for no permit,unlawful take of an 8 pt buck, hunting without alicense & numerous warnings in Gallatin Co.

CPO is investigating a deer poaching case inUnion Co.

REGION IDist 7 Officers conducted a night airplane detail

with assistance from the Illinois State Police (ISP)

"Where old friends meet & new friends begin"

BULLDOG INNDrinks • Pizza • Sandwiches

SW Lincoln • Emden, IL(217) 376-3344

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK AT 10AMOwner: Terry Roberts • In our 18th year!

GRAF’S GRAF’S RELOADINGRELOADING923 S. Fifth St. • St. Charles, MO • (636) 946-7468

1000+ Different Bullets120+ Different Powders100+ Different Calibers Brass

Hours:MWF & SA 9-5 • T & TH 9-8

STOCKING ALL MAJORBRANDS OF PRIMERS…

OVER 1 MILLION PRIMERSIN INVENTORY!

We offer Missouri & Illinoislargest selection of bullets, brass, powder & shotgun components for all your reloading needs!

The Boomerang Pub & Grille104 E. Broadway St. • Astoria, IL

309-329-2824Lunch & DinnerLate Nights too!

Sun 2pm-10pm • Mon-Thurs 11am-11pmFri-Sat 11am-12midnight

Offering Specials Every Day Along with Full Menu!

“Always Come Back”

051_001.qxd 1/25/13 11:57 PM Page 1


POLICE… Cont’d. from previous pg.arrested the man for driving while license sus-pended and passing in a no passing zone.

CPOs was informed by another CPO to check ahunter in an area that was baited to attract deerin Coles Co. They located a Coles County man,issued citations for hunting over bait & huntingw/o valid permits or license in possession.

REGION IVCPO located a baited area in Greene Co. He

located 2 hunters on the property, but neither washunting over the bait. During an interview, heobtained a confession as to who placed the bait inthe field. The subject was issued a citation forunlawful feeding of deer.

CPO located 2 hunters in Adams Co. huntingover bait. One subject was hunting over a mineralblock. The other hunter was hunting over a"Trophy Rock". Both were issued citations forhunting over bait.

REGION VCPOs cited 4 separate boats for entering the

Rend Lake sub-impoundment waterfowl areasprior to the start of duck season.

CPO inspected a person keeping quail without agame & game breeder permit. Appropriateenforcement action was taken.

CPO cited a fisherman on Rend Lake for taking

8 crappie over the limit.Sgt. cited waterfowl hunters for early entry into

the Rend Lake sub-impoundment areas prior to4:30 am.

CPO caught a man trespassing on coal propertyin Saline Co. The man was "coyote" hunting fromhis truck. He had a loaded .22 rifle on his lap & acocked, crossbow in the bed of the truck. CPOissued 4 fishing citations last spring to the manfishing on the same property. This go-round, hewas cited for hunting by aid of a vehicle, possess-ing an uncased, loaded weapon in the vehicle,hunting without permission, failure to tag a deer &failure to call in a deer. A portion of the case is stillunder investigation.

CPO cited a man in Hardin Co for unlawful takeof deer during the closed season, possession of afreshly killed deer during the closed season, hunt-ing by the use of bait (apples), unlawful take of adeer & retaining a live deer. The deer was taken byhand, retained & later died from wounds sustainedfrom the unlawful take.

CPO cited an out of state hunter in Gallatin Cofor hunting without a license, no habitat stamp,unlawful take of a deer without a valid either sexpermit, unlawful take of an 8 point buck, use ofanother's permit & unlawful operation of an ATVon public lands.

CPO arrested 2 Tennessee men in Pulaski Co for

spotlighting & possession of an uncased firearm &bow. The men admitted to shooting deer from thevehicle.

CPO is investigating a Jackson Co hunter forpoaching a deer from a vehicle with a rifle.Charges are pending on this case.

REGION IOn 11/19/2011 at 5:33 a.m. the JoDaviess Co

Sheriff’s Dept received a 911 call of a huntingaccident near the intersection of U.S. Hwy 20 andDunn Rd. The caller advised that a hunter had beenshot with a firearm. Menomine/Dunleith Fire andAmbulance, JoDaviess Co Sherif f’s Dept, EastDubuque Police, ISP & ICP were dispatched to thescene. Upon arrival it was discovered that a 44year-old Inverness, IL man had been killed & his 15year-old son had been injured from apparent gun-shot wounds. The juvenile male was transported toFinely Hospital in Dubuque, IA, where he was treat-ed & released. A 53 year-old East Dubuque manhas been issued a citation by the ICP for misde-meanor reckless conduct. The incident remainsunder investigation by the JoDaviess Co Sheriff’sDept and the ICP. All 3 subjects were afield at thetime for the purpose of firearm deer hunting.

While conducting a hunter compliance checkduring firearm deer season a Dist 6, a CPO found 2deer in the back of the hunter’s truck & only 1 ofthe deer was tagged. The hunter stated the deerwere standing next to each other when he shot atone of them & to his surprise both deer dropped.The hunter’s problem was he only had one tag. The

hunter was issued a citation for unlawful posses-sion of a deer without a valid permit & theuntagged deer was seized.

CPO responded to a “hunting within 300 yardsof a residence” complaint in a subdivision nearKnoxville. The deer hunter who was sitting in ahunting blind at the rear of his parent’s residencehad several violations. He had no habitat stamp, nodeer permit, no FOID card, & improper blazeorange clothing. He also had a failure to appear(FTA) warrant in Warren Co. His elderly fatherstated that he was hunting for him while he was inthe house eating breakfast. The father was issueda citation for accessory to deer hunting without avalid deer permit. The wanted subject was arrest-ed & transported to the Knox Co Jail. He wasissued citations for deer hunting without a deerpermit & no habitat stamp. Plus written warningsfor hunting within 300 yards of an inhabiteddwelling & improper blaze orange.

CPO responded to a Knox Co call of a deerhunter being shot at by a neighboring landowner.Interviews were conducted with both parties andother hunters hunting on nearby properties.Conflicting information from all interviewed, lackof physical evidence, & prior history between theneighbors failed to establish probable cause for anarrest. Further interviews may be conducted bythe Knox Co Sheriff’s Dept Investigation Division.

A CPO in Winnebago Co was notified of an indi-vidual who harvested an antlered deer while onlypossessing an antlerless only firearm deer permit.The officer met with the hunter, validated the

TTrraaddiinngg PPoossttOn West Center St.Oakford, IL 62673Owner: Tim Wallace

217-635-5392SEE OUR

BIG TROPHIES!

• Pizza• Ice

CARRY OUT

WelcomeBikers,PokerRuns

AreaSportsman

BarOPEN 7 DAYS

EveryTuesday

$1.50A Can

Don's Hide-A-Way TavernLocated on Rt. 9 in Mackinaw309-359-6118Open Daily: 11 am-1 am • Sun. Noon-1 am

ATTENTION ALL GUN OWNERSWE’RE PLANNING A BUS TRIP WED. MARCH 6TH TO

SPRINGFIELD FOR IGOLD FOR CONCEAL & CARRY ANDOUR GUN RIGHTS. LEAVING THE HIDE-A-WAY AT 9:30 AM.

COST IS $25 PER PERSON. PLEASE SIGN UP ASAP NOLATER THAN FEB 15TH. WE NEED 40 PASSENGERS TO

MAKE THE TRIP. STOP IN OR CALL FOR INFO!

MANN & SON SPORTING GOODS515 W. Water, Pinckneyville, IL 62274Gunsmithing since 1945618-357-2911 • [email protected]

Easy to Find, Hard to Leave, where Friendly People Meet

WE USE REGULAR SODAFOR YOUR MIXED DRINK

FOR BETTER FLAVOR!

052_001.qxd 1/25/13 11:56 PM Page 2


LIVEBAIT

WORMS

CRICKETS

COLDESTBEER

AROUND!PICK UP A PARTY GIFT BASKET!

* FREE ICE *WITH BEVERAGE PURCHASE

(Must Have Cooler)START YOUR REND LAKE VACATION AT:

SPORTLAND LIQUORSIN CHRISTOPHER, IL AT HWY 14W

(618) 724-4332

STOP INMON-THU8AM-10PMFRI & SAT8AM-12MID

SUNNOON-6PM

FULLSERVICELIQUORSTORE

complaint, seized the illegally taken antlered deer& took appropriate enforcement action againstthe hunter.

A Dist 7 CPO responded to a hunting complaintwhere the hunters were hunting without permis-sion. Upon investigation, the hunters were givenbad information by the tenant farmer on where topark and hunt. After checking the hunters andspeaking with all involved parties, appropriateenforcement action was taken.

CPO issued a hunter a citation for having anuncased gun on an ATV.

CPO got a report of a firearm deer hunter whowas hunting without blaze orange. When the CPOapproached the man and asked him to unload hisgun, the man said, “I didn’t know I was supposedto wear orange”. The CPO had not said anythingabout the orange at this point, which made it obvi-ous the hunter knew he was in violation. The CPOissued the hunter a citation for hunting withoutblaze orange during the firearm deer season.

CPOs along with 2 federal agents conducted awaterfowl detail at Duck Clubs along the IllinoisRiver in Putnam & Bureau Counties. 2 citationswere issued.

CPO checked 2 subjects that had pulled theirdeer back to their vehicle. 2 of the deer had notbeen tagged. The subject that had shot the deerwas issued a citation.

A CPO issued multiple citations & written warn-ings to a Prophetstown man for failing to tag &check in a deer during the 1st firearm deer season.

A CPO responded to multiple complaints overthe deer season weekend. Most of these com-plaints resulted in no citations or the landownerhad a change of heart & only wanted a writtenwarning issued. Overall hunting success seemeddown as well.

ICP received a call from Putnam Co Sheriffabout 2 bald eagles that were both hit by a truck.The eagles were picked up and will be turned overto the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

CPO Sgt. issued a citation to a subject fortransportation of a loaded gun on an ATV at a duck

club in Putnam Co.CPO worked DeKalb & Lee Counties checking

firearm deer hunters over the 1st firearm season.CPO wrote hunters in those counties nine writtenwarnings and 2 citations for deer hunting relatedviolations. CPO also has an ongoing investigationoriginating from the firearm deer season.

While patrolling for squirrel hunters, CPO locat-ed baited deer stands on an area property.Returning to the property during firearm deer sea-son, CPO located a hunter in one of the baitedstands. After making contact with the illegalhunter, CPO went to a vehicle parked across thefield. Approaching the vehicle, the occupant triedto shove a loaded shotgun across his lap onto thepassenger side of the vehicle. Both hunters werecited for their violations.

CPO received a tip people were possibly huntingdeer over bait. Locating the baited area in Oct. CPreturned to the area during firearm deer season &arrested one subject for hunting deer with the useor aid of bait.

CPO received information a subject hadmistagged a deer he had taken to the meat locker.Interviewing the subject, he admitted to using hiswife’s tag & other violations. The deer was seized& he was cited for his violation.

CPO was notified by a landowner of two peoplewho crossed his property to hunt property ownedby the state of Illinois. The CPO located a fatherwith his 12 year old son hunting on the stateground. The family lives in the house adjacent tothe state property & they walked from their house,crossed the fence, & set up near the creek. Thefather said the son loves to hunt & he just didn’thave enough time in the day to take him some-where else. The father was issued a citation for thetrespassing violation & advised not to return tothe property owned by the state since he does nothave permission.

A CPO was informed by an ISP trooper of a truckillegally parked along the interstate with a guncase in the cab of the truck. The CPO checked therugged timber and was unable to locate the hunter

that day. The truck was tagged by ISP as illegallyparked and when the CPO returned to the vehicleat 9:30 a.m. the truck was gone. The followingmorning the CPO found the truck was parked againin the same location with the ISP sticker removedfrom the day before and hunting equipment in thecab. The CPO tagged the vehicle as illegally parkedand the ISP was prepared to tow the unattendedvehicle after the two hour time limit had passed.The CPO again attempted to locate the hunter andas the ISP trooper arrived to tow the truck, thehunter appeared from the timber and said he hadparked there to avoid a long walk from the otherend of the property. The CPO pushed through thethick timber and met with the ISP trooper andhunter at the truck. The hunter had shot a deerand was returning to the truck to get his deer per-mit and the sled to drag the deer back to thetruck. The CPO escorted the hunter to theuntagged deer. The hunter claimed he had permis-sion to hunt on the property, however he did notgive the correct name of the landowner. Furtherinvestigation revealed he was nearly 3 miles awayfrom the property he had permission to hunt. Inaddition, the hunter did not have a Henry Co deerpermit & the gun used to take the deer was alsounplugged. The gun was seized & the Moline man

was issued numerous citations. The illegally takendeer was seized and taken to a local deer process-ing meat locker where it was donated to local foodpantries.

A CPO had been working a baited tree standwith a trail camera facing the pile of apples. OnSun of the 1st firearm deer season, the CPOobserved 2 hunters walking away from the treestand. The CPO met with the hunters & completedan inspection with the father & son from Annawan.The son was using an unplugged shotgun with nohunting license or habitat stamp. The son admit-ted to putting buckets of apples in front of the trailcameras which were directly under the treestands. He also admitted to dumping 4 buckets ofcorn on a food plot near another trail camera andtree stand. The gun was seized and the Annawanman was issued numerous citations.

CPO cited a subject for illegally killing a white-tail deer with a rifle in Henderson Co. Appropriateenforcement action was taken.

An anonymous individual contacted the ISP toreport a large 31 point atypical buck whitetail deerwas illegally taken with a rifle. The caller also stat-ed that the deer was tagged by a 15 year old, buthe heard that the deer was killed by the individ-


FreddieBearSports.comCheck Out the Large Online Gun Selection!We buy and sell guns…We need your used guns!

Gigantic Selection of Archery Equipment • Immediate Shipment

Stop in the Store Today or Give us a Call! 17250 Oak Park Ave. • Tinley Park, IL 60477

708-532-4133

WHITE DOGGUNS LT D

PISTOLS • RIFLES • SHOTGUNS • PELLET & AIR RIFLESALL MAKES & MODELS AVAILABLE!

BUYSELL

TRADECALL US

BEFORE YOU BUY!

Owner: Pete Oye • Open: Tues.-Fri. 10am-6pm • Sat. 8:30am-4pm110 N. Vine St. • Arthur, IL • [email protected]

(217) 543-2058 • (217) 273-0456

053_001.qxd 1/25/13 11:55 PM Page 3


POLICE… Cont’d. from previous pg. the stop. 3 loose deer slugs were located behindthe driver’s seat & on the passenger seat. Thedriver was cited for unlawful transportation ofan uncased shotgun.

CPO was approached by a hunter while onpatrol in northern Rock Island Co on opening dayof firearm deer season. The subject was upset &stated “I just had a go around with 2 guys ille-gally hunting on ground I have hunted for 20years”. The CPO followed the hunter to the areain question. The hunter stated they shot a nice 8point buck & they may have even shot it at aplace they didn’t have permission to hunt. Thetree stand & gut pile were located. The com-plainant stated the hunters for sure were onproperty they didn’t have permission to be on.CPO was able to track down the hunters. Thehunters were from Arlington Heights IL. TheChicago area hunters stated they thought theywere on property they had permission to be on.Both landowners were called, one showed up onscene. The landowner that showed up on scenewas not happy the hunters harvested a buck onhis property as well as having a tree stand set upon his property. The Chicago guys were able toproduce a map they were given by their landowner that had an incorrect red outline of hisproperty lines on it. The end result was the landowner stated he just wanted the ArlingtonHeights men to have a clear understanding ofwhere the property lines were. The men wereallowed to keep the buck & issued a writtenwarning for hunting without permission.

CPO received a call from Sgt. on a baited deerstand complaint. The CPO was near Cordova atthe time & responded to the Taylor Ridge area.The CPO was guided into the area by thelandowner via cell phone. As the CPO entered thefield in a marked squad he observed a 2 peoplewearing blaze orange in a tree stand get down &start to leave the area. By the time the CPO gotto the fence line the hunters were nearing theirtruck trying to leave the scene. The CPO ranafter the hunters using loud verbal orders to get

the hunters to stop. The hunter (the 2nd personwas an observer) was brought back to the stand.A large quantity of mineral block was within 20feet of the deer stand in plain view and multiplebranches were cut on the complainants trees.The Moline hunter was charged with huntingover a baited area & issued a written warning forcriminal damage to property for cuttingtrees/branches. He was ordered to clean up thebait, dig the soil out under & around the baitedarea & replace the soil with untampered soil bynoon that day.

CPO was called to the Cordova Nuclear plantbecause 2 large whitetail bucks were lockedtogether by their antlers from fighting eachother.. The bucks were exhausted & were layingdown when the CPO arrived. It was clear thebucks were not going to be able to get loose fromeach other due to the curve in one antler hookedaround & under the snout of the other deer. Anattempt was made to get close enough to thedeer with a saws-all to cut the antler. The bucksbecame aggressive & it was not safe to be inclose proximity to the deer. Due to the surround-ings of the Nuclear Plant a shot to the antler wasnot attempted. The CPO was forced to do thehumane thing and euthanize both deer. Anemployee at the plant was granted permission tohave the deer. A salvage report was done & a tagfor each deer was issued.

CPO arrested a landowner for battery on alegal hunter in Vermilion County. The landownerpunched the legal hunter after confronting himabout hunting adjacent to his property.

CPO is investigating a fatal hunting accidentthat occurred in DeWitt County. A hunter col-lapsed while returning to his vehicle fromfirearm deer hunting.

CPO arrested a Bethany man hunting inShelby County on a Moultrie County Warrant forfailing to appear (FTA) on a DUI charge.

November 2012 CPO Reportscontinue in March!

Over 50 Years Experience…Werth Services Gun Shop

GUN SALES

1203 Woodlawn Rd. • Lincoln, IL 62656On Old Rte. 66 • Rte. 10 & 121

HOURS: Tues.-Fri. 10-6 & Sat. 10-4(217) 732-3871

Sig Arms & Most Other Major BrandsCENTRAL ILLINOIS GUN

HEADQUARTERS

Hard to Find…Easy to Deal with, “Werth” the Hunt! THE BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK!

TERRY REDLIN • Artworks, Paintings, Sculptures, Clocks,Scale Miniatures, Wall Hangings...All you need to add that

final and very special touch to any room!

F R E E D E L I V E R Y ! F I N A N C I N G AVA I L A B L E !F R E E D E L I V E R Y ! F I N A N C I N G AVA I L A B L E !

People drive for miles to shop at Melgreen's...There must be a reason!124 East Fort Street (Rt. 116-78), Downtown Farmington, 309-245-4307

Mon.-Thurs. 8am-5pm • Fri. 8am-8pm • Sat. 8am-3pm • Sun. 1pm-4pm

www.melgreenfurniture.com www.melgreenfurniture.com

FreeFree HD for Life! HD for Life! 20 Free20 Free Channels of HBO,Channels of HBO,

Cinemax & Starz for 3 mo.!Cinemax & Starz for 3 mo.!$36/mo. for 12 mo. with $36/mo. for 12 mo. with DVR!DVR!

Local service & installation…

The Digital HookupThe Digital HookupServing all of Central IL • (309) 202-3038

[email protected]

ual’s father. CPOs arrived at the residence ofthe 15 year old hunter & made contact with theboy’s father by phone. The hunter’s fatherinformed the of ficers where the deer was & gavethem permission to enter the building to checkthe deer. The deer was examined & the of ficerswere unable to determine anything out of theordinary.

CPO saw the individuals when they checkedthe deer in at the Chronic Wasting Diseasecheck station. CPO suggested that they followhim to a local veterinary clinic to have it X-rayedto dispel any rumors. The father agreed to takeit to the veterinary clinic. The deer, barely ableto fit through the doors, was X-rayed at the clin-ic. The veterinarian was able to remove the slug& multiple lead fragments from the deer. CPOinterviewed the hunter & the hunter’s father &found no inconsistencies in their story. The x-ray also showed that the deer had an expandablebroad head in his shoulder.

CPOs worked a shining detail in JoDaviess Cothe night before the Firearm Deer Season. Theyencountered 2 groups of hunters driving acrossfields. The 1st group consisted of 2 subjects whowere raccoon hunting. The driver advised he did-n’t have his hunting license or habitat stampwith him. Though the passenger claimed owner-ship of a firearm in the vehicle, he advised hewas not hunting & did not have a hunting license

or habitat stamp. An interview confirmed he wasindeed hunting. He was cited for unlawfullyhunting without a valid hunting license. All otherviolations were addressed with written warn-ings. The 2nd group encountered consisted of 3subjects. The driver advised he was raccoonhunting. The passengers said they were along forthe ride. The driver was in possession of a FOIDcard, which came back “Denied” through theISP. He was also in possession of cannabis anddrug paraphernalia. He was cited for his drugviolations. The FOID violation will be turned overto the State’s Attorney’s Of fice for review. Intotal 3 citations and 5 written warnings wereissued during the detail.

While working Mercer Co. CPO Sgt. observeda pickup truck driving slowly across a field. Thetruck was driving toward a patch of timber thatcontained grass vehicle trails throughout it.Upon reaching the location of the vehicle in thetimber, a stop was initiated. The startled driverlooked out his rear window, began moving hisleft arm in a frantic manner, & continued drivingon the1 lane trail. Once the trail opened a bit,Sgt. drove next to the subject & observed he wasattempting to zip his gun case up. After loudverbal commands were issued out of the squadwindow, the driver stopped. The driver stated hewas trying to figure out where he was going tohunt. The shotgun was unloaded at the time of

054_001.qxd 1/28/13 1:37 AM Page 4


kelp. The tide was high. We paused.Jane carried our binoculars, 10X Zeiss.

Birds of all sort zig-zagged about theocean surface and into the sky: gulls,pelicans, assorted ducks. Earlier, fur-ther up the coast, we'd watched peli-cans and sea lions ravenously feedingon a school of fish. And we'd paused tolaugh at hundreds of elephant sealslying like giant slugs on a beach northof San Simeon.

Jane paused during our Morro Baywalk to focus a couple of hundred yardsaway on two black ducks (probablyscoters) riding a yard apart on a wavecrest. "They've got something betweenthem," she said. "Maybe they're tryingto take a clam from an otter."

Just then an otter's head popped upamid kelp, only fifty yards away. Andwhen he rolled on his back to crack aclam, our attention went his way.Other otters appeared and disappearedamong the waves. Ten minutes went byas we were absorbed by the show at ourfeet. Vaguely, though, I was awarethose two black ducks still rode thewaves together, farther out and to ourleft.

Finally, the near-in otters moved sea-ward and Jane began walking away. Ifocused the binocs on the two ducks.Hmm, they're pecking at something in

the water between them; somethingblack. I looked closer. Then the "some-thing" heaved from the water--a greatserpent-like heave! I gasped, "Jane!"

She came running back. I thrust herthe glasses. "Those two ducks--they'refighting with something!" Just as sheraised the glasses, a wave broke over thetwo ducks. When it passed, there wasonly one. We waited for a another tenminutes, but the missing duck failed tosurface. Finally the second duck flewaway into the sunset.

What did we see? Two certainties. One is that I saw

only a section of something round thatcleared the water as it writhed. The sec-ond certainty is that, upon reflection,those two black ducks had been eitherattacking or fighting with somethingsince we'd stood there.

My recollection also provides proba-bilities that are less than certain. Forinstance, the thought that immediatelyran through my mind as the round"thing" heaved above surface was that itwas four inches in diameter. But,though my binocs are powerful, it wastwo hundred yards away, and the thingmay have been larger or smaller.

Also seeming less than certain tosomeone untrained in marine biology:the first black duck never surfaced,

C A M P F I R E C A M P F I R E C U L T U R E : C U L T U R E :

Sea Mystery

by Roland Cheekwww.RolandCheek.comThe tale I'm about to spin seems far-

fetched, only reluctantly pursued. It'snot so much being laughed at thatbothers, but I don't know if I can han-dle ridicule. The truth is, I first wroteof this mystery some years ago and gotno takers helping me to understand. SoI'll try once more: can anyone help?

It was before Thanksgiving; Jane andI strolled the ocean headwall on thenorth shore of California's Morro Bay.We watched sea otters bobbing on theirbacks among massive wave-splatteredboulders and great clusters of floating

though we watched all around thatspot. But ten minutes seemed an ade-quate length of time for us to wait,especially after the second duck flewaway.

If anyone can help us learn what wesaw, we'd appreciate it.

Email: [email protected]

Or write to: Roland Cheek P.O. Box 1118

Columbia Falls, MT 59912Next month? Another walk on the

wild side.

Open: M-F 9am-5pm • Sat. 8am-12noon • Sun. Closed815 E. 15th Street 217-323-2730

Beardstown, IL 62618 www.sr-marine.com

HUGE BOAT & MOTOR SALE! HUGE BOAT & MOTOR SALE! COME ON DOWN & TEST DRIVE YOURCOME ON DOWN & TEST DRIVE YOURNEW BOAT ON THE ILLINOIS RIVER!NEW BOAT ON THE ILLINOIS RIVER!

2072 V-Pro SC

Roland Cheek wrote a syndicated outdoors column (Wild Trails and

Tall Tales) for 21 years. The column was carried in 17 daily andweekly newspapers in two states.

In addition, he scripted and broadcast a daily radio show

(Trails to Outdoor Adventure) thataired on 75 stations from the

Atlantic seaboard to the PacificOcean. He's also written upwardsof 200 magazine articles and 12

fiction and nonfiction books. Read his stories on his website.

055_001.qxd 1/25/13 1:57 AM Page 1


A common belief exists that if some mechanism worked the last time it was used, it should workthe next time, too. Such may very well be true in many cases, and has little consequence if theoutcome changes... at least for inexpensive items, like toasters. If an unexpected failure occurredin a coffeemaker, that might create stress as an unpleasant start of the morning.

Items that require maintenance, like automobiles, should not be overly neglected, just becausethey start every time the key is turned. Waiting just a day too long can sometimes have expensiveor disastrous endings, if, let’s say, the oil wasn’t checked or changed for just a mite too long.When a rod knock or lifter tappet noise becomes suddenly obvious, there comes the “day late anddollar short” ending. Some engine “miracle” solution (like Valve-Medic for stuck tappets) mightsave the day on specific minor problems, but a bearing knock becomes just a matter of time, nota matter of new oil, now.

A broken firearm can sometimes give some warning of impending fail-ure, but there are situations where the clues may not be easily discerned byshooters. Some hints will be so subtle (or only noticed by direct exam) thatslowly approaching failure doesn’t point out the defect while the remedy ispossible (or cheap). See a comparable conclusion if vehicle brakes are notchecked before metal grinds metal.

A rifle had slowly built up a considerable amount of surface rust insidethe chamber, and this situation caused excessive roughness thatincreased until it severely impeded fired shell extraction (much more diffi-cult than factory original condition). Sometimes, this condition will be sosevere that shells actually stick in place and need more than the conven-tional bolt extractor engagement to remove, and are also beyond the man-ual application of force to be sufficient to extract the empty case.

Clues may exist on the fired cases, such as scratches and evidence ofheavy pull marks from the extractor on the rim edge. See this first group ofimages that have extraction deformities bracketed. The first view has araised section caused by the pulling action of the extractor claw that left apermanent lump in the casing end. The second view shows the direct clawmark of the rim edge. The third view shows what a claw does to a shell thatis too stuck to pull free while the action cycles – it completely tearsthrough the rim edge.

These views in the second picture set show the rusty chamber surfacesfrom a pair of problem rifles. The first two images have differing depth offocus to show more details using alternate perspectives, and the third viewis of the second barrel at a particularly bad spot. See that the bloomingrust particulate is widespread, and that these chambers are in need of pol-ishing. If the shooters had sought professional help sooner, the amount ofpits and surface erosion remaining after polishing would have beenreduced. As it was, both shooters were letting things go until repeated mal-functioning occurred.

The barrel chamber referenced in the first pair of previous images waspolished to remove the surface rust and light imperfections, but did havesome deeper pitting that could not be removed without possibility of cre-ating an oversized chamber with another unique set of problems. There isa circumferential view of the overall eroded nature of the chamber surfacein the next viewset, along with two different angled views of heavily pittedzones.

When chamber rust occurs to a self-loading firearm, the increase inextraction force necessary will grow to a point that impedes the ability tofully cycle the mechanism. This increase can become quite a burden to themechanical parts, and causes some otherwise avoidable parts breakage or

Gunsmithingwith Kirby SchuppThe Shotgun Shop • PO Box 212 • Arnold, MO 63010

[email protected] • theshotgunshop.net

M A I N T E N A N C E I G N O R E D ? B R E A K A G E I N S T O R E !M A I N T E N A N C E I G N O R E D ? B R E A K A G E I N S T O R E !

056_001.qxd 1/26/13 12:16 AM Page 1


damage to expensive and scarcemajor components.

Some military rifles have hadan adjustment mechanism ofthe gas system in place toincrease the force available inthe event of cyclic failure, butother firearms, such as typicalrecoil operated pistols, forexample, have no ability toadjust to adverse conditionsand are left with defective oper-ation until remedied.Fortunately, many firearms can have the barrel chamber easily inspected, so it is better if theshooter is aware that this condition may make trouble for them in the field (and be able to dealwith and limit the formation of chamber rust).

Major parts damage is better to have been avoided, so see these problems that others had toendure and learn lessons where someone else paid the bill. Hard extraction caused by a rustedchamber can eventually damage parts that have limited material thickness or strength, or wheresome cutaway section is part of the mechanical design. Notice by the top edge of the first imagewhere a section (marked by red) has cracked away a portion of the extractor support edge fromthe bolt face. That bolt needed replacement because of the lost edge. The image on the right hasa pair of arrows to show the hook edges of replacement extractors, with the left extractor sit-ting next to the broken extractor still in place in the bolt face. The lower enlarged image of thebolt edge shows the extractor has had the hook edge crack loose, and that loose section pivotedduring the latest extraction attempts and lifted the corner of the groove material on the boltface, but somehow the loose extractor hook has remained trapped in the extractor groove pock-et. Certainly tells the tale of the final malfunction.

By now, the big question is: how does a shooter avoid this problem of chamber rust, and whatcan be done if some rust is evident? Answering the second question first, a simple mitigation isto scrub with a bronze bore brush that is not too tight to fit inside, and be able to either be rotat-ed or stroked in and out of the chamber without binding the wire tips by impingement. That is thefeeling like it locks up (Chinese finger trap, anyone?) instead of being able to pull it back out,

and if that occurs, rotate thebrush slightly to curve thewires sideways before tryingto pull the brush back outagain. More aggressive meth-ods may need to be employedif brush scrub removal isunsatisfactory, but more careis necessary to go beyondpowering the brush in a vari-able speed drill, for instance.The brush may be lightly cov-ered with a wrap of fine (like

0000) steel wool (with a few drops of oil or rust penetrant optional), but realize that the finewires of steel wool may easily enter mechanical recesses that might become jammed by thosefilaments, so +1 on the extra care that should be taken during such procedures, and ensure thatthe “filled” brush does not get too tight in the chamber during insertion, and beware the steelwool sheddings.

The ultimate answer to why chamber rust tends to occur, besides the obvious problem of rainor dew moisture exposure, is the remainder moisture in the bore from firing that becomestrapped in the barrel if the bolt is closed before the barrel has a chance to “breathe” longenough for the residual moisture to evaporate or dissipate sufficiently. Realize that when pow-der combusts, a by-product of water is contained in the powder gasses formed, the same waythat the automobile tailpipe drips in the winter from combustion byproducts formed there, too.The entire barrel is blasted out by the hot gas, except the chamber, which is (comparatively)insulated by the presence of the shell casing, and with the chamber being the heaviest wallthickness section of the barrel, it will be slightly cooler than the rest of the barrel and have anytrapped condensate droplets forming in that cooler zone – if you close the bolt too soon aftercessation of firing.There is the answer to the problem; leave the bolt open a few minutes after any shooting so thebarrel can breathe, and swab the chamber and bore with dry patches to speed the process beforeproceeding to either pack up or continue with a conventional bore cleaning procedure at thattime.

057_001.qxd 1/26/13 12:13 AM Page 1


Waters can get dirty at any time of year on mostlakes and reservoirs. Some waters remain stained allyear, but even these can get dirtier during certaintimes. During periods of high rainfall, creeks andrivers carry sediment into lakes and reservoirs, mak-ing clear water stained, and turning stained water in-to something that looks more like chocolate milk, andit can do this in fairly short order. This presents chal-lenges to the angler and we’ll talk about tactics toovercome this situation and put plenty of bass in theboat.

*Places to Find BassIt’s typical for bass to move into skinny water in

muddy conditions. Bass feel safe in dirty water, know-ing it’s easier to hide from predators in these condi-tions. Additionally, the muddy water can provide basswith increased feeding opportunities as well, and muchof this occurs in the shallows during most of the yearon most waters in these conditions.

Of course, bass love cover. They’ll tuck up underand behind rocks, weeds and wood, a natural thing forthese fish. But, in muddy waters, bass can also be

they pump out more vibration.Other kinds of lures do also take muddy water bass,

but with modifications and additions. Soft plasticscan be productive in dirty water, but the key is choos-ing larger plastics and ones that produce more vibra-tion. A ten inch, thick bodied ripple tail worm is usual-ly more productive than a five inch long, skinny straittail worm is. Freak baits are usually a better option

found in areas devoid of cover too, especially in theshallows. We’ve found large concentrations of big bassactively hunting across featureless shallow flats thatare completely devoid of cover, but this is a far morecommon occurrence in dirty water than in clear water.Clear water bass rely on cover even more than those inthe mud. Prey is a major key to finding active muddywater bass. Find large schools of shad and other kindsof baitfish, and active bass will be there.

*Tactics and TechniquesBass in dirty water don’t rely nearly as much on

sight, as they rely on other senses. The hearing of abass, as well as its ability to detect vibrations throughits lateral line, are the two most critical senses theyrely on to find prey in the mud, and this tell us whatkinds of lures and presentations to use. Once areasare found that hold lots of active bass, choosing luresthat produce lots of vibration and sound is a major keyto success.

Crank baits, spinner baits and blade baits are oftenthe best choices, as these kinds of lures all producelots of sound and vibration that allow bass to easily lo-cate the lure. When selecting crank baits, choose rat-tling models that produce more sound than non-rat-tling versions. The best spinner baits are usually thosewith two or three blades, as they produce greater vi-bration and sound than single blade versions. Addi-tionally, spinner baits with Colorado blades or hatchetblades produce more vibration than willow leaf bladesdo, displacing more water as they turn and helpingbass to find them with greater ease. Larger blade baitsare typically a better choice than the small ones, since

Z518 Comanche

Stratos’ Pro XL Series

200FX Cruiser

BASS IN THE MUDBASS IN THE MUDDON’T LET DIRTY WATER RUIN

YOUR DAY ON THE LAKEBy: Ray Simms with Dereck DirschuweitPhotos by: The Colby Simms Outdoors Team

www.ColbySimmsOutdoors .comwww.ColbySimmsOutdoors .com Guide and multiple tournamentschampion Ray Simms with a bass taken on a Colby Simms Tackle

Thump N Shad.

058_001.qxd 1/26/13 12:56 AM Page 1

Central Illinois Outdoor ExpoFeb. 22 & 23 (Fri & Sat)

Otto Center in Arthur, Illinois


Outfitting in:NEW MEXICO & TEXAS

BACKCOUNTRY HUNTS

(575) 887-6178 • Cell (575) 361-1053(575) 887-6178 • Cell (575) 361-1053www.BackCountryHunts.comwww.BackCountryHunts.com

stevesteve j o n e s @ b a c k c o u n t r y h u n t s . c o mj o n e s @ b a c k c o u n t r y h u n t s . c o m

Steve Jones 1029 Haston Rd. • Carlsbad NM 88220

*Outfitting 25 years.

*Member ofthe NewMexico

Council ofOutfitters and Guides.

*Full time outfitter.

Outfit: Mule Deer, Whitetail, Elk, Antelope, Turkey,Aoudad, Spring Turkey, Javelina, Feral Hogs and Exotics

than tubes are in the mud. Still, adding rattles to theselures often makes them easier for bass to find. Also, amore subtle vertical presentation like soft plastics jigsare usually a better option for muddy water bass.

Weed less style skirted jigs are bulkier than softplastics alone, and with big trailers and rattles, theymake noise, they displace more water, and createmore of a ruckus than soft plastics by themselves.Large fat bodied trailers, like freak baits and crawchunks with oversized claws are the way to go in mostmuddy water situations. Since these lures are typical-

ly fished on the bottom, when a slower presentation isrequired, it’s beneficial to use scent. Scents can beused on spinner baits, and can help in muddy waterwhen fishing the lure very slow. But, while they can beused on crank and blade baits, they’re less effective,since they don’t stick well to the hard body of the lure,like they stick well to a spinnerbait skirt or trailer. Itdoesn’t hurt to use them on these lures, but it’s farmore important with vertical lures and a slow presen-tation, like with jigs and plastics.

*Good FishingMany huge bass are taken each year in muddy

water. Use these methods when the rains fall andwaters turn to mud, to load your boat with bass thisyear. Good fishing.

WALT’S GARAGE“Family Owned & Operated”

Owner: Walter Thomas301 Koch St. • Suite Z • Pekin, IL

309-353-AUTO Emergency: 309-613-7422

[email protected]: 309-353-2884

TOTAL AUTOMOTIVE

SERVICE“We work on all

makes & models”

FinancingAvailablefrom GEMoney.

(2886)

Spring Strut Fall Rut

Archery Pro Shop & Surplus Outdoor Gear

NEW LOCATION!1059 E Columbia St. • Arthur, IL 61911

Shop Phone: 217-543-3848 INDOOR ARCHERY RANGES

Central Illinois’ Newest Outdoor Store…OUTDOOR FREEDOM

“GET OUT AND SHOOT SOMETHING!”Firearms: Sig Sauer, Remington, Smith & Wesson, Glock, Beretta, Springfield,

Taurus, Remington, Winchester, Weatherby, Savage & MarlinAmmo: Winchester, Remington, Federal, American Eagle, TulaAmmo, Wolf, S&B

309-527-GUNS (4867)27 W. Main St. • El Paso, IL 61738

P R O D U C T S H OW C AS EC o l b y S i m m s O u t d o o r s F l a s h N S p i n D o u b l e S p i n n e r b a i t s

B y : R a y S i m m sAmerican Made Colby Simms Tackle Flash N Spin Double

Spinnerbaits from Colby Simms Outdoors are the ultimatelures for many fishing situations, but for clear waters or sunny conditions they can’t be beat.Flash N Spins feature baitfish heads, 3D eyes, high vibration frames, ball bearing swivels, jewel-er’s grade blades and EZ breath skirts. The sale of Colby Simms products supports conservation,sheltered handicapped workshops & numerous charities.

w w w . C o l b y S i m m s O u t d o o r s . c o m • 6 1 8 - 5 2 1 - 0 5 2 6w w w . C o l b y S i m m s O u t d o o r s . c o m • 6 1 8 - 5 2 1 - 0 5 2 6

Multiple championship title winningtournament pro & guide ColbySimms with a pair of bass from

muddy water taken on Colby SimmsTackle Hatchet Spin spinnerbaits.

While this area was clear the daybefore, with rains it became heavily

stained overnight.

The author releases a nice largemouth back into the mud from where it came.

RAY SIMMS is a highly accomplished &internationally renowned sport fishing pro &

media personality, working as a TV show co-host & guest star, champion tournamentpro, outdoor sports writer & photographer,

and a famous fishing guide. He’s the Pro Staf fDirector at Colby Simms Outdoors. Get uniquetop quality American made lures, find articles,

reports, photos & more, set up media work,seminars, sponsorships & public appearances,

and book guided trips & fishing vacations inthe United States, Canada, Mexico & Costa

Rica through Ray at COLBY SIMMS OUTDOORSCALL: 618-521-0526 / 573-358-5948,

EMAIL: [email protected] www.ColbySimmsOutdoors.com

059_001.qxd 1/26/13 12:54 AM Page 1


Flipping inCold WaterBy Tim

Huffman

If your water isn’tfrozen it’s a good timeto get out and catchcrappie. The obviousplace to find fish isdeep. However, a few days of warm sunshine will pushbaitfish, and crappie, up into shallow water areas.

Dock Pattern“This is a simple technique,” says Ohio guide Russ

Bailey (419-733-4527). “Picking docks may be a tri-al and error test to see which ones hold crappie. Aftera few successful trips you’ll soon know which ones arehigh-percentage docks. The two keys are usually waterdepth and temperature.”

Bailey says this time of year waters in some lakesare drawn down so it makes the stationary docks withpilings a good choice. The stationary docks are higherdue to the lake drawdown so they are easy to flip yourbait under. The fish relate to the pilings.

“Pitching requires very little equipment,” says Bai-ley. “You don’t have to worry about a lot of poles, dou-

ble-hook rigs and racks for multiple poles. It’s just youand one pole. My equipment includes my signature se-ries 10.5 Russ Bailey BnM pole, 6-pound Vicious line,tiny fly float, and Southern Pro Rainbow jigs. The out-fit is about as simple as you’ll get for crappie.”

The technique requires positioning the boat cor-rectly based upon the wind. You can use your trollingmotor. Or, Bailey uses a Minn Kota Talon to anchorwhile working each area of the dock. He states thatnothing is more efficient and easy to use for anchoringin shallow water because with the flip of a switch thepole pushes into the bottom to keep the boat in place.The 10.5-foot fishing pole is used to flip the bait in andaround the dock pilings. Float watching is critical soyou can set the hook at the first sign of a bite. Asweeping hookset is best because of the obstructions.It gives better control so the fish is less likely to tangleon the wood pilings and braces.

Non-Dock PatternCrappie Masters current National Champions are

the father-son duo of Charles and Travis Bunting fromMissouri. “Crappie might move up any time water iswarmer on the bank but the most predictable time forthis movement is right before the spawn,” says theyounger Travis. “However, it’s worth checking anytime you’re on the lake in cold weather.”

The Buntings prefer two different jigs when pitch-ing shallow. One is the same as Bailey’s; the SouthernPro Rainbow. “The jig is opaque so it does a better jobof blocking out sunlight. It’s great in stained water togive a better profile while a translucent jig is better inclear water.”

“We always start with a 1/16-th ounce jig,” saysTravis, “because it has a good fall rate and givesenough weight to make it easy to pitch. One trick welike is to use a weedguard when fishing around cover.It just keeps us fishing more instead of staying hungup. More time fishing means more fish at the end ofthe day.”

The team pitches with and without a float depend-ing upon the situation. Pitching without a float letsthem penetrate cover and have constant control of thebait. A float allows a set depth and a slower action likethe pop-pop-pause they often use.

They use a 9-foot BnM Float & Fly rod. “The polelength gives excellent control of the baits and givesgood leverage for a quick hookset when you see a bite.A shorter pole has a slower reaction time especiallywhen you have slack line due to wind.”

Their second jig is a 2.5-inch Southern Pro tube ona light 1/32-ounce head. It gives a super-slow fall rateand can be skipped back into brush, around docks andother places where it’s important to stay in the strikezone for a period of time once you get the bait back tothe cover. The big profile is an in-your-face presenta-tion that creates many reaction bites.

“Sometimes crappie are located suspended up offbottom so the big, lightweight jig works well becausethe body has water resistance giving the slow fall. It’simportant to set the hook immediately.”

The Buntings note that boat control is a key ele-ment when moving along the bank or around cover.Choose areas with the least amount of wind. Then,place your boat into the wind so it doesn’t blow youdown or into the bank where you’re fishing. The better

you control the boat the more fish you’ll catch.Try shallow water. You may not find crappie until

spring but it’s also possible you might get a very pleas-ant surprise right now. Only by trying will you know forsure.

Editor’s note: You can find more crappie informa-tion and writer Tim Huffman’s books at his website,MonsterCrappie.com.

DEVILS LAKE ONLY FULL SERVICE HUNTING

& FISHING LODGE!

1012 Woodland Dr. Devils Lake, ND 58301

COME JOIN US FOR A GREAT FALL!

It’s time for outstanding big walleye fishing and some of the

best waterfowl hunting in North America! North Dakota's

#1 Duck Camp and Host Northern Flight Guide Service.

Do-it-yourself anglers andhunters welcome!

www.www.WoodlandResortWoodlandResort .com.com

Travis Bunting displays a fishcaught this winter on Lake ofthe Ozarks in Missouri. The

Rainbow jig is an easy-to-see of-fering while the weedless headallows penetration into coverwithout too many hang-ups.

060_001.qxd 1/26/13 1:02 AM Page 1


CABELA’S NATIONALWALLEYE TOUR

KICKS OFF APRIL 2013

Motorguide® Joins as a Sponsor

MTN HOME, Ark. The all-new Ca-bela’s National Walleye Tour welcomes an-other premier industry sponsor with theaddition of Motorguide®, a leading manu-facturer of trolling motors and marine ac-cessories. The multi-year partnershipcomes as the NWT heads towards its inau-gural season.

Motorguide builds an excellent productand is a tremendous addition to our groupof sponsors, said Anthony Wright, NWTTournament Director. They are wellknown for quality and innovation andwe’re thrilled to have their support.”

Originally pinned Guide-Rite, Mo-torGuide was formed in the late 1960swith an emphasis on developing a trolling

motor that was more powerful and moreefficient. In the early 70s, MotorGuide be-came the first company to allow flat storagealong the bow of the boat. MotorGuide be-came a part of Mercury Marine, a fellowBrunswick counterpart, in 2000 and intro-duced the Wireless Series Trolling Motorsin 2005.

In 2009, MotorGuide partnered withAttwood Marine, also a Brunswick andMercury Marine subsidiary, moving manu-facturing operations from Tulsa, Okla., totheir current home office plant in Lowell,Mich.

Each Cabela’s National Walleye Tourevent features over 100% payback. A fullyrigged Ranger Boat, plus cash, is guaran-teed for first place at each event – a totalvalue of $57,000. Anglers that fish all threeregular season events, in addition to the toppoints leaders, will gain entry to the 3-day,entry fee Championship.

In addition to the strong payout, the Ca-bela’s National Walleye Tour offers severalcontingency opportunities for anglers. Thecircuit is pre-approved with multiple bonusprograms available to Ranger, Stratos andTriton boat owners as well as Evinrudeoutboard owners. Cabela’s will also offertheir lucrative Angler Cash incentives ateach event. Overall payout, once the con-tingency programs are included, increasethe potential first place prize value to near-

ly $75,000 ateach qualifyingevent.

The all-newNational Wall-eye Tour beginsApril 26, 2013and will includea total of threeq u a l i f y i n gevents, plus ayear-end Cham-pionship. TheNWT website isaccepting regis-trations for allevents online.The website of-fers numerous details on the circuit, in-cluding official rules, tournament struc-ture, payout and incentives.

The new circuit also includes unprece-dented television and media coverage, al-lowing a national audience to watch the ac-tion unfold from each event throughoutthe season. Airing on multiple networks,the National Walleye Tour will be seen onThe Texas Channel, World Fishing Net-work, Pursuit Channel, as well as the newNBC Sports Network.

For more details, anglers are encouragedto call 612-424-0708 and check out thenew website at www.nationalwalleyetour.

com. From website visitors can register forevents, view the TV schedule and learnmore about what’s in-store for 2013.

2013 SCHEDULED EVENTSApril 26-27 - Red Wing, MN -

Mississippi RiverJune 13-15 - Port Clinton, OH - Lake Erie

July 26-27 - Sturgeon Bay, WI -Green Bay

Championship: September 12-14, Devils Lake, ND on Devils Lake

www.NationalWalleyeTour.com

Lake Sara Boat Show • Feb. 28, Mar. 1-2-3 (Thurs-Sun)OVER 75 BOATS ON DISPLAY

NEW LOCATION:Village Square Mall 1910 S. Banker St.

Effingham, ILPontoon Boats20 Oasis Angler

Full Front Twin Tube

22 Encore Pro Angler

Standard Twin Tube

23 Legacy

Standard Twin

25 SES Platinum SHP

25 X-PLODE

Standard SHP

061_001.qxd 1/26/13 4:46 PM Page 1

BAI NewsB y E d D e V r i e s

NEW SPONSOR FOR 2013 BIG FISHSEASON CHAMPIONSHIP!

We are very happy to announce thatAMS!Bowfishing is sponsoring the 2013AMS Bowfishing!Big Fish Season Cham-pionship! The AMS BFC is a!member fa-vorite wherecontestants fish are en-tered!on our forum throughout the year.A photo must be!taken with the fish nextto a measuring tape.! Points!are awardedfor species, size of fish and numberof! species. A complete list of rules andstandings can! be found at www.illinois-bowfishing.info . Its free to!participate inand AMS has generously donated a! FireEagle bow to the winner! We will alsohave! many other prizes to award. Thewinner of the 2012! contest was FrankPauliks! Brent Thompson took! second

and Scott Pavey took third. Congrats toeveryone who entered a fish in this freefun contest! Stop by our forum and signup with the BAI and take part in the fun!

MORE BOWFISHING OPPORTUNI-TIES AND PROGRAMS FOR 2013

We are currently working with the ID-NR on some new programs thatwill! greatly enhance our sport. More onthose in a few weeks, but we can talkabout what we have ! accomplished al-ready while working with the IDNR for2013.!

YEAR ROUND BOWFISHING ATSHABBONA LAKE!

Starting in the 2013 season bowfishingwill be allowed the entire year at Shab-bona Lake. Until now there has beena!very short two month season on the lake

that are good for bowfishing. The DNRwill also update the bowfishing opportu-nities as!they keep count of those fish weharvest thru shocking studies.!

MORE IDNR AWARDS FOR BOW-FISHING!

In 2009 the BAI began asking the IN-DR if they would consider keeping offi-cial bowfishing records!in the same man-ner they keep sportfishing records. Andafter working with them for a fewmonths! the official IDNR BowfishingRecords program was started in 2010.The IDNR also started the! BowfishingBig Fish Award and the Junior AnglerBowfishing Award. Now for 2013 bow-fishers!can try for the IDNR Grand SlamAward and the Master Bowfisher Award.In order to win the!Grand Slam award thebowfisher must harvest and document theharvesting of 1000 invasive! species. Andto win the Master Bowfisher Award thebowfisher must harvest 5 differentspecies! that meet a minimum weight re-quirement. All official rules and entryforms can be found on our! site,www.illinoisbowfishing.net or the IDNR

but after talking with us our good friendsin the DNR have agreed to lengthen!theseason. While there are no official tour-naments of any! kind on the lake, funshoots or opens are allowed and we willhold a yearly shoot there. Shabbona! is amedium sized lake with a 10HP motorlimit. It is perfect for those who bowfishout of small!boats or canoes and it holdssome good sized common carp. There arealso areas offering good!shore bowfishing.A lake such as this has been sorely neededin northern Illinois.!

MORE DETAILED BOWFISHINGREGULATIONS!

There has always been confusion aboutwhat fish we can harvest and what watersare open to! bowfishing. New for 2013,the IDNR Fishing Digest booklet will in-clude detailed information on! what fishmay be harvested, what fish are protectedand what waters are open to bowfishing.In! addition the fisheries division will beincluding bowfishing and the fish we har-vest in their fishing! prospects section.This will be a great help for those new tobowfishing and those looking for! waters

231 West 1st Ave. • Milan, IL(309) 787-2244 • www.ezlivinsportscenter.com E-Z Livin' Sports Center is staffed by experienced outdoorsmen that

can assist you in maximizing your outdoor experience…Open 7 days!Archery: Mathews, PSE, Bowtech, Martin, Ten Point Crossbow Technologies

Muzzleloaders: Traditions' PerformanceWe sell live bait & carry a wide assortment of catfish bait. 100’s of hard & soft baits

including Berkley Powerbait, Gulp & Gulp Live. Our inventory is extensive with tackle & gear from Berkley, Shakespeare, Pflueger, Zebco, Eagle Claw, Gamakatsu & others.


Bowfisher of the year Rick Urban Teaching

Bowfishing at H&F Days

Tom, Matt & Tim Beyer at the

Tinley Show

Some January Crossbow Carp

from the DesPlaines River

062_001.qxd 1/26/13 6:07 PM Page 1


Schrock Repair, Inc.Schrock Repair, Inc.1422 US HWY 150 • P.O. Box 10 • Goodfield, IL 61742

A U T O M O T I V E • T R U C K S • B O AT SA U T O M O T I V E • T R U C K S • B O AT SComputerized Diagnostics, Mechanical Repair, Welding,

Trailer Repair, Boat & RV Winterizing – StorageJeff Schrock, Owner

309-965-2020 • www.SchrockRepair.com309-965-2020 • www.SchrockRepair.com

COMING UP!We dont have any official shoots set up

for February but if the weather warmsenough we plan on holding a season kickoff shoot. Keep an eye on our forum atwww.illinoisbowfishing.info for up tothe minute news and updates. And ifthere is a lake or river where you wouldlike to see a shoot let us know! We will beat the Tinley Park Outdoor Show, theBEST outdoor show in the midwest, Feb.9 & 10. This show has free parking andonly costs $5 to get in! And you will findthe best deals in the land there on allsorts of outdoor gear. So stop by and talkbowfishing at the Tinley Park OutdoorShow!

In closing, as the 2013 bowfishing sea-son draws near we would once again liketo invite everyone to join the BAI. Theclub is 100% free and the involvementyou have with it is entirely up to you. Ifyou just want to be a member and comeout to a shoot or two, great! If you wantto help promote our sport outdoor showsand ranges, GREAT! Whatever you doyou will have a great time being a mem-ber of the BAI. Join up at www.illinois-bowfishing.net or call 630-886-1672.Hope to see everyone on the water realsoon!

POT OR SLATE CALLS COME IN WALNUT, CHERRY ORMAPLE. SPECIALTY SLATE CALLS COME IN CEDAR,

SASSAFRAS, SYCAMORE, CURLY MAPLE OR BUTTERNUT.

BOX TOPS ARE WALNUT OR CHERRY, SIDESARE CHERRY, WALNUT OR CEDAR. SPECIALTYWOOD SIDES MADE OF SASSAFRAS,SYCAMORE OR BUTTERNUT

Brian Spillman, of East Peoria, IL

caught this 12 lb. walleye

at Oak Run whilefishing for catfishlate fall. WOW…Nice catch Brian!

Thanks for sharing your

trophy with ASO!

I Fish Illinois site at www.ifishillinois.org. Our! thanks to all in the IDNR whohave worked with us to improve bowfish-ing in our state, and a! special thanks toIDNR Fisheries Biologist Jim Mick forhelping us so much over the past year.!

BAI BOWFISHER OF THE YEARAWARD WINNERS

The BAI recognizes those memberswho go above and beyond each year forthe club and sport of! bowfishing. Welook at the amount of outdoor showsthey have helped with and the amountof!shoots they participated in and helpedwith. We also look at the time they havespent introducing! others to the sport.This year we have an individual and teamaward. Rick Urban has been!awarded theBowfisher of the year. Rick spent count-less hours and traveled across thestate! promoting bowfishing and helpingout at club events and shoots. Our 2013Bowfishing Team Of! The Year is Tim,Tom and Matt Beyer. The Beyers madeevery outdoor show we were at and!trav-eled to Springfield to help out at the statefair. Congratulations and THANK YOUguys!! And!huge thanks to EVERYONEwho has helped the BAI at events andshoots. We are a great! organizationbecause of you!!

RIVER VALLEY GOBBLERS CHAPTER of the NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

12th ANNUAL BANQUET • SAT. MARCH 9, 2013 PEKIN MOOSE LODGE #916 • 2605 Broadway, Pekin

Doors open at 5:30p.m. • DINNER at 6:30 P. M.MANY GREAT PRIZES! OVER 30 GUNS RAFFLED & AUCTIONED!

FREE DRAFT BEER included with Dinner TicketRegular membership ticket $50 • Couples ticket $65

Sponsor membership single is $250 • Couples ticket is $265Children’s Ticket includes Jakes Membership ages 6-18 is $15.

Kids 5 & under are FREE. Come help the NWTF support Wild Turkey,PLUS your Hunting & 2nd Amendment Rights! For info. & tickets call

Larry Childress: 309-925-3229 or Charlotte Cramer: 309-830-2811

063_001.qxd 1/26/13 8:56 PM Page 1

3298 Cyrus Rd. NW Baudette, MN 56623

1-800-932-29241-218-634-2548

www.CyrusResort.com

GREAT FISHING YEAR ROUND!Walleye, sauger & Walleye, sauger &

northern pike are plentiful!northern pike are plentiful!The Lodge at Cyrus Resort has a Bar & Restaurant Offering Breakfast,

Lunch & Dinner Everyday! Fully Stocked Bar with Nightly Happy Hour Specials!

ACCOMMODATIONS ARE 2ND TO NONE! Accommodations for any size group! • Fireplaces

Variety of Packages Available…Some with Meals. Bait Included.Miles of Snowmobile Trails in a Winter Wonderland!

NEW SLEEPER HOUSES AND PLOWED ICE ROAD!


to turn down your power so that you canbarely see any signal indicating the vegeta-tion. The analog signal picks up movementbetter than anything so it becomes easier tosee the jig working within the weeds andalso easier to see fish moving through theweeds as they approach. The next step is toadjust the cone angle by either using the Tri-Beam or Pro View transducer so you cantune out even more weed clutter to clean upthe screen. For shallow weeds less than fif-teen feet, the ten foot scale on the FL-22really blows the picture up, making every-thing easier to see.

When trying to reach bluegills that areburied in the weeds, use presentations or jigsthat drop hard enough to fall through theleaves and stalks. This usually isn’t a finessegame because to light or too slow of fallingjigs get hung up near the top of the canopy.The weight of tungsten is ideal. Jigs like theNorthland Tackle Mooska punch throughthe weeds and reach the fish.

Another really good option that is oftenoverlooked is to take a small Buckshot RattleSpoon or Forage Minnow and attach a shortchain dropper. We recently filmed and aireda television program where we discussed thispresentation. The advantage of this combi-nation is that the weight of the spoon cutsthrough the weeds but the chain on the bot-tom is very flexible giving the hook a verydelicate action and the chain is easy for fish

PUNCHINGBLUEGILLSBy Jason Mitchell

If there is a general rule of thumb, waterwith decent to excellent visibility often hasgood weed growth that can remain throughthe course of a winter. Granted, snow covercan eliminate light penetration which inturn can knock down vegetation but if thereare weeds, typically there are bluegills.

Most lakes have a variety of weed typesand we have found bluegills around justabout anything that resembles cover espe-cially at first and late ice. Some weeds likethe cabbage variety typically die and breakdown fast during the winter but at times willstill hold fish. Other plants like Chara oreven bulrushes can hold fish. My favoritewinter weed however is coontail. Coontailgrows to deeper depths and will oftenremain green much longer through the ice.Any type of weed is better than no weedproviding that the fish are holding in thedepth of the weed but green weeds arealmost always best if they are available.

An underwater camera like the VexilarScout can be invaluable for weed reconwork. The crisp picture and lack of refrac-tion can give you great information on what

condition, what species and what color theweeds are.

Light penetration and predators probablyinfluence how bluegills position and movearound weeds more than anything else.Typically on a lot of water, lower light pen-etration creates windows where fish cruiseand drift from the cover. What this means isthat you can sit over a good trough, break orgap in the weeds and the spot will rechargewith fish. This often occurs at sunrise andsunset.

High sun or predators like northern pikecan push bluegills into the weeds. When fishhunker into weeds, the angler often has tofish more through more holes to contactfish. When fish stop moving, you have tomove to be successful. The other key tobeing successful when targeting panfishburied in weeds is to use tackle and equip-ment that will punch through the weeds toreach the fish. Think like a bass angler usinga heavy jig to punch through pads or slop toget down to fish.

While a camera can give you a tremen-dous education, hole-hopping through saladis where the Vexilar FL-22 shines. We live ina world where almost everything has movedto the digital age but when it comes to icefishing, the information you get from theraw analog signal on a Vexilar is a gamechanger. Why does the analog signal giveyou an edge? When fishing weeds, you have

to suck in.On fisheries with good weed growth,

extracting bluegills from the jungle is part ofthe game at some point each winter. Byapproaching the weeds with the right men-tality and the right tools, this extractionprocess is made much more effective.

Jason Mitchell hosts the outdoor program, Jason Mitchell Outdoors

which airs on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Midwest. Show times

and listings can be found at www.jasonmitchelloutdoors.com

Punch heavy tungsten jigs or modified spoons through heavy

vegetation to catch hunkered bluegills.

064_001.qxd 1/26/13 11:36 PM Page 1


704 Main St. • Macon, MO 660-385-2516

www.LolliBros.com

LOLLI BROS. EXOTIC ANIMAL AUCTIONS ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST SALES OF ITS KIND…FIND WHITETAIL & MULE DEER, ELK,

MOOSE, BEAR, MTN. LIONS, AFRICAN ANIMALS & MUCH MORE…

UPCOMING EXOTIC SALE:APRIL 9-10-11-12, 2013

SELLING MOUNTS, IVORY, ANTLERS, BRONZES & RELATED ITEMS FROM MUSEUMS & PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL OVER THE US.

LOLLI BROTHERS GIFT SHOPItems for sale at Auction are only a very

small sampling of the 100's of unique giftsavailable everyday in our Gift Shop for

IMMEDIATE SALE!! Find a wide variety oftaxidermy mounts, tanned hides, Ivory,

Authentic Indian Artifacts, Jewelry, mooseand other antlers, "lodge or log home"

decorating pieces, framed pictures, antlerchandeliers, furniture & many related

novelty pieces. Let us know what you arelooking for and we'll try to locate it for you.

EAST FORK GUNS & COLLECTIBLES CO."OLD WEST SHOW & AUCTION"MARCH 14-15-16, 2013

SELLING ALL FIREARMS, CIVIL WAR ERA, BLACK POWDER,COLLECTIBLE-WINCHESTER & COLT, ANTIQUE SPORTING

GOODS, HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS & OLD WEST MEMORABILIA!

Congrats to Chris “Casey” Wiseman,13, the grandson of Woo & Patty Daves,(Professional bass fisherman & writer,see pg 41), for taking this nice buck.

Casey lives in Hopewell, VA. His 14-pointer was shot in Nov. during

black powder season in DisputantaCounty, VA. This fabulous trophy will

forever be part of you! Way to go!

Nick Simpson, 13, shot his first buck opening day of the 2012 youth season while hunting on a

family friend’s farm in Tazewell County. Congrats to Nick on his second successful youth season compared

to his dad's 15 years of unsuccessful seasons!Thanks to Kristin Vick for sharing Nick’s buck with ASO!

Be sure to stop by ASO sponsor & friend, 121 Club on Old Rt. 121 to see Kristin, Barb

and the whole gang!

Gabe Robison, 11, shot this buck inMason Co. on the first day of firearmsseason with his trusty Mossberg 20 ga.This is Gabe's second nice buck taken

in 2 years of deer hunting. Proud parents Shawn & Natalie of

Washington, IL shout out a BIG“Congrats Gabe! We are proud of you!”

ASO looks forward to seeiing more!

065_001.qxd 1/27/13 2:05 AM Page 1


In order to join just go to my website atwww.LakeShelbyvilleGuide.Com and click on theicon on the top of the page and it will lead you tothe forum for a short sign up section then you aregood to go. Remember this is a kid friendly site sono profanity based handles please.

February means to me better get ready forguide season it is a mere three weeks away. I makesure all my batteries are in good shape, my reelshave good line and there are no motor issues andthen get out there a few days before my first tripand do some scouting.

February also means I have three more fishingshows to get through. The first one is Tinley ParkFebruary 9-10 then off to Arthur February 22-23and finally to Elmwood on March 2-3 then I amdone and off to Paris Landing for a tourney onMarch 16th.

I’ll be guiding full time every day on Shelbyvillefrom March 18th to mid August before I get myfirst day off that is five months straight fishingevery day without a break. Then a half dozen daysoff in August and four more months without a dayoff. Got To Love It....

Illinois Fish TalkBy Steve Welch

About a year ago I decided enough was enoughof me posting on other fishing forums and readerstear my posts apart and make all sorts of accusa-tions about me and most if not all of them didn’teven know me. So I decided to start my own andfrom the get go we do not tolerate activities of per-sonal attacks on one another and do not give threeor four warnings to those individuals who do thesethings. I set it up that every post goes rightthrough my e-mail account and I keep a very closeeye on this and like I said it is my forum and I deemthat post unfit then you are kicked off. We are alladults here and you know what is acceptable.

With that being said it has been a year now andwe currently have almost 600 members and veryhelpful knowledge can be gathered on this site. Mypartner on this site and in my guide service is thebest electronics person I have ever met. Boat deal-ers and electronic dealers frequently use him totroubleshoot the high end products that are on to-day’s market. On both of our boats we have fourLowrance HDS each one networked with side imag-ing on both the rear of the boat and on the front.We have a very good knowledge of mapping cards

and how to use them along with your hi-def elec-tronics. I have not seen another site that has moreinfo on Lowrance HDS and other depthfinders. Weeven give tutorials on the lake that are easily themost in-depth ones out there.

The forum has a screenshot section that isloaded with side and downscan shots taken fromour units on Lake Shelbyville and other local lakes.These are not taken from Internet promos but ac-tual on-water experiences. We encourage anyoneto post their pics from Lowrance or Humminbird sowe can all see just how good today’s electronics re-ally are.

We have a big fish photo section and all sorts ofspecies are represented. We encourage any pic-ture with a kid in it to be front and center becausethose are our most precious pictures out there.

We have a wild game and fish recipe section andI have tried several and all of them have been deli-cious. Check out the For Sale section and severalitems have been bought and sold through it.

It is by far the most up to date fishing reportsfor Lake Shelbyville since I guide almost 250 daysa year and share lots of patterns with members.We have many other lakes that are also represent-ed on the site and now that it is a year old I haveseen it garnish about 30,000 posts and all ofthem helpful in one way or another.

www.LakeShelbyvilleGuide.com

After a full day of fishing, come to the Spillway MotelAfter a full day of fishing, come to the Spillway Moteland relax in one of our clean, comfortable rooms.and relax in one of our clean, comfortable rooms.

All rooms include a microwave, refrigerator, cable TV, A/C &heat, Wi-Fi, coffee pot, direct dial phones, clock radio & bath

with hair dryer. All rooms have 2 beds....Ask for 3! Pets allowed for nominal charge, however has to be in asmoking room. Park near your room…Our large parking area has free electrical hook-ups! Ice and soda available.

Nearby restaurants.BAIT SHOP ON SITE & MOTEL OPEN YEAR ROUND! BAIT SHOP ON SITE & MOTEL OPEN YEAR ROUND! 1/2 mi le to beach and 9th St reet boat launch.1 /2 mi le to beach and 9th St reet boat launch.Wi th in walk ing d is tance to r iver and spi l lway!Wi th in walk ing d is tance to r iver and spi l lway!

Shelbyville, ILFor Reservations:

(800) 845-0414

GATEWAY TO LAKE SHELBYVILLE... GatewayINN

of Sullivan, IL

www.gatewayinnsullivan.com

Recently RemodeledNew Carpeting

Color Cable TV Refrigerator

MicrowaveFree Internet/WiFi

Adjacent Restaurant

YOUR HOSTS:Vipul (Vic) & Vilas Patel217-728-43141320 S. Hamilton St.Rt. 32, Sullivan, IL

EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS’ ARCHERY PRO SHOPPSE • Bear • Alpine • Limbsavor • 200 Bows in Stock !

QUANTITY, QUALITY, SERVICE & PRICE“Thank you for your past and future support.

Good hunting…Think safety!"1040 W. Bloomington Rd.

Champaign, IL • 217-359-1920We have a 20 yd. 8-lane range &

a 30 yd. single in the new building!

NEW LOCATION!

BOOK YOUR FISHING TRIP WITH STEVE TODAY!

217-762-7257 Cell: 217-840-1221

LakeShelbyvilleGuide.com

Robert Taylor and his friend Joewith a 3-man 45 fish stringer of

crappie caught on 04/07/12.

Bruce Stammer and Bob with a3-man stringer of crappie thatwere caught on Shelbyville on

04/09/12.

066_001.qxd 1/27/13 8:48 PM Page 1


For Sale: 2004 Ranger 521VX 21 ft. Ranger Cup Ltd. Edition

$28,750 Mercury Optimax 225, new compressor & fuel rails. New lower

unit, mid section & 3-bank on-board charger in 2011. 2-LowranceHDS 10, Lowrance HDS 7 & Lowrance HDS 5. All units are

networked & structure scan on both rear of the boat and trollingmotor. $8000.00 invested in state of the art Electronics. Bob’s

Hydraulic Jack plate (New in 2011) with 6” vertical lift. Hydraulic steering was rebuilt in 2011. New power head in 2010.Every conceivable part has been replaced. Very clean boat, motorruns flawlessly & all units all networked. This boat has so many extras! The trailer has 2 new axles, new hubs, new spindles, new

brakes & new tires. Updated to oil-bath bearings used on all Rangers post-2010.

Call Steve: 217-762-7257 • 217-840-1221

Fred Phelps and his friends Rex, Bill and Bill along with me and my2nd guide-Alan Corzine (we are not pictured) with a 6-man 90 fish

stringer of crappie caught on Shelbyville on 04/03/12.This is a picture of a 15 1/2 inch 2.4 lb crappie

caught by Adlai Miller and shown held by his

driver (name unknown) on 03/29/12.

Jessie Johnson with a mixed bag of crappie and walleye caught on 05/15/12

COME SEE US AT CENTRAL IL OUTDOOR EXPOFEB. 22 & 23 AT OTTO CENTER IN ARTHUR!

GET LOWE INSTANT CASH REBATES ON…

SAVE UP TO $1000 INSTANTLY ON SELECTNEW 2012 & 2013 LOWE BOATS!

w w w . S i x t e e n M a r i n e . c o mw w w . S i x t e e n M a r i n e . c o m• SALES• SERVICE• STORAGE

West IL Rt. 16Shelbyville, IL Ph. 217-774-5050

FishingMachine165SC

StingerST175

Feb. 22-23 • Central IL Outdoor ExpoArthur, IL • Otto Center

www.arthurfestivals.com/outdoorexpo/expomain.htm

Feb. 9-10 • Tinley Park Fishing & Outdoor Show • Tinley Park, IL

www.tinleyparkfishingshow.com

Feb. 22-24 • The Boat ShowSpringfield, IL • IL State Fairgrounds

www.theboatshowinspringfield.com

067_001.qxd 1/28/13 11:41 AM Page 1


every bad habit takes 21 days of consecutivegood habits to reverse the bad habits.

Emily Hauter is in her last semester atSouthern Illinois University and willgraduate with a degree in CommunityHealth Education. She was a swimmerfor the Salukis and specialized in the but-terfly. She is an accomplished dog trainerand guide for Sunny Slope Hunt Club.Her goal is to combine her athletic back-ground with health education to coachpeople to improve their health and stay ac-tive and healthy. Emily Hauter can bereached by email at [email protected].

Industrial Park

are not the easiest thing to for people to set.The best way to set goals is to set a group ofshort term goals that will help you to achieveyour long term goal. These goals should bespecific and include numbers and/or dead-lines in which you want to reach these goals.An example would be: to eat x amount ofcalories each day for the week of February3rd through 9th, to exercise 3 times for atleast 30 minutes each during the week ofFebruary 3rd through 9th, etc. These wouldbe paired with other short term goals, in or-der to reach an ending goal that could be tolose 20 pounds by August 30th, 2013.

What is exercise? You are having an effec-tive exercise activity when you are gettingyour heart rate up for at least 20 minutes.According to experts you should do this typeof exercise about 4 or 5 times a week. Youdo not have to go to the gym to work out.Although it is cold outside for the most partright now you can bundle up and walk orrun outside, or most kinds of exercise can bestreamed from the internet for free. CrossFitis very popular right now and you can usu-ally find these workouts on the internetwithout having to pay the monthly fee.

How do I keep on track? I would suggestthat you recruit friends that are going to thegym or exercising with you. If this person

2218 Court St. • Pekin, IL 61554 • 309-347-8610

SOLD & INSTALLED

LOCALLY BY:GREG’S

GARAGE DOORSales & Service

Insured

will keep you accountable fordoing your exercise eachweek you are more likely tokeep going. Also it may be agood idea to keep a diary or ifyou have a smart phone usean app. I use My Fitness Pal,with this app you can addyour friends and see whatthey are eating and the exer-cise that they do each day.For me it is a little bit moremotivation to exercise when Isee that my friends are doingit as well. If you are having alittle bit of trouble with moti-vation, maybe it would be a good idea to geta trainer for one or two days a week for amonth. Your goal could be for them to showyou things that you could do on your ownat home if you are looking for a cheaper wayto work out.

Good luck with keeping your New Year’sresolutions for 2013. Remember to set yourgoals and keep track of what you are doing.If you write it down in a diary or somewherethat you will be able to go back and look atwhat you did to get the results then you aremore likely to keep your results and maybeeven change your habits, but remember that

BOOKING GOOSE HUNTS!Pits on Water, Corn or Bean Fields

Lodging available!Located 13 miles east of Galesburg, IL

Near Snake Den Refuge, Victoria, ILContact Rick: (309) 781-8312

www.cabinfeveril.com

RIFLES – SHOTGUNS – P ISTOLS RIFLES – SHOTGUNS – P ISTOLS BUY – SELL – SPECIAL ORDER BUY – SELL – SPECIAL ORDER –– CONSIGNMENTSCONSIGNMENTS

Cleaning • Scope Mounting • Bore Sighting Gun Bluing & Repairs

Tues – Fri. 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. • Sat. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.Owners: Jeff & Cody Bookers • 520 N. 7th St. • Riverton, IL

Office: 217-629-7449 • Jeff: 217-836-7498 • Cody: 217-816-7419

FOIDFOIDCARDSCARDS

New Year’s Resolutions & Goals

By Emily HauterIt’s that time of year again; the New Year’s

resolution group is packing the gym. Areyou one from this group? Everyone knowsthat come the end of February the amountof people at the gym will be back to normaland the resolution people will be back totheir old ways. How are you going to keep itgoing for the whole year and make a lifestylechange?

How do you set an achievable goal? Goals

068_001.qxd 1/27/13 2:17 AM Page 1

it!" There laid

my alligatorright where Ihad shot it. Ifinished itof f with abang stickand helpedtape themouth andrear legs.This portionof my huntfrom the start of calling to pulling it into the boatwas about 3 minutes, a very intense adrenalinepacked 3 minutes!

Dale's hunt happened the next evening, and wasas different from mine as you could get. Capt. Billycalled and called, moving frequently, but the waterand air temperatures were very cool. Finally thecalling brought movement in the weeds.

Very slowly, cautiously this alligator crept intoour sight, stopping often, always quietly. Finallywhen the gator was about 8 foot from the boatDale shot and the splashing and thrashing was on!After the gator calmed down somewhat it waspulled up to the boat and shot with the bang stick.Dale taped the mouth and legs and we were offonce again to butcher shop. As well as our huntswent with the weather being against us, I cannotwait to go again when the air and water are morecomfortable.


OUTDOOR CONNECTION

By Gerald

A. Sampen

From the Alberta Rockies to the Swamps of Florida

Alberta Moose “Plus Two” as told to OutdoorConnection by (Bob C. - FL) (ABH8)

Mike and I had a great time. Todd and his songuided us each to a moose, a black bear, and amule deer. Our primary goal was to bag a mooseand we were certainly not disappointed. The rutwas on and the bulls were more active than nor-mal. On the evening of our first full day of hunting,Mike shot a nice bull.

These moose are huge and I was shocked at howmuch he weighed. We were fortunate he droppednot far from a road so that we could haul him backto camp after getting help so that seven of uscould get him into the truck. We continued to huntfor my moose and took the bear and mule deer

while searching for a monster bull. Wepassed on several smaller bulls while

awaiting for a chance at a 50 inchbull. We got responses from sever-al rutting bulls but the dayspassed without a really large bull

showing. We finally saw a real shooter

but I was not able to get a clear shot. (Mikecould have dropped him easily since he did have aclear look at less than 60 yards!) I was down tothe last two days of the hunt when Mike suddenlyshouted “Huge Bull”! I got a little excited andmissed my first shot. Dropped him on my secondshot. My 50 inch bull is at the taxidermy shop andI expect to get the shoulder mount next year.

By the way, on the last day of our hunt, Mike andTodd saw an even larger bull that stood for pic-tures at 70 yards and kept milling around for 30minutes. Of course, no one had an unfilled tag sohe’s still there for next year. Thanks for a greathunt.

Night Time Adrenaline Rush on “The Bayou” as toldto Outdoor Connection (Diane H. - PA) (FLH5)

We arrived in Florida to temperatures in the low40's, not a great time to start a hunt for alligatorsin Florida. The first night was too cold to even con-sider going out, but Capt. Billy was able to help fillour time with bow fishing for mullet.

The next evening was my chance to hunt. Aftera short boat ride and instruction on the crossbowand what was to come, Capt. Billy started callingand spot lighting, and immediately we were

rewarded with big splashing not far from ourlocation.

This alligator was rushing to the boatvery aggressively. When the gator was only afew feet from the boat Capt. Billy told me toshoot. I pulled the trigger and thought I hadmissed! There was no splashing, just quiet.

Then Kenny started yelling "she spined

Central Idaho-Wilderness Fishing & Vacation Info Pack

This central Idaho wilderness outfitter special-izes in family adventure vacations that will accom-modate all types of outdoor enthusiasts. Offeringa wide variety of trips including western horse-back riding and pack trips, fishing, hiking sup-ported by pack stock and Idaho big game hunting

If you are interested in any of the adventureshighlighted in this article or in the many otheradventures Outdoor Connection offers, give us acall. These adventures make great gifts for highschool and colleges graduations, weddings, birth-days, anniversaries, etc. Time to get your name onthe books for 2013 now.

Your Outdoor Connection AgentGerald and Jeanne Sampen

421 Olive St. • Emden, IL. 62635217-376-3873

[email protected]

P.O. Box 187 • Samburg, TN 38254P.O. Box 187 • Samburg, TN 38254info@eaglenestresor t.cominfo@eaglenestresor t.com

www.EagleNestResor t.comwww.EagleNestResor t.com1-877-EAGLE-01 1-877-EAGLE-01 •• 1-731-538-21431-731-538-2143

GREATFISHING!

NO LIMIT ON CATFISH OR BLUEGILL & 30 CRAPPIE PER PERSON PER DAY

PPRRIIMMEETTIIMMEE FFIISSHHIINNGG PPAACCKKAAGGEE3 Days & Nights Starting Thurs.

or4 Days & Nights Starting Sun.

Mar. 17 - May 18

OONNLLYY$$330099$$228899

Feb. 1 - Mar. 16 & Starting May 19OONNLLYY $$222299Prices are per person + tax & license.

Prices subject to change. Packages Include: Lodging, Boat & Motor, Bait, Gas & Ice.Minimum of 2 people and $75 Non-refundable deposit required.

withkitchenwithoutkitchen

Central IL Outdoor Expo Feb. 22 & 23 • Otto Center • Arthur, IL

069_001.qxd 1/27/13 3:10 AM Page 1


the scales at 150 pounds or even more. They are toughand if a questionable shot occurs you want to knock asmuch wind out of their escape as possible.

Finally, if you go up against bears the advice of cal-ibers for wolves and lions, should be taken to heart.Use at least a deer caliber and don’t think of yourselfas being “over gunned.” I wouldn’t be afraid a bit toput my .300 Winchester magnum to work on a bigAlberta bruin that could easily push the needle past400 pounds. Bears may not be hard to kill, but if youdo have a less-than-perfect shot, a larger caliber canproduce more damage when teamed with a tested,expandable bullet. Remember, bears have shaggyhides that sop and soak blood. They don’t leave goodblood trails, so dropping one in its tracks is advisable.

I know everyone has an opinion. These are mine.Take them or leave them, but please use enough gun.Nobody wants to lose a pelt or a rug because a wound-ed animal has enough life to escape.

choices like Hornady’s V-Max(www.hornady.com) you canstill avoid fur damage. Ihaven’t lost a coyote yetshooting them with a .204Ruger, but I’ve had to track afew and that makes me ques-tion why I would put aside my.22-250 Remington thatalmost always takes thewheels off a coyote right onthe spot. I’m not saying the.204 Ruger won’t do the job,I’m just saying there are a fewother calibers that do it better.

Are you thinking of wolves this fall and winter? Ifso, I’d suggest you carry enough gun. A mature wolf,especially the Alberta breed running the Rockies,could tip the scales at 100 pounds and more. You’re.22-250 Remington will work, but a better choicemight be the .243 Winchester, .25-06 Remington orthe 6.5 Creedmoor teamed up with quality ammuni-tion. Any caliber of this power and up is perfect medi-cine for atough wolf. You can even consider your .270Winchester or .308 Winchester. Customize the cal-iber with a bullet that minimizes pelt damage and youshould be ready for a new rug. And since wolves aretruly pack animals, you should consider a rifle (orshotgun) with a magazine.

Your odds of meeting up with or calling in more thanone wolf are good. In the same note you should alsoconsider a caliber of this size for mountain lions. Theyalso can weigh over 100 pounds, with a big tom hitting

Alan Thompson, Agent623 E. Jackson • Macomb, IL 61455

Bus.: 309-833-2400Cell: 309-333-0100www.Alansf.com

Max Thompson, Agent108 N. Orange • Havana, IL 62644

Bus.: 309-543-6248Fax: 309-543-4899

www.Maxdthompson.com

CARRY ENOUGH GUN TO DO THE JOB WHEN PREDATOR HUNTING

Here are a few calibers and scenariosthat predator and varmint huntersshould have second thoughts about

when trying to go light instead of carrying enough gun.

by Mark KayserAll too often hunters looking for peppy predator

loads forget that as they speed up smaller bullets theenergy ending up at the target is often reduced to thepoint of questionable outcomes. This is particularlytrue when you shoot these fast, light bullets at longrange or when you tackle bigger-boned critters. Hereare a few calibers and scenarios that predator andvarmint hunters should have second thoughts aboutwhen trying to go light instead of carrying enough gun.

Who doesn’t love the zippy .17 Hornet or .17 HMR?It’s a great alternative to the .22 LR and can take careof vermin from coast to coast. Nevertheless, manypredator hunters are pushing the envelope by using itfor fur chores. That may be all fine and good whentackling a lightweight fox or even a south Texas bob-

cat, but should you be putting it to use on coyotes?This is one caliber I think should stay in the truck whencoyotes are the main target. Yes, I know truckloads ofcoyotes have fallen to this loveable caliber, but atlonger distances it might leave you following a bloodtrail instead of carrying a pile of fur back to the truck.

I’ve shot a pile of coyotes using the .204 Ruger, butis it the best for coyotes and larger predators? I’d sayno. There are so many larger calibers that can handlecoyote chores with ease and by combining solid bullet

070_001.qxd 1/28/13 2:05 AM Page 1


Get your pond or lake ready for Winter!

Mel’s Sporting GoodsMel’s Sporting Goods• Custom Built Bowstrings• Pro Shop• Indoor Range• Computerized Video Simulated Hunting

520 S. Elm • Flora, IL 62839

618-662-8663618-662-8663

HOURS:M-F 10am-4pm & 6pm-10pm

Sat. 9am-4pm

Rt. 50 to Flora, Main St. South over tracks, right at 3-story Self Storage

The fierce cold weather is here, and the race ison to ensure we are fully prepared for the comingmonths. Allow Heat Holders to take care of yourfeet, and ease you comfortablythrough the brisk weather.

Heat Holders are diverse,fashionable socks that keepyour feet seven times warmerthan normal cotton socks and 3times warmer than ordinarythermal socks. They are betterthan heated, electric or batteryoperated socks because you canjust put them on without fussingwith batteries, wires etc. HeatHolders® means No more coldfeet! Long term exposure to coldconditions can not only havedetrimental effects to your feet,but to your overall health.

TOG means Thermal OverallGrade. It is a scientific test thatmeasures the thermal (heatretaining) capacity of fabric.With a TOG rating of 2.34, Heat Holders provide apractical and economical alternative to layeringsocks. The unique patent pending extra-longlooped thermal pile which is unique to Heat Holdershas been newly developed. This innovative knittingtechnology locks in warm air, holding this closer tothe skin, keeping feet warmer for longer.

The soft brushed inner adds comfort and soft-ness where feet need it the most. Their gentle gripprevents rubbing or discomfort that may be expe-rienced from a sock with a lower tog rating.Furthermore the advanced insulating yarn createdfor Heat Holders provides high performance insu-lation and superior moisture wicking abilities.

Heat Holders provide a perfect solution to thesnow day blues. No longer will family snowballfights in the garden be plagued by cold feet.

Available in a variety of different colours HeatHolders provide a fashionable and functionalchoice of warm winter wear for both men andwomen. Children’s sizes are now available, allow-ing you to relax in the knowledge that your littleone’s feet are protected from Jack Frost. Longerstyles are available for the whole family, meaningyou too can splash around in your rubber bootswith the kids.

Studies have found that cold feet effect oursleep patterns. Scientists at Basel University,Switzerland, have found that ‘warm feet promotethe rapid onset of sleep,’ thus Heat Holders offer astraightforward and cost effective solution to helpstop people tossing and turning whilst trying todrift off to sleep. Heat Holders have created cosy

slipper socks, specially designed to wear at homeand with their grip pads, they prevent sliding onslippery surfaces.

Health benefits of HeatHolders can help protectagainst Diabetes, Raynaud's,Frostbite, Hypothyroidism,Peripheral Vascular disease areamong a few medical conditionsthat result in cold feet. Feet canfeel cold to the point of beingpainful.

Our company was estab-lished in 1947 in England. Atthat time the company used totrade yarn. The last fewdecades our company has beenmanufacturing, importing anddistributing socks.

Our North American officeis based out of Oakville, Ontarioin Canada. We have multiplewarehouses and fulfillment cen-ters. Shipments for this web-

site are serviced through our fulfillment center inNorth Carolina.

Heat Holders was developed by our talentedproduct development team in house. The challengewas to make a sock that would be the warmestsock ever and comfortable and practical to wear in

daily life. It wasn't easy, but our team came up with HeatHolders in 2008.

Since then we have sold more than 10 million pairsworldwide and our distribution continues to grow. Thisgrowth is because of our customers who are truly satis-fied with Heat Holders. Whether they are at Home, atWork or at Play in the cold winter months, there is a pairof Heat Heat Holders for them, which keeps them warm,comfortable and safe. We hope to count you among ourcustomers!

This winter, invest in a versatile product you can usetime and time again. Do not let your feet suffer as youhead out into the outdoors this cold winter. To ensure pro-tection from the cold and prevent sore feet, wrap up yourfeet in Heat Holders ultimate thermal socks.

The retail price for a pair of Heat Holders socks startedat just $19.99, NOW the website has the socks markeddown to only $15.99 a pair. They are perfect as a bargainbuy that can be used time and time again. This is the per-fect Valentine’s Day gift for your sweetheart that keepson giving & keeps feet warm!

www.heatholders.com

071_001.qxd 1/27/13 9:12 PM Page 1


answer is a resounding yes, but youhave to pay attention to detail andtidy up several tricky variables.

At the conclusion of days spentretracing every step of the modernice fishing revolution, Dave Genzwas asked about where the sportcan still go, in terms of significantdevelopments. This was done togather up his personal memorieswhile writing the book, “IceRevolution,” and though he wasvisibly spent from the process, heknew right away what he wanted tosay.

“There’s probably always roomfor more things in bite indication,”he said. “Something that helps youknow when the fish bites.” He wenton to theorize that we can probablybuild electronic gadgets that detectirregularities in the jigging motion,telling us something changed and afish might have sucked the bait intoits mouth.

This kind of technology couldcome, but each of us has the abilityto detect light bites right now,using the right combination of cur-rent equipment and technique.There are ways to become instantlybetter at this frustrating piece of

2 0 1 2 F o r d F 1 5 0 X LT S u p e r c re w , 4 x 4 , Re d & S i l v e r2 0 1 2 F o r d F 1 5 0 X LT S u p e r c re w , 4 x 4 , B l a c k2 0 1 2 F o r d F 1 5 0 X LT S u p e r c re w , 4 x 4 , G ra y2 0 1 2 F o r d E x p l o re r X LT F W D , C i n n a m o n 2 0 1 1 F o r d F 2 5 0 L a r i e t C re w c a b , 4 x 4 , W h i t e & Ta n2 0 1 1 F o r d F 3 5 0 L a r i e t C re w c a b , D u l l y , W h i t e Pe a r l2 0 1 1 F o r d F 2 5 0 X LT S u p e r c a b , 4 x 4 , B l a c k2 0 1 1 C h e v y 2 5 0 0 LT Z C re w c a b , 4 x 4 , G ra y2 0 1 1 F o r d F 1 5 0 L a r i e t S u p e r c re w , 4 x 4 , Re d C a n d y2 0 1 1 F o r d F 1 5 0 X LT S u p e r c re w , 4 x 4 , B l u e2 0 1 1 F o r d F 1 5 0 X LT S u p e r c a b , 4 x 4 , G ra y2 0 1 1 D o d g e R a m 1 5 0 0 S LT , Q u a d c a b , 4 x 4 , Re d2 0 1 1 F o r d R a n g e r X L Re g u l a r c a b , 4 x 2 , B l a c k2 0 1 0 F o r d F 3 5 0 L a r i e t C re w c a b , D u l l y , D a r k Re d & Ta n2 0 1 0 F o r d F 3 5 0 X LT C re w c a b , 4 x 4 , W h i t e2 0 1 0 F o r d F 2 5 0 X LT C re w c a b , 4 x 4 , W h i t e2 0 1 0 F o r d F 1 5 0 X LT S u p e r c a b , 4 x 4 , Re d & S i l v e r2 0 1 0 F o r d F 1 5 0 X LT S u p e r c re w , 4 x 4 , B l u e2 0 1 0 F o r d F 1 5 0 X LT S u p e r c re w 4 x 4 , Re d2 0 1 0 F o r d F 1 5 0 X LT S u p e r c re w , 4 x 4 , B l a c k2 0 1 0 F o r d F 1 5 0 X LT Re g u l a r c a b , 4 x 4 , B l a c k2 0 1 0 F o r d F 1 5 0 X LT S u p e r c a b 4 x 4 , W h i t e2 0 1 0 F o r d F 1 5 0 X L S u p e r c a b , 4 x 4 , S i l v e r2 0 1 0 F o r d E x p e d i t i o n X LT , 4 x 4 , G ra y2 0 1 0 C h e v y 1 5 0 0 S i l v e ra d o LT C re w c a b , 4 x 4 , W h i t e

L A R G E I N V E N TO RY O F P R E - OW N E D V E H I C L ESServing the Central IL Area with Automotive Needs Over 35 Ye a r s !

Roland Rich Ford, Inc.Route 122 East • Delavan, IL 61734

309-244-8249

to understand that stiffness equalssensitivity, but that doesn’t meanI’m using a pool cue. People saythey want a ‘more sensitive’ tip,but after I talk to them, I find outthey want to watch the rod tip and

the puzzle, then work onrefining your abilities tothe point that people willcome up to you and askfor your secrets.

Bite Detection SystemThis is not going to be a

commercial for specificmodels of rods and reels,but rather a description ofwhat Genz uses and whathe believes to be the keysto better bite detection.He’s said this before, butyou must begin with theright gear.

“Your equipment has tobe balanced,” Davebegins. “If it isn’t, you’renot going to feel the bite.The line has to hangstraight (meaning freshand free of coils). Yourjig has to be heavyenough to take all thekinks out of the line.Even with new line, if the line istoo thick for the weight of the jig,there will be all these coils in it,and you can’t feel bites then.

“And you have to have a fairlystiff rod. It’s so hard to get people

“FUR BUYER”COMPLETE HIDE TANNING SERVICEKICKAPOO CREEK SUPPLY

Buyer of Raw Furs & Squirrel TailsSelling Complete Line of Trapping Supplies:

Lures • Baits • Traps • Fur Handling Equipment Snares • Hip Boots • Chest Waders • AND MORE!

CALL: 309-446-31376815 N. McIntyre Rd.Brimfield, IL. 61517We Ship UPS

You can become good at detecting lightbites, but it requires the right kind of rod,fresh line that hangs straight, and tuning

yourself in to the feel of your bait as itbounces up and down. When the weight ofthe bait changes, or goes away completely,something good probably happened! Here,

the master ices another bluegill – not amonster, but they all bring a feeling of

satisfaction. (Photo: davegenz.com)

Developing aTouch for Bite

Detectionby Dave Genz

After all the map study, after allthe hole drilling, once you drop theline down the hole and start pre-senting a bait, that’s when the mostelusive skill of all comes into play.Even with the finest graphite rodsand fresh line, it can look like amagic act when good anglers just‘know’ a fish has taken the bait andit’s time to set the hook.

Solid, thunking bites are easy.Everybody can feel those, evenwith gloves on. But knowing alight bite when you feel it – orsense it – separates the best anglersfrom the rest.

For so many, this becomes a life-time quest full of frustration. Howdo you know a soft bite when youfeel it? What does it feel like? Isthere a way to develop a bettertouch for detecting bites? The

072_001.qxd 1/27/13 10:46 PM Page 1

goes away at the bottom of yourjigging cycles. When you can’t feelit bounce anymore, you know thefish has it.

“Sometimes there’s this big jerkon the end of the line, but some-times the fish comes in and grabsthe lure and swims across the holewith it and everything just gets alittle bit heavier.”

He does this close-the-eyes trickoccasionally, to this day, to keephis senses honed and refine hisinstincts. “You start to feel, oralmost sense, that the fish is onthere,” Genz says. “I do this whenthe fishing is pretty good, not onthe first fish of the day. It probablyworks best when you’re sight fish-ing or using a camera – you’vealready caught some fish and canpicture what they’re doing as theybite it. Then, close your eyes onsome fish and go for that feeling.”

There is more to this story,as there always is, includingwhat to do when the fish arejust coming up and kissingthe bait with their mouthsclosed. That will interruptthe jigging cycle and youcan feel it, but setting thehook right away on thosebites results in wonderingwhat the heck happened. Inthose instances, Genz hastaught us to drop the rod tiprather than setting the hook,giving the fish a chance tohave a second go at it andhopefully suck it in.

“When I drop the rod tip,”he says, “my eyes are wideopen and I’m watching theline. If the line sits in thehole with coils, that meansthe fish has it and I can setthe hook and get him.”

Sometimes by sight,


see the rod bend to see the bite.That’s how they want to detect thebite, by seeing it rather than feelingit, because they don’t think theycan learn to feel it. But if you havesuch a soft tip on your rod that itbends when you get a light bite, it’sgoing to be harder to feel any bite.”

Genz urges us to get away fromtrying to see bites by watching therod bend. “It’s the little bites, beingable to feel them that you should betrying for,” he says, then goes on todescribe how to pull it off.

“You have to be able to feel thatlure down there as you’re jiggingit,” he says. “Even with tinybaits, if your rod and line are inbalance, you can feel the cycles ofthe jiggling motion as you go upand down. It’s crisp and noticeableonce you get used to it, and youjust know it. We talk about pound-ing the lure, and now we talk moreabout the cadence, which is howfast you are pounding it.

“With a good rod, you can feelthe bottom of every cycle, right inthe rod blank. That’s why it has tobe stiff enough to let you feel that.If the rod is too soft, everythingmushes around and you can’t feel

MBSMidwestern Building Supplies, Inc.The Building Contractors’ Headquarters

Where quality matters!

3 LOCATIONS:508 East Pearl St. • Tremont, IL 61568Phone: 1-800-221-5370 or 309-925-2911

2800 West Main St. • Galesburg, IL 61401Phone: 309-344-9171

240 North Bower St. • Macomb, IL 61455Phone: 309-836-8058

e-mail: [email protected]

anything. (But with a good rod)you’re jiggling away and feelingthe bottom of every jiggle, and thenall of a sudden somethingchanges.”

In other words, the distinct‘thunk’ (or whatever you want tocall it) at the bottom of every jigglesuddenly goes away. It might justdeaden, or there might be a sensa-tion that everything got lighter, orheavier. The changes can be, andare, subtle a lot of times. It isn’tlike a big jolt most of the time –just enough of a difference to tellyou something interrupted things.

Close Your EyesGenz hasn’t talked much about

this next idea, but credits it forhelping him refine the ability todetect light bites without the aid ofspring bobbers or other visual cues.

“What I do, which helpedtremendously,” he says, “is when afish is coming in and I know it’sgoing to bite, I close my eyes andfish like I’m blind. Blind peoplehave tremendous senses, and doingthis will really help you sensewhen the lure gets a little heavier.You can really tell when the bounce

Dave's Trading Post , Inc.333 Derby St. • Pekin, IL 61554

(309) 353-7522OPEN: Mon-Fri.10am-5pm • Sat. 10am-3pm

BUY ! SELL ! TRADEGold • Silver • Platinum • Diamonds • Guns

Indian Relics & Wood Decoys

Dave's Trading Post , Inc.333 Derby St. • Pekin, IL 61554

(309) 353-7522OPEN: Mon.-Fri. 10am-5pm • Sat. 10am-3pm

BUY ! SELL ! TRADEGold • Silver • Platinum • Diamonds • Guns

Indian Relics & Wood Decoys

always by feel, using good qualityrods and reels, almost anybody canlearn to sink the hook into far morebiters.

Dave Genz, known as Mr. Ice Fishing, was the

primary driver of the modern ice fishing

revolution. He has beenenshrined in the NationalFresh Water Fishing Hallof Fame and Minnesota

Fishing Hall of Fame forhis contributions to thesport. For more fishingtips and information on

the new book, IceRevolution, go to

www.davegenz.com

! 75 Foot Indoor Shooting Range For Firearms, Air Guns & Archery! Offering a Variety of Leagues & Classes, NRA Basic Pistol Classes,

One-on-One Instruction, Gun Rental, Full Line of Supplies! Buy, Sell, Trade, Special Orders! FOID, NRA, ISRA APPLICATIONS ALL AVAILABLE!

10775 Buckhart Rd. • Rochester, IL 62563217-498-6988 • www.SiddensGunRange.com

Open Tues. - Sun.

INDOOR SHOOTINGRANGE & GUN SHOP

073_001.qxd 1/27/13 10:42 PM Page 1


Retriever PuppyTraining Tips

Retriever puppies are genetically fit forhunting and retrieving skills, but you haveto consistently train a puppy throughoutits life in order to teach it how to best uti-lize its instincts for future hunts. Traininga retriever puppy the right way from theget-go is crucial to avoiding training diffi-culties later on. With the first half year ofyour retriever puppy’s life being the mostcritical stage of habit development, it isimportant to start implementing trainingtechniques as soon as possible. Typicallythe best age to start training is around 7-8weeks of age, but this may vary dependingon breed.

Some of the skills and habits that yourpuppy must learn include: the ability to bequiet on command, swimming, properretrieving techniques, and the ability to notbe gun-shy. Following some of these tipswill help your puppy learn the habits thatwill hopefully develop it into a highlytrained and intelligent retriever.

Give Your Puppy Plenty of PositiveHuman Contact

Your puppy should have plenty of posi-tive human contact from a young age. Thisallows your retriever puppy to develop abond and trust with people that will serveyou well later on. This positive humancontact will also make a retriever puppymore receptive to training. It is equally

important to never be angry or short-tem-pered with your puppy, as this will create alot of fear and negative association withpeople. Reward your puppy’s good behav-ior with treats and praise, and focus moreon positive reinforcement instead of nega-tive reinforcement.

Balance Training With FunWhen it comes to puppy training, you

do not want to be too harsh or allow yourpuppy to roam wildly as it wills. A goodbalance of training and fun is best for aretriever puppy. You can start training yourpuppy at a young age to retrieve. Playingretrieving games 2 to 3 times per day is rec-ommended with a toy or a rolled up cleantowel. As your retriever puppy gets old youcan vary the difficulty of the retrievinggames by adding more distance or throw-ing the object into some type of cover. Startslowly with all types of retriever trainingand gradually increase the repetition anddifficulty of training.

Training Your Puppy to Not Be Gun-shy

Gunfire training is extremely importantto avoid gun-shyness in your retrieverpuppy. Gunfire training should not betaken lightly, as it is very difficult to undogun-shyness in a dog. For proper gunfiretraining it is recommended to consult witha trainer or use an instructional guide. Acommon technique is to expose yourpuppy to increasingly loud noises overtime. The noises should not be actual gun-fire, but they might be a gunfire trainingrecording or clanging pots and pans. This

should not be donevery often initially,perhaps everymonth, which isoften enough foryour puppy to getacclimated to thesenoises.

Water Training aRetriever Puppy

Retriever puppiesinnately love water,but you still have togradually introducethem to it. Manypuppies will not haveany trouble withlearning how toswim, however thereare some that mightstruggle initially. If ithas initial difficultieswith swimming thisis nothing to be wor-ried about, as thevast majority of pup-pies will eventuallylearn how to swim.

Start with very shallow water and getyour puppy acclimated to first being wet.Try holding your puppy in slightly deeperwater to see how it responds. If your puppyshows that it can handle swimming whilein your hands, try calling your puppy tocome to you from land while you wait indeeper water. If it is comfortable withswimming, it will have no problem swim-ming towards you.

Retriever Training Takes Time Patienceand Consistent Effort

Retriever puppies are built to be hunters,

but without proper and consistent trainingfrom a young age they will have difficultieslearning advanced hunting skills later on.With some of these basic training tips, yourpuppy will be better suited to learn how toperform more advanced field and retrievingtraining. Training your retriever puppytakes patience, time, and consistent effort,but the reward is having a reliable andskilled retriever to accompany you on yourhunts.

Thanks to www.GameBirdHunts.comfor this article. GameBirdHunts.com

has many more great dog training tips,stories, sponsors & products.

YOUR SOURCE FOR ELECTRONIC DOGTRAINING EQUIPMENT NEW & RECONDITIONED

S A L E S • S E RV I C E • B U Y• S E L L • T R A D E • A C C E S S O R I E SFREE COLOR CATALOG! 1-800-430-2010COLLAR CLINIC

1517 northern Star Dr.Traverse City, MI 49686

Fax: 231-947-6566www.collarclinic.com

SINCE1988

074_001.qxd 1/28/13 11:42 AM Page 1


Professional Retriever TrainingObedience • gun Dogs • UKC Hunt Tests

“Waterdog & Waterfowl Specialists”Providing you and your retriever with the highest

degree of professional training using proven methods and state of the art equipment

Tri-Tronics DealerJim & Michelle Campbell • Canton, IL309-647-8060 or 309-338-3183www.magnumretrievers.com

SURVIVAL ON LAKE SUPERIORHow a couple of hunters &

their faithful Labs survived aduck hunter’s worst nightmare

by Dessel LaRueAs told by my son,

Layne LaRue, who experiencedThe Edmund Fitzgerald went down on Lake

Superior when “the winds of November cameearly.”

At 4 a.m., Rusty Lilyquist, Troy Beltrand and I,Tessa, my chocolate Lab, and Rensy, Rusty’s yellowLab, were going on an exhilarating duck-huntingexcursion.

It was cold (25 degrees), windy, wet, andblacker than the bowels of hell. Shivering andcussing, exchanging loud banter, and in goodspirits, we proceeded, boat pitching and rolling, insearch of adventure. It was to come more than weknew.

About four miles out, Rusty’s panicky voicesounded. “#*&!, there’s water coming in over thetop of my boots!” We were swamped; the back ofthe boat level with the water surface. The bilgepump hadn’t been turned on. The next wave turnedthe boat upside down, and the three of us, our dogs,and all our expensive equipment were dumped into

the icy, pounding water. Rusty managed to wedge himself in between the

motor and boat, only his head above water. I wasnear the front and got two fingers in the winch loop.Troy was clawing his way to the top of the boat.There was nothing for him to grab.

I yelled for Tessa. She came swimming, and Iflung her on top of the boat where she scratchedfrantically to stand up. Rensy was in the water partof the time, and part of the time she stood on Troy.I thought about how hard this must be on Rusty. Hehad been in an accident and had broken his back,neck and arm.

I realized I couldn’t cling to the boat with just

those two fingers, and then it dawned on me to useTessa’s collar, which I cinched tightly on my wrist.Troy, on top of the boat, was not in good shape. Helay flat on his back like a cadaver, eyes open, coldwaves washing over him.

We spent an eternity out there in that darkhowling water, praying silently, because thecacophony of the wind and waves made it hard tocommunicate. Then suddenly, thanks to God, a 16-foot DNR boat materialized out of the mist andswirling waters. Tessa tried to get in the boat, butshe was pushed aside. Tessa struck for shore. Shewas tired of this stupid adventure. No amount ofcalling could turn her back. I prayed she’d make it.

It was Rusty’s turn next, and his weight nearlyswamped the boat, so they hung him over the sideand dragged him to shore until his feet touchedbottom. That left me out there by myself. At thecrest of a tall wave, I could see a tiny brown blobrunning back and forth on shore. Tessa had madeit!

With Rusty off the back of the boat, the front endstarted to go down with me attached to it. Ithrashed and flailed, gulping in water. My waderswere filling with water. I was under water, lungsburning, thinking I was about to lose after all. Thenmy legs suddenly touched rocks. I had been blowninto shallow water. I stood up straight and walkedthe boat into shore.

We had come ashore right at a little resort ownedby Rusty’s relatives. They stripped us down andwrapped us in blankets. Rusty was taken to the

hospital by ambulance and Troy to a differenthospital. I was in okay shape and was taken to mytruck. I just wanted to go home. First, I had to see ifRusty was all right. Tessa and I struck acrosscountry. While driving, I called my wife to tell herabout our experience, sobbing as I told her thedetails.

I walked into Rusty’s hospital room and we bothstarted sobbing, hugging tightly, as much as ourelement-ravaged muscles would allow. The nexttime we met, we would be our old macho selves, butthis day we just damn happy to be alive. ThankfullyTroy’s okay too, owing his life to Rusty, whomanaged to hold him on top of that boat.

We all have a new respect for Leech Lake, and onthis day when the winds of November came early,she was cheated of her prize.

Post note: When I went back the next day a fellowsaid, “Boy, that yellow Lab was sure something. Iwondered why the yellow dog (Rensy) was singledout and why wasn’t my Tessa mentioned?

To our amazement we heard that Rensy made itback to shore long before we realized and set up afrenzied barking at a cabin. He created such aruckus that the owner looked out and saw, far outon the water, a brown dog appeared to be standingon a wave. Tessa was the only one visible standingon top of the boat. The man knew there was anoverturned boat. A wonderful yellow dog runningfrantically up and down the water’s edge hadalerted him. The man called 911 just as the DNRappeared, and help was on the way, thanks to Rensy.

Hohulin Fence

Superior CraftsmanshipQuality Products

Residential & Commercial Fencing

Serving Illinois for 115 Years…Call for a Quote Today!116 S. Harrison St. • Good!eld, IL 61742

1-800-322-1402 • www.hohulinfence.com

Mike O’Bryan’s trusty boy C.J.,

out of retirement, for a good retrieve!

Mike will line you up with your very own

recreational property that your whole

family can enjoy!309-687-5069

[email protected]

075_001.qxd 1/28/13 12:40 AM Page 1

Valentine’s Day Steak Fry

Dinner DanceSat. Feb. 16th

The Legion has teamed up with theMackinaw Valley Vineyard to pres-ent a Valentine’s Day Dinner for 2.


Come On Out & Support Your Come On Out & Support Your Local American Legion! Local American Legion! 31473 American Legion Dr.31473 American Legion Dr.

Deer Creek, IL Deer Creek, IL (309) 447-6776(309) 447-6776

FEB. CALENDAR OF EVENTS:FEB. CALENDAR OF EVENTS:Sat. Feb. 2 Aux MeetingSun. Feb. 3 Legion Breakfast SUPER BOWL PART YSat. & Sun Feb. 9 & 10 Turkey ShootSat. Feb. 16th Valentines Dinner & Steak Fry w/Dave Chastain Band 8pm-12amWed. Feb. 20 Family Legion Meeting 6:30SAL Meeting 7pmSat. Feb. 23 Hog Roast SAL Fundraiser Wed. 27 Legion Meeting 7pmSat. March 16th Concealed & Carry ClassFlorida 8:30 am-4 pm $75.00Sign -ups available for a Conceal & Carry class.Details at the Legion.

PUBLICALWAYS

WELCOME!GRILLOPEN

NIGHTLY!

Deer-Creek American Deer-Creek American Legion Post 1276 Legion Post 1276

NewsNews && EventsEvents

An American Legion for ALL Americans…

PUBLICWELCOME!

Public Always Welcome!31473 American Legion Dr.

Deer Creek, IL 61733309-447-6776

Every Tuesday is Mexican night! Delicious Homemade Chicken Enchiladas

& Rice…$5.00 a plate! Sat. Feb. 16th

Valentines Dinner & Steak Fry Dinner with Mackinaw Valley Wines and

the Dave Chastain Band 8 p.m.-12 a.m.April Marks 50th Anniversary of DC Legion…Look for details on

the May celebration. Kitchen is Open at 5pm Mon.-Sat.

Closed Sun. (except for special events)

Bring your Valentine out for a nightof great food & entertainment.

Two grilled Steak dinners,(cooked to order), complete withbaked potato, green beans, salad &roll. Plus 2 glasses of Wine $40.00per couple. Choose from 3 kinds ofwine offered. Enjoy Great Musicafter dinner with Dave ChastainBand playing 8pm-12.

St. Jude CanoeFloat, June 15, 2013Challenge to BuildYour Own Canoe

Make your own HomemadeCanoe! Get the kids involved &have fun creating a design.Anything goes in making yourcanoe, as long as it floats. Think

Green; try to use materials that arerecyclable, like soda or beer cans,water bottles, empty canned fooditems, Think plastic, aluminum,coated cardboard, wood, everydayordinary items we all throw away!But you don’t have to use recycla-ble materials to make your owncanoe. Be creative & participatewith us on the Canoe Float!

Phillip E. Cameron 63, of Deer Creekdied at 3:46 pm Thursday Jan 10, 2013 atOSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Phil was a United States Army Veteran,serving from 1966 to 1969 during theVietnam War. He was employed as aProgram Management Developer 11/ReleaseManager at Caterpillar.

A lifetime member of the DC AmericanLegion Veterans of Foreign Wars and 40 & 8and Am Vets of Peoria.

Phillip served with the Deer Creek Legion Honor Guard and theTazewell Military Rites Team. He also served as Post Commander for1 year and Treasurer many years. He was very involved with theBreakfast Club, Turkey shoots and New Years Day festivities. Phillip was truly a dedicated Family member of the Deer Creek Post1276 Legion. His Memory lives on and he will be missed by all whoknew him.

DC Legion’s 50th Anniversary is April28th…Celebration Party to be held May4th! Details to follow in coming months.

076_001.qxd 1/28/13 1:26 AM Page 1

In November, a family contacted meon a referral from a family whose dog Itrained 2 years ago. They planned onadding a Mini Golden Doodle, namedIke, to their family. They had chosen thedog from a very reputable breeder, andwere going to be bringing him home at8 weeks old.

What struck me about this family washow seriously they took the responsibil-ity of a dog. They realized how impor-tant it was, especially as first time dogowners, to call a professional before thepuppy arrived in order to prepare theirhome and get informed on what to dowhen Ike arrived.

I met with the family and got to know

worked with Ike when he returnedhome. Everyone expects the samebehavior from Ike, and everyone worksleash commands- even the youngestson- so the dog obeys all of them andknows his place in the hierarchy of thefamily. At each follow-up visit, Iwatched Ike do exactly what he wastaught because of this family's dedica-tion to him. Young kids have taken onthis responsibly with a patientdemeanor and it shows in the dog. Ikeand his family are still doing terrific!I'm sure they will continue to enjoy apeaceful home and have many greatyears with Ike.

Contact Les at:[email protected]

309-840-4777www.CentralIllinoisK9.com


them andwhat theyexpectedfrom theird o g .There arefour boysin familybetweenthe agesof 7 and14, and allof themhad pre-pared alist ofquestions.I always recommend clients write onpaper every question and expectationthey have regarding their dog before ourfirst meeting, They all wanted to sharein taking care of Ike, and they wantedIke to obey all of them equally, parentsand kids alike. Dogs respond to trainingbest after 16 weeks of age, so I instruct-ed them to use the 8 weeks until hestarted his training for a in-home puppypre-school. His family used that time tohouse break, crate train, and socializehim with other dogs and people.

When Ike arrived at my facility at 16

weeks, hewas dis-p l a y i n gthe normalbehavioralproblemsof manyd o g s ,especiallyy o u n gones: heexhibitedplay bit-ing, hebarked atthe doorwhen the

doorbell rang or a visitor arrive, and hejumped. These are all typical examplesof a dog assuming a dominant or pro-tective role in the absence of humanleadership. I addressed these issues andapplied basic obedience in the 3 weekshe was at my facility.

An important thing to point out isboth parents and all four children

Planning Pays By Lester Rench

Certified Master Trainer/Central Illinois K-9 Training Services

Specializing inTraining of Retrievers for

AKC Hunt Test and HuntingYear Round Training

Located in Central Wisconsin with Winter (Jan-Apr) Georgia Trip.

home to"7x AKC Master National Qualifier

Lance's Little Mis Runaway, MH, MNH”Plus many AKC Master National Qualifiers, Master, Senior, Junior titled hunt test dogs

and companion hunting dogs.

BOARDING KENNELS26 Indoor Heated/AC, 14 Outdoor Runs

Plenty of Airing/Exercising Area309-925-5125

15707 Schmidgall Road, Tremont IL 61568

Lance Kennels, LLC Retriever Training

Companion Hunting Dog3 month program geared toward getting

your dog ready for hunting season.

AKC Hunt TestGeared for those wanted to compete in

events set up to resemble hunting activity.

35 Years Experience!lancekennels-wi.com

Programs Offered:

YOUR SOURCE FOR ELECTRONIC DOGTRAINING EQUIPMENT NEW & RECONDITIONED

S A L E S • S E RV I C E • B U Y• S E L L • T R A D E • A C C E S S O R I E SFREE COLOR CATALOG!

1 - 8 0 0 - 4 3 0 - 2 0 1 01 - 8 0 0 - 4 3 0 - 2 0 1 0

w w w . c o l l a r c l i n i c . c o mw w w . c o l l a r c l i n i c . c o m

Fax: 231-947-65661517 Northern Star Dr.

Traverse City, MI 49686

077_001.qxd 1/28/13 2:52 AM Page 1


The last day of duckseason at Randy Root'sMallard Farms is oftenthe highlight of the sea-son, since most of thesurrounding duck clubsare frozen over. Roothas developed a ditchand pumping systemthat gives him the ability to keep the water in severalof duck holes open on his 80 acre club grounds. Joeand I went down for the last day's duck hunt. Eventhough it was Christmas day, our friend Tony Walkwas able to talk his wife into letting him and theiryoung son Marshall skip Christmas dinner and join usat Mallard Farms. Joe had told Tony to come downaround lunch time.

More and more duck hunters have began to notice

Dale and his adult son have hunted the last day atMallard Farms for years and had never met Tony andMarshall. Even though Joe had assured Dale, Marshallwas a safe hunter they weren't sure what to expectfrom a hunter as young as Marshall. They werepleased as they watched Marshall take out his shot-gun checking the safety before he loaded it and care-

WATERFOWL WATERFOWL 20132013

Mallard Farms for years and was probably remember-ing his first hunt at Root's. Tony stood back proudlywatching Marshall. "Don't forget your candy' hecalled out as he pick up the platform he made forMarshall to use in the blind. Father and son climb upinto the back of the pickup and headed off to theCenter blind to join Dale Nagel and his son Donny.

that the ducks seem to be turning into nocturnalfeeders. Even at Mallards Farms where Root is usuallyholding thousands of ducks on his grounds this timeof year, the ducks leave on their own at sunrise and flyoff to sit on the Illinois River loafing during the day,only returning to the flooded corn to feed in the after-noon.

Tony hunts the Illinois River from his blind or froma boat blind near Hennepin. Marshall has been hunt-ing with his dad for several years now, but this wouldthe first time he hunted at Mallard Farms. He dad hadtold he was going to see lots if mallards that day andyou could see the excitement in Marshall's eyes;Tony’s too since this was his first time hunting atRoot's.

After meeting Randy and Joe in the clubhouse, Joetook them out to the garage to get ready to go out totheir blind. It was fun to watch Marshall wrestling withhis waders, tossing his bag of candy to the side as hefolded down the legs and stepped into the boots. Clubmember, Judge Dan Schmidt joked with Marshall ashis son, Matt stood on the other side of the garagesmiling as he rolled his eyes and looked up in the airwith that look that every parent of a teenager knows.A college student, Matt has been hunting with dad at

Father & Son Dayat Mallard Farms

by Donna Tonelli

Marshall & his dad on the way to the duck blind.

078_001.qxd 1/28/13 3:18 AM Page 1

Tony and Marshall posing behind the pile of mallards. How special to capture a moment with three fa-

thers with their sons sharing a day of duck hunting atthree different stages of their relationships.Thanks so much to Donna Tonelli for sharing with ASOher Christmas Day fun hunting at Mallard Farms. Don-na & Joe Tonelli will be at the Henry Decoy Show Sun.Feb 10, 8am – 2pm. Be sure to stop by to see some oftheir decoy collection and buy one of Donna’s books.Her books are a wonderful and a great gift that anyonewill appreciate.


fully placing it in the gun rest. Tony had taught him welland he obviously knew what he was doing. Before theday was done Marshall had bagged three mallards him-self.Back at the clubhouse Marshall was enjoying everyminute with 'the guys'. A banded mallard and a beau-tiful black duck taken in their blind were being admiredby all. Dale was telling how well Marshall did in theblind.

It was a great day. As I was taking pictures of Mar-shall and Tony with the ducks shot from their blind,Dan asked if I could get a shot of him and Matt "Christ-mas at Root's you know!" he said proudly putting hisarm around his son. Dale and Donny soon replaced

Mallards Christmas Day 2012

Tony with son Marshall Walk

Judge Dan Schmidt & son Matt

Donny Nagel with his dad Dale Marshall holding his 3 ducks

079_001.qxd 1/28/13 3:17 AM Page 1


Congratulations to Kolby Shaw, 11 years old in 6th grade from Bath, IL.He went duck hunting for the first time with his Uncle Kenny

Montgomery at the Sprig Duck Club in Bath on Nov. 16, 2012. Kolbyshot the first two ducks to fly in that morning. Way to go Kolby, goodshooting. One proud Uncle and one very excited hunter! Thanks to

Trisha Bailey for sharing Kolby’s first hunting day with ASO!

Bill Morgan ASO’s good friendfrom Tupelo Mississippi finally gotto get away to go duck hunting &

congrats on a successful day!

It was a great January 13th Goose Hunt! Pearce Tabor

had a super day taking his limit. Thanks to ASO

contributor Adam Sandor of the Illinois Walleye Trail

for sharing his great day of

goose hunting with ASO!

080_001.qxd 1/28/13 9:29 PM Page 1


4136 Pontoon Rd. • Granite City, IL [email protected]

618/ 931-0919www.backwatersmarine.com

BACKWATERS~~~ MARINE ~~~

OUR PRICES WON'T BE BEAT ON 2012 WAR EAGLE BOAT,EVINRUDE E-TEC OUTBOARDS & TRAILER PACKAGES!!!

WE DELIVER ALL OVER THE MIDWEST!WE WON’T BE UNDERSOLD…CALL US TODAY!

War Eagle 648 LDV • 25hp Evinrude E-TEC Tiller,Floor, Camo, Navigation Lights, Bilge Pump, Prop, Trailer…$8,200

War Eagle 860 LDV50hp Evinrude E-TEC Tiller, Navigation Lights, Tiller, Prop, Trailer…$12,600

Custom All Aluminum Duck Boat Blinds & Flotation Pods!

OPEN: M-F 10am-6pmSAT 10am-5pm

Other Times By Appt.

TRY THE NEW TACKLE BOX DINNER…

Choose 3 of your favorites: Gator Kabob, Frog Legs, Shrimp, Clam Strips, Catfish,

Walleye + Wood Chips or Fries!SWAMP PEOPLE SPECIAL:

Gator Kabob & Woodchips Try the NEW Still Kick’n Wings,

PLUS Many More Great Menu Items!

Located just outside Germantown Hills.Please call for directions.

Home: 309-694-3010 • Cell: 309-258-8371Email: [email protected]

The Country Cabin Taxidermy

Ed Estes, OwnerEast Peoria, IL

FAST TURN-AROUND!

(left) Dec. 24th,

Rocky with aChristmas

goose!

(right)Jan. 11th

Rocky withanother great

retrieve!

Jan. 11th hunt…Mike O’Bryan on the goose pit after a great day!

Jan 13th…Jim Lucas and Rocky with some giant geese!

HENNEPIN MARINEMarch 1-2-3 • Hennepin, ILBig Savings on Lund Boats& Throughout the Store!

BUELL’S MARINEMarch 8 & 9

Canton, ILCash Rebates on Select LOWE Boats!

5-gallons of TC-W3 Outboard Oil $99.95Mercury & Yamaha Blowout Sale!

LAKE SARA BOAT SHOWFeb. 28, March 1-2-3Effingham, ILBig Savings on Over 75 Boats on Display!

OPEN HOUSES

Let Mike hook you up with some great hunting

property of your own! 309-635-8901

[email protected]

081_001.qxd 1/28/13 4:10 AM Page 1

Todd Staley from Morton shot this turkey on Dec. 21st at his farm inLewistown. “Took it at 5 yards from my ground blind. I was watchingdeer eating my turnips when I had 15 toms surprise me from my left.

It was a great day!” Thanks to ASO friend Mike O’Bryan! Mike can get you lined up with your own property!



HUNTING COLD-WEATHER

WHITETAIL BUCKSClues that might help you

bag your buck when temperatures drop to well

below freezing, or when bigweather changes are

affecting deer movements.

by John J. WoodsMonitor the weather and all the ele-

ments that will impact the next huntingday. Critical elements are temperature andhumidity (dew point), wind, rapidlychanging barometric pressures and precipi-tation.

• Learn how deer in your area react todifferent types of winter weather, andwhere they go to feed or bed down, thenplan accordingly.

• When scouting or hunting, investigatedeer-harboring areas back in deep cover. Besure to double-check for fresh travel routesto current food supplies and the trails backto bedding areas, or funnel crossroads be-tween varying habitats.

• With the reduction in daylight hours

during winter, deer will move more duringthe late afternoon hours up until dark.They will move very early at dawn as well.If the day warms up or turns sunny duringthe period from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., huntthen in open feeding areas, along watercourses, or any other place where doesmight gather in groups.

• Deer will move in light-drizzle rains,but rarely in downpours or when there arehigh winds.

• When heavy snow or ice covers groundfood sources, deer must forage even more.Search out and hunt areas where there isplenty of exposed woody browse.

• Always glass corn or soybean fieldsthoroughly to see if deer are gleaning cropleftovers. Wildlife food plots shine thistime of the season, even if frost-burned.Southern hunters should hit these hard.

Captain Hook's Lake Erie Fishing ChartersCaptain Hook's Lake Erie Fishing ChartersEXPERIENCE A GREAT DAY FISHING FOR WALLEYE, EXPERIENCE A GREAT DAY FISHING FOR WALLEYE,

SMALLMOUTH BASS AND PERCH ON LAKE ERIE.SMALLMOUTH BASS AND PERCH ON LAKE ERIE.

WALLEYE FISHING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!!! WALLEYE FISHING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!!! LAKE ERIE CHARTERS AND FISHING GUIDE SERVICELAKE ERIE CHARTERS AND FISHING GUIDE SERVICE

U.S. & CANADIAN WATERS OF LAKE ERIE.U.S. & CANADIAN WATERS OF LAKE ERIE.Enjoy a relaxing evening at The Pond Fishing Resort. Now Wi-Fi!

Capt. Pete Scheid • 419.433.5421 503 Scheid Rd. • Sandusky, OH 448701.800.453.8403 • www.capthook.com

ONE CALL DOES IT ALL!

082_001.qxd 1/28/13 11:18 PM Page 1


PERFECTING YOUR PAT TERNThings to consider when patterning your shotgun

By Chase MooreFor any waterfowl hunter, whether it be the

once-a-year guy, the weekend warrior or theseasoned guide, nothing could be more disap-pointing than having a bird work into yourspread and when the time comes to shoot,you miss all three shots.

While this has happened to every waterfowlhunter, whether they admit it or not, often itis not the result of bad shooting. What youthought was a lack of focus or an incorrectmount could be something as simple as a pat-terning issue caused by your choke tube andyour load selections.

These shooting mishaps occur more thanyou think, and by learning more about howthey affect your pattern, you can turn thosemisses into kill shots.

When referring to shotgun performanceand patterning, I've heard the saying, "If itain't broke, don't fix it." While this mighthold true for some, many hunters may notrealize that what isn't broke in their opinionscan still be holding them back from being thebest waterfowl hunters they can be.

To better understand the issues of pattern-ing and how one should go about selectingchoke tubes and loads, I took my questions toRob Roberts of Rob Roberts Gunworks.Roberts has dedicated himself to the basicconcepts of accuracy, consistency and feel. Hehas it down to a science when helping hunterscustomize their shotguns to produce the bestpatterns in any hunting situation.

"As with all hunting gear on the markettoday, especially waterfowl hunting gear,companies are always coming out with betterand more efficient products to help a hunter

get the most out of his or her hunt," saysRoberts. "The choke tube, which alwaysseems to get a lot of conversation amongwaterfowl hunters, has grown over the yearsinto a big market for these hunters trying toimprove their gunning abilities and put morebirds on the strap."

With such a selection of choke tubes thesedays, how does one go about finding the rightone? Here are some things to consider this sea-son when looking to improve your patterningwith a new choke tube.

CHOKE SELECTIONFirst try to understand it on a basic physical

level. Every time you shoot, the last link ofdirection that your wad of shot receives isfrom that thin cylinder of steel at the end ofyour gun.

"Today, most choke tubes on the marketwill be made with 17-4 stainless steel," saysRoberts. "It is a must to try and find a tubethat is also heat treated for maximum strengthand reliability."

Roberts asserts that this specification willmake for harder and more consistent steel,ultimately translating into better patterns.

Another major attribute to consider forchoke tubes are the lengths of their parallelsection. This is the part of the tube thatextends out past the gun barrel. Roberts is afirm believer that the ideal length of a parallelsection should be 1" to 1-1/8".

"I have researched and tested every possibleparallel section length from a !" to 2!" andhave found that the best patterns are alwayspresent with the 1" to 1-1/8" lengths."

An additional feature of choke tubes thathas both an aesthetic and functional impact iswhether they're ported or non-ported.

"The whole idea behind a ported choke isthe purpose of a wad stripper," says Roberts."This means that the wad is separated moredramatically from the pellets at the exit point

than a non-ported choke. Other than thatbasic feature, there are no other proven differ-ences like a reduction in recoil or back pres-sure."

Roberts, who stands behind the perform-ance of his non-ported choke tubes, says thatthe biggest factor is knowing what you wantto get out of your gun's pattern, taking intoconsideration choke constriction and yourgunning abilities.

Whether you are a waterfowler who desiresto get a softball-sized pattern at 40 yards orone who needs a more open pattern for the in-your-face decoying shots, any pattern can beaccomplished with the right combination ofchoke tube and load. Without having a basicunderstanding of how a choke tube functionsor what to look for, it can become a guessinggame with the potential for inconsistency andfrustration.

LOAD SELECTIONThe load also has an effect on the pattern of

your gun. Within any cloud of shot, individ-ual pellet placement is entirely random, and

no given pellet or group of pellets can be pre-cisely directed. However, if this scatter of pel-lets is dense enough, the sheer number defeatsrandom positioning and can produce multiplepellet strikes to down the bird.

Choke tubes are essential in this regard, butwithout a satisfactory load to allow the choketo do its job, you won't see improvement. Sohow do you find a load to match your choke?According to Roberts, it's a trial-and-errorprocess.

"If you don't feel like getting it profession-ally done, which I would recommend, the eas-iest thing to do is to go out and buy a couple

DECATUR BATTERYNEW & REBUILT BATTERIES

Discount Center • 543 N. Van DykeFree Installation • “A Battery for Every Need”Midwest Leading Battery & Accessories

Supplier to the Outdoorsman!Dwight Hill • (217) 429-6642 EXIDE

BATTERIESHours:

M-F 8-5SAT 8-12

AutomobileFarm

IndustrialMarine

MotorcycleCommercial

Imports

HAVE A PROJECT COMING UP?We’ll be glad to look at your next job with you... and it doesn’t cost to look!

HODGSONLumber & Land Improvement21046 CR 800 N, Kilbourne309-538-4411

fax: 309-538-4279

Land ClearingExcavating • Demolition

Pond ConstructionTodd Hodgson 217-473-1009Theo Hodgson 309-657-1468

photo by Chris Jennings


083_001.qxd 1/28/13 4:26 AM Page 1


of how it works, it's also important to under-stand that it's not as simple as buying an after-market choke tube. Do your research to seewhich choke best matches your gun.

In many cases, it would be a good idea tohave a professional modify and outfit your gunwith a choke tube. Roberts suggests a precisioncustom choke installation and individually fitchoke tubes, which will have none of the limi-tations present in mass-produced or aftermar-

ket choke tubes.A custom choke will be more likely to be in

line with the point of aim when the tube is inalignment with the shotgun bore. The patternsare likely to be more uniform when the shot isconstricted evenly through the entire chokingaction. An off-center choke, which can befound in some factory or aftermarket choketubes, will have the shot strike first on one sideof the choke and have an uneven action.

of different boxes of shells that you would wantto use during the season and go to work," saysRoberts. "Find out which type of shell patternsbest."

THE PROFESSIONAL PATTERNEven though it is feasible for a hunter to

generate a good pattern with basic knowledge

"Nothing could be more detrimental toone's hunting experience than blatantly over-looking the importance of your shotgun's per-formance, especially that of the gun's pattern-ing ability with respect to choke tubes and loadselection," Roberts concludes.

However, none of this is to say that somequality time with your favorite shotgun can'tproduce nearly professional results.

w w w . D u c k s . o r g

Hicks Trading Station4952 State Rt. 13 • Pinckneyville, IL

618-357-2583 • OPEN 7 DAYS!Southern IL’ Largest Gun Shop

PATTERN… Cont’d. from previous pg.

Premium Steel ShotgunAmmo for Duck Hunters

Looking for maximum ammo performance within your budget? Today’s hard-hitting

premium steel is the answer.

By Jarrod SpilgerAlthough premium non-toxics have commanded the

bulk of waterfowl ammo attention in recent years, reg-ular old steel has quietly continued bagging ducks andgeese. While premium non-toxics are highly effective,steel remains the shot type of choice for most water-fowlers.

The reason is simple economics. Most premiumnon-toxics are tungsten based, and tungsten costsconsiderably more than iron. Although tungsten mightbe more effective than steel, in today’s economy,many hunters just can’t afford ammo costing $2 or $3

per round. So they opt for the more affordable main-stay — steel.

Ammo manufacturers have noted steel’s continuedpopularity, as reflected by recent waterfowl load intro-ductions, all of which are steel-based. However, steeltends to either zip through birds (over-penetration) orget caught up in feathers (under-penetration), be-cause it’s light and fast and it loses energy quickly.That’s why larger shot sizes and higher velocities oftenare used to maintain lethality, both of which come atthe price of decreased pattern density.

Manufacturers have taken a couple very differentapproaches in their attempts to make steel shot moreeffective. One solution is to use odd-shaped shot thatcauses larger wound channels and massive blunt-forcetrauma, such as Federal Black Cloud’s sharply bandedFLITESTOPPER steel pellets.

Although Black Cloud was the first commerciallysuccessful odd-shaped load, the concept isn’t entirelynew. A few years ago, Polywad’s Jay Menefee devel-oped an odd-shaped steel shot he called Squounds, be-

cause its shape was neither square nor round. Later, itwas dubbed Aerosteel by Pinnacle Ammunition, whichwas set to load the shot commercially before suddenlygoing out of business. I’ve tested both Squounds andAerosteel and was impressed by both. Ducks droppedstone-cold dead.

The second approach is to take regular round steeland make it better, whether through zinc plating or in-creased velocity. Remington did this with HyperSonicsteel, which took high velocity to a new level. At 1,700feet per second, it’s the fastest commercially loadedshotshell ever.

WINCHESTER BLIND SIDE Winchester went the odd-shaped shot route with

last year’s introduction of Blind Side steel. Loaded100 percent with six-sided Hex pellets that look liketiny dice with rounded corners, this cube shot is de-signed to cause maximum impact trauma for cleanerkills. Blind Side folded ducks with authority last fall.

The square shape also allows the shot to be stackedinside the hull. Winchester calls this “packing densi-ty.” Indeed, if you cut open a shell, the Hex shot isneatly stacked inside the Diamond Cut wad designedto efficiently deliver the shot downrange. The result ismore pellets per shell, resulting in denser patterns.Three-inch, 12-gauge magnums have 1 3/8 ouncecharges, while 3 !-inch super magnums are stuffedwith massive 1 5/8 ounce payloads. For 2012, 2 "-inch 12-gauge (1 # ounce) and 3-inch 20-gauge (11/16 ounce) loads have been added. Initial shot sizes

were No. 2s and BBs, joined by 1s and 3s in 3 !-inchthis year, and 1s, 3s and 5s in 3-inch. No. 2s and 5sare available in 2 "-inch 12-gauge and 3-inch 20-gauge. Velocities are a reasonable 1,400 fps in 12-gauge and 1,300 fps for 20-gauge.

KENT SILVER STEEL Kent Cartridge opted for the second approach, tak-

ing something that was already working and making iteven better. Kent’s no stranger to high velocity steel,igniting the hyper-velocity craze several years agowith its Fasteel line. Last year, Kent took regular roundFasteel shot, plated it for better corrosion-resistanceand penetration, threw in some improved, custom-blended powders, and the result was Silver Steel.

This premium steel load smacked ducks hard lastseason. Initially available in 3-inch and 3 !-inch 12-gauge, with respective 1 #-ounce and 1 !-ounce pay-loads of 2s or BBs, this year No. 1s were added to the3-inch variant. Like Blind Side, velocities are adequatebut not punishing — 1,450 fps in 3 !-inch and1,480 fps in 3-inch.

HEVI-METALHevi-Shot took a middle-of-the-road approach to

the steel-shot conundrum. While Hevi-Shot is ex-tremely effective, its tungsten composition alsomakes it extremely expensive. Hevi-Shot’s responsewas Hevi-Metal, a hybrid load featuring a 50/50 mix-ture of regular round steel shot and tungsten Hevi-Shot pellets. Hevi-Metal combines Hevi-Shot lethality

084_001.qxd 1/28/13 5:18 AM Page 1


particularly well with premium steel. Although I usedfull chokes in most instances, other constrictions areavailable.

When shooting Blind Side at ducks last fall, I used aCarlson’s long-range Black Cloud choke. This year,Carlson’s offers Blind Side-specific tubes designed forshooting Hex shot. (www.choketube.com, 785-626-3700)

While it’s intended for Black Cloud, Kick’s Vortex

FEB. 2-3, EFFINGHAM, KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS 1501 W FAYETTE AVE.

FEB. 16-17, BLOOMINGTON, INTERSTATE CENTERRT. 9/MARKET ST

MARCH 2-3, COLLINSVILLE, GATEWAY CENTERMARCH 9-10, BELLEVILLE, BELLE-CLAIR EXPO

CTR. 200 S BELT EASTwww.ISRA.org

2013

2013

choke performs equally well with Kent Silver Steel, inmy experience. I used a full tube, and ducks fell.(www.kicks-ind.com, 800-587-2779)

Hevi-Metal BBBs and a Hevi-Shot choke: that’s myrecipe for disaster when gunning snows and Canadas.Most memorable was a big blue that came whistlingdown from the heavens in a free-fall, hitting theground nearby with a resounding thud.(www.hevishot.com, 541-367-3522)

with inexpensive steel-shot filler to maintain densepatterns.

The process through which Hevi-Shot is created of-ten results in shot that is misshapen, not round. Hevi-Metal again combines the best of both worlds — pre-mium round steel shot for pattern density, and odd-shaped Hevi-Shot for maximum wound channel trauma— a true hybrid load.

Hevi-Metal is available in 10-, 12- and 20-gauge ina variety of shot sizes. Listed shot size is based on themeasurement of the steel-shot content. Hevi-Shot pel-lets tend to run three sizes smaller than their steelcounterparts, but have correspondingly similar down-range energies and penetration. For example, Hevi-Metal 2s combine steel 2s with Hevi-Shot 5s. Hevi-Metal has proven lethal on everything from tiny teal tolarge Canadas and is my go-to load for high-flyingsnows. It’s a great choice for waterfowlers on a budg-et desiring Hevi-Shot performance at steel-shotprices.

THE PRICE OF PERFORMANCE All three of these premium steel offerings — cube-

shaped Blind Side, round Silver Steel and hybrid Hevi-Metal — fall within the same price range, averagingaround $22 to $25 per box of 25 rounds, give or takea couple dollars depending on retailer and shell length.That might be more than traditional steel offerings,but premium steel costs much less than other premi-um non-toxics (most sold only in 10-round packs).Premium steel nicely splits the difference betweenbargain steel and expensive, high-end non-toxics. Arethey worth the money? Pick up a box or two this sea-

son and see for yourself. I think you’ll be pleasantlysurprised.

CHOKING PREMIUM STEELAfter purchasing a box or two of premium steel, the

next question you’ll face is which choke works bestwith these new loads. The same waterfowl choke usedfor shooting other non-toxics will work just fine, buthere are some aftermarket options I’ve found work

W H E N I S I C E S A F E ? W H E N I S I C E S A F E ? b y B o b P l a t t b y B o b P l a t t There is no sure answer. Ice is tricky and just because a lake or stream is frozen doesn’t mean the ice is safe. To understand the factors involved in the strength of ice, it is

necessary to understand how ice forms on lakes and streams and a few of its physical properties. The following are points to consider based on research by the U.S. Army ColdRegions Research and Engineering Lab.

You can’t tell the strength of ice just by its appearance, the daily temp, thickness, or whether the ice is or is not covered with snow. Strength of ice is based upon all four fac-tors; plus the depth of water under the ice, the size of the water body, water chemistry distribution of the ice and local climate factors.

New ice is much stronger than old ice. Direct freezing of a lake or stream will be stronger than ice formed by melting snow. Refrozen ice or ice made by water bubbling upthrough cracks and refreezing on the surface. Several inches of new ice may be strong enough to support you. While a foot or more of old rotten ice may not.

Ice seldom freezes or thaws at a uniform rate; it can be afoot thick in one spot; while 10 feet away only an inch thick.A layer of snow insulates ice slowing down the ice forming process. In addition the weight of snow can decrease the weight capacity of the ice.Ice near shore is weaker. The buckling action of the lake or stream over the winter breaks and refreezes ice continually along the shore.If you hear ice cracking or groaning on cold days or evenings, it doesn’t necessarily mean the ice is dangerous. It is merely changing its shape as the temperature changes.Ice formed over flowing water near shore, around bridges, or where streams narrow or contain springs can be unsafe. River ice is almost 15% weaker than lake ice. Straight

smooth flowing stretches of rivers are safer than river bends. Rivers are dangerous because the current undermines the ice and creates unsafe packets.A potential danger spot on lakes is an open portion completely surrounded by ice. Winds will force exposed water beneath the ice and rots it from below.

Other factors that weaken ice are water level fluctuations and the action of winds and fish. An example is: a school of carp creates thin ice spots andeven opens water by congregating in one location while circulating the water with their fins.

Safety Tips: For those of us who venture onto the ice whether on foot or in a vehicle, here are some tips to lessen your chances of a break through.Ice fishing requires at least four inches of clear solid ice.Snowmobiles require five inches.Automobiles and light trucks require a foot of ice. (Remember these are merely a guideline, factors mentioned above must be considered) Refrain from

driving on ice when ever possible. If you must drive, be prepared to leave it in a hurry.Carry a couple of large nails with sharp ends, with a length of nylon rope in your pocket. The nails can help you pull yourself out of the water and onto the ice.Contact Bob at: 309-469-2363 to get some great custom made tackle. He also guides on many lakes & the Illinois River in central Illinois. So if want to get on some walleye,

Bob is your man

085_001.qxd 1/28/13 5:23 AM Page 1


posal on a bike trail fee could emerge as soon as thisspring, Miller said.

The changes were not forged behind closed doorsbut, rather were part of a process that included usergroups and regulated industries, Miller said.

ABATE — A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education— was part of those discussions, Miller said. The ad-vocacy group for motorcyclists wants changes made inthe portion related to off-highway vehicles and willmeet with Miller this month, according to ABATE’swebsite.

The website described the bill as “a very unpopularand unfair bill for all off-road enthusiasts.”

ABATE representatives did not respond to mes-sages seeking comment.

Tom Lindblade, president of the Illinois PaddlingCouncil, also was at the table.

He said paddlers aren’t happy seeing the three-year, $6 registration fee switch to a $6 annual “waterusage fee” — also called a paddling pass — howev-er “most realize that $6 a year isn’t a lot.” And the feedrops to $3 for every boat after the first three.

“The major improvement for paddlers is you won’thave to title your boat,” Lindblade. That process cre-ated headaches for both paddlers and the DNR.

Tim White of Forsyth, president of the MackinawCanoe Club, hopes with higher fees the DNR will be ableto focus on specific projects that preserve accesswhile addressing safety, such as negotiating pathwaysaround low-head dams or other dangerous river ob-structions.

Paddlers will be able to purchase stickers from baitshops, sporting goods stores and retailers that already

State Funds Dwindling, IDNR Forced to Raise Fees

BLOOMINGTON — If you are thinking of floatingdown the Mackinaw or some other river on an innertube this year, it’s going to cost you $6.

And the registration exemption that sailboardershave enjoyed has been removed.

Canoe and kayak paddlers will see state fees tripleand off-highway vehicles, such as dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles, will need a use sticker for the firsttime.

It’s all part of a “sustainability” measure that tookeffect Jan. 1, 2013 to help the Illinois Department ofNatural Resources. The agency has seen the number ofpersonnel cut in half in the past 12 years, its generalrevenue funding go from $107 million in 2002 to $45million today and a maintenance backlog grow to$750 million, according to DNR Director Marc Miller.

The changes are less widely known elements of a billthat also added a $2 surcharge to license plates to bedirected to the DNR.

It is a move toward a user-fee model that de-em-phasizes relying on a dwindling share of state generalrevenue, Miller said. The measure also prohibits thefund sweeps that have been used in the past, particu-larly under former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, to divert mon-ey set aside for specific uses into the state’s generalfund.

The bill also authorizes, but does not yet impose,fees for beaches, bike trails, equestrian trails and ve-hicles driven into parks by out-of-state visitors. A pro-

do point-of-sale state permits for such things as fish-ing and hunting, Miller said. More than 1,300 vendorshave the equipment to do that, he said.

Implementation of the paddling and ATV feesawaits approval of administrative rules. Miller said, “Itwill take nine to 12 months to get these things inplace.”

During that time, his agency hopes to get the wordout, with the help of user groups and retail-ers, he said.

The $2 license plate surcharge will gener-ate about $20 million to $22 million in rev-enue. By law, half will go to operations andhalf to maintenance.

“We’re going to be doing a lot of catch-up,” Miller said, focusing on the most urgentmaintenance needs — those affecting hu-man or environmental health.

Recreational activities aren’t the onlyones seeing fee increases. The measure alsoincludes new or higher regulatory fees forwater permits, consulting work and licens-ing coal mining officials. The oil and gas in-dustry agreed to fund more well inspectorsand permit reviewers, Miller said.

IDNR fees - Among changes under the newIDNR sustainability legislation:

- Off-highway vehicles, such as dirt bikesand all-terrain vehicles, will need a $15sticker. Formerly, there was no fee.

- “Non-powered watercraft” such as ca-noes, kayaks and float tubes will need a $6annual “water usage stamp” rather than thecurrent three-year, $6 registration fee.However, cumbersome title requirementshave been eliminated and the annual fee

drops to $3 for the fourth and subsequent boats.- Fees also will go up for other boats, based on

length:Less than 16 feet long, increases from $15 to $18.At least 16 but less than 26 feet, from $45 to $50.At least 26 but less than 40 feet, from $75 to

$150.40 feet or longer, from $100 to $200.

Premier Flight Guide Service

Dean Tlougan • 507-261-2072 • [email protected] w w . G o o s e G r i n d e r s . c o mw w w . G o o s e G r i n d e r s . c o m

w w w . S n o w G o o s e G r i n d e r s . c o mw w w . S n o w G o o s e G r i n d e r s . c o m

SPRING SNOW GOOSE HUNTSArkansas, Missouri,

South Dakota

CANADA GOOSE HUNTS

Rochester MN, “Home of the Giants”

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS DUCK &

GOOSE HUNTS

Minnesota’s Largest Guide

Service… MORE FIELDS

THAN ANYONE!

World & State Champion Callers!

BOOK TODAY FOR A

GREAT HUNT!

Bob’s DistributingBob’s DistributingCustom-Made Fishing Tackle

Bob Platt Offers: River Eyes • Willow Spoons

Jigs • Crawler HarnessesLead Heads • Bargains!

410 Highway St. • Sparland, IL410 Highway St. • Sparland, IL(309) 469-2363 • 369-6273(309) 469-2363 • 369-6273

Ol’ Joe’s Live Bait & TackleJoseph Vandervort, owner

217-935-624418845 E. Hwy. 54•DeWitt, IL

WE SELL THE BAIT FISH CRAVE!OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

5AM-5PM

Central Illinois’

Flag Head-quarters

PEORIA FLAG &DECORATING CO.Decorations For All Occasions

Exhibition Decorators

920 E. GlenPeoria Heights, IL 61616

(309) 685-8989

086_001.qxd 1/28/13 7:11 AM Page 1


Small gamehunting earlier

this fall innorthern

Wisconsin,DustinHinds

managed to bag hisfirst ever

ruffedgrouse.

The fall flight of

woodcocks offered

hunters abonus bird to

hunt whilepursing ruffed

grouse. Theerratic flightsof these birdsallow most of

these odd fellows to escape. After many long hours in the field a

well deserved break is taken by myGerman shorthair pointer Jake.

Dog owners venturing into the north woods should keep their leatherman tool handy. This was the first of three porcupines that my German short-hair Jake "found" for us. And just like skunks they never seem to learn.

Dan & DustinHinds taking amid day lunchbreak in the

splendor of thenorth woods infall color. No

restaurant hasatmosphere to

top this.

Father & Son HuntingTrip to Wisconsin

WATCH ASO-TV

Sat. Feb. 23 & Sat.Mar. 30

at 5 p.m. on

PBS TV,WTVP Ch. 47

087_001.qxd 1/28/13 8:53 AM Page 1


are wealthy enough to pay the high priceof many hunts today.

My long time hunting partner JohnIrwin and I were at the BloomingtonDeer and Turkey Classic four years agowhere we met guide, Dave Allen, theowner and operator of Peak View Out-fitters based in Savery Wyoming. Johngot a nice 5x5 bull in October of 2009on day two of our first hunt with Davein Colorado. We saw elk nearly everyday and had an outstanding hunt stayingin Dave’s bunk house and using hishome as the gathering place for greatmeals and conservation.

John Irwin and 2009 Elk Rack at Peak View Outfitter Camp

Dave offers a discount for father and

son hunts so I quickly planned anotherhunt when my son Bill could be withme. Bill loves to hunt but now lives inEastern Michigan where his job requireslots of travel. We don’t get to hunt to-gether as much as either of us wouldlike. When Bill was growing up in ruralBloomington we trapped and hunted abunch. He caught on to what I couldteach him about the outdoors quickly,and now shares what he has learnedwhen we do get together. In October of2010 Bill drove over and we piled ourgear inside John’s 2008 Tahoe with two100 quart coolers on the roof rack andtwo more inside. Elk are big and if allthree of us were lucky enough to connectwe would need all the coolers we couldmuster.

October 15, 2010 was day one of ourelk hunt with the two of us going up theside of Battle Mountain with Dave at thewheel of his Arctic Cat UTV. Bill was inthe back while I rode shotgun. The Catsaved time and energy for this old huntertraversing the private ranch land Daveleased.

John stayed at the base of the moun-tain near a creek where elk grazed beforeopening day. Before anyone thinks wedrove to the elk I need to make clear wedrove to the place where we could thenhike to the opening day elk ambush spot

Dave had in mind. Driving up the steep, winding and

rock strewn trail in the darkness ofpredawn was a “hold on for dear life” ex-perience. Dave cautioned us to protectour eyes from the wicked serviceberrybrush that slapped the sides of the ArcticCat then snapping back into the cabwhere we sat. I had undergone cataractsurgery in both eyes just two months pri-or to this trip, yet another reason to bevery careful with my eyes. This was myfirst hunt since grade school days whereI no longer needed the thick distance vi-sion glasses that always seemed to fog upat the wrong time.

Dave parked the UTV at trail end andwe hiked up the side of the mountainanother mile or so following cattle andelk trails. The aspen groves above andbelow us still had some leaves on and thescrub oak, sage and service berry brushwas thick making seeing anything (evena huge elk) a challenge for this flat-lander. Another reason a good guide isimportant as Dave’s trained hunters eyessaw what we did not. Dave told us to getready as the sun came up over the ridgeoverlooking a wide expanse of a brushfilled valley.

As the sun came up we enjoyed thebeauty of the mountains as sunlight be-gan to reveal what had been hidden from

Elk Hunt Memories By Howard Heatherwick

My first elk hunt in the BridgerWilderness of Wyoming took place backin the 1960’s and although the hunt didnot go as planned (another story), it didimplant a deep seated desire to do thisagain. Lots of years ticked by with typi-cal work and family priorities at the topof most every list I made. My partnersand I always take too much “stuff” withon hunting trips. I never want to besomeplace far away and say “I have oneof those at home” so lists help make surewe have what we do need. In recentyears, as age becomes a bigger issue, I de-veloped the proverbial hunter’s “bucketlist” of things I would like to get doneand more elk hunts are on this list.

Elk meat is the best in this hunter’sopinion and a great bonus lasting at leasta year or two if double wrapped for thefreezer, but the memories created onthese hunts last well after the meat isconsumed. After my Bridger Wildernesslow budget elk hunt, I have become abeliever in the value of hunting with areputable outfitter. We have been fortu-nate to have found guides who love tohunt and also know that not all hunters

RESERVE NOW!Lasting Memories Begin at Kentucky Lake!

1297 Shawnee Bay Rd. • Benton, KY 420251-800-272-4413

www.shawneebayresort.com

088_001.qxd 1/28/13 11:40 AM Page 1


view. The crisp morning air filled our lungswith thinner but a very welcome rechargefrom the workout the two of us got justgetting to the spot.

Dave was sitting to the left with Bill inthe middle and me on the right flank. Wehad shooting sticks in position and beganglassing the mountain for signs of elk. Atfirst light we saw two cow elk movingquickly through the valley below. Weheard a few shots in the distance on publicland where other hunters had to hike amuch greater distance.

I believe Dave’s thinking was we wouldget in opening day position early and letthe other hunters push elk to us. The tacticworked great as we then spotted an elkmoving quickly through the brush belowus. Dave identified it as at least a 4x4 bullbefore either Bill or I could make the sameassessment. This was Bill’s first elk huntand we agreed he would shoot first whichhe did at a distance we later measured at325 yards. The bull was still going andDave said shoot again. While following theelk through the scope of my BrowningBAR 300 win mag, I waited for Bill to pullthe trigger a second time. I glanced overand saw his bolt action had not completelyextracted the initial spent shell.

My role as back up went into action witha shot at the fast moving bull. Dave said myshot was high so I adjusted and fired again,this time hearing the welcome “thump” ofa high caliber bullet hitting flesh. I firedonce more before the bull disappeared intobrush below. The mountainside above andvalley below became still again.

Bill and Dave were recovering from thesound of the muzzle brake on my rifle. Thebrake helped me but made hearing protec-tion advisable for hunting partners. Afterglassing for a time, Dave and I went tocheck for signs of a hit while Bill waited. Ihad mixed emotions, first of all regrettingBill’s rifle had jammed then second guess-ing myself on whether or not I had reallyhit the bull.

Dave signaled he found the bull about20 yards from where we last saw it upright.I breathed a hunter’s sigh of relief. Walkingdown the side of the mountain into thebrush following Dave made me aware whythe bull was tough to spot. The thick brushwas well over my head in many patches. Af-ter taking several photos the tough work ofpacking out the elk came next.

Dave quickly removed back strap andloins putting them in a plastic bag then in-to Bill’s backpack. I hauled out the headand horns while my Bill and Dave did thereally heavy work hauling out hind andfront quarters. After several stops relayingthe quarters we got back to the UTV forsome cold water and a few more photos.

Day two of our hunt found us again

Howard and Bill Heatherwick with 2010 Elk

with Dave repeating day ones steps. Thistime we set up on another part of themountain side glassing for elk with John

Bill Heatherwick with Guide DaveAllen glassing for elk on day 2.

again staying low where the day before hesaw both bulls and cows. Our Wyominghunting licenses allowed either bull or cow

and on day two John connected with a hugecow elk. Once hit, the cow slid down thehillside stopping in a shallow ditch in easydistance for Dave’s pickup to make shorterwork of the retrieval. Bill hunted hard thefollowing three days of our five day huntseeing elk most every day including a bullsimilar to mine but high up the mountain-side that he elected to pass on, late in the fi-nal afternoon’s hunt.

Like most of our hunting friends, Bill,John and I realize that hunting is more thanalways connecting with the quarry. Some ofthe very best memories are prompted byphotos taken that capture great times withfriends, family and an excellent guide, in abig and beautiful country.

089_001.qxd 1/28/13 9:33 AM Page 1


Move! If fish aren’t biting, take a walk and see if others are

enjoying any success. Hole –hopping, even small dis-tances, can produce fish. A hole that isn’t fishy isn’tgoing to put dinner on the table. Also, fish the entireVERTICAL water column. Often ‘gils and crappie may“hold” in a narrow band within the depth range. Coverthe depth by slowly and completely jigging from top tobottom through the entire profile.

And last but not least, GO ! Stop wishin’ and gofishin’!

Fishing Bluegills andPanfish through the Ice

by Kurt Welke, Longtime fisheries biologist for Dane

County, (including the Madison Lakes)

“Hard water” fishing for panfish is fun and easyand may result in a fine dinner when the winds blowcold. Here are some basic tips and considerations toimprove chances of success.

Where to fishKnow the locations where bluegills will be. Often

time, winter fishing is a return to the familiar hauntsof summer. Bluegills associate with weeds, findinggreen, standing vegetation is often key to finding fish.Don’t overlook woody debris either: tree crowns andfish cribs attract panfish. Also, small nuances indepth such as dropoffs, breaks, and bars are fish hold-ers.

Use all the toolsSome anglers use fish locators to hone in on fish or

to put their bait in the fish holding areas. Others con-sult local online forums for location, time and baitdetails from other successful anglers. On the ice, cellphones between fishing pals has helped to turn a so-soday into a memorable trip.

Bait useMake it tasty. Baits vary as much as fishermen but

mousies, wax worms, and spikes ( all larva of insects )typically grace the business end of ice fishing jigs.Don’t be shy about using a small plastic “wedge” orteaser to attract attention or trigger a strike. Have aselection of colors available to work with changingwater clarities. And check your knot! There are meth-ods of tying on jigs and baits that create “bounce’ or

715-476-2389 • [email protected] • www.mercercc.com

For a FREE 2013 visitor’s guide or more information, contact us at:Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce • 5150 N Hwy 51 • Mercer, WI 54547715-476-2389 • [email protected] • www.mercercc.com

MERCER,WISCONSIN

“Home of the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage”

MERCER,WISCONSIN

“Home of the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage”

Wisconsin’s Favorite Outdoor Playground!Wisconsin’s Favorite Outdoor Playground!

wiggle that entice hesitant fish into biting.

Line and hook tipsKeep it light. Bluegills are dainty sight feeders.

Keep your line light ( 2- to 4-pound test monofila-ment) and the terminal tackle small : rat finkys, mar-mooskas, tear drops and ice jigs need to be kept toscale with a bluegills mouth , such as # 12. The samegoes for floats or spring bobbers…keeping them sen-sitive and offering minimal resistance means morebites. But if the bite isn’t happening, don’t be afraid toswitch it up and offer up a big meal….sometimes bigaggressive fish will take a large flashy lure.

More tipsBe quiet. More often than not, it’s the quiet

focused anglers that fill their pails. Fish spook andavoid vibration and noise. A stealthy approach pays itsown dividends. To keep disturbance to a minimum drillextra holes when you first arrive so when the bite getshot you can maximize the potential of the area you arefishing.

Fishing Northern Pike through the Iceby Terry Margenau,

A fisheries supervisor stationed in Spooner.You can often find Terry on the ice fishing for northern pike

“Northern pike are the ultimate winter sport fish, the “people’s fish.” Any angler worth his or her salt will admita northern pike has saved many fishing trips from being a skunk.”

Where to fishDo a little homework. If you don’t have a favorite lake already, check our internet page (dnr.wi.gov/topic/fish-

ing) for lakes in your area, or better yet, contact your local fisheries biologist. They can provide information fromrecent surveys and send you in the right direction.

Keep it simple. Don’t try to out think a northern pike. Northern pike will suspend in the water column, they willbe found along deep rocky bars, but for the most part they are going to be associated with vegetation. Vegetationis where the food generally is located and also provides concealment for a stalking predator like the northern pike.In most inland lakes vegetation extends to depths of 10-15 feet of water. Find the vegetation and you will find north-ern pike.

Best depths and bait placement Split the difference. Many anglers when setting tip-ups place their bait a cer-tain distance off the bottom. For example, say water depth is twelve feet. Find bottom and set your bait one or twofeet off bottom. If you are fishing in vegetation my general rule is to think in halves. Twelve feet of water –put yourbait at six feet. This serves two purposes. First, vegetation is still occupying a fair portion of the water column atearly ice. If you place you bait based on x feet from the bottom there is a good chance it’s in the vegetation. No sight– no bite.

Second, predators like northern pike cruise the water column. Even if they are near the bottom they can find preyabove them. The opposite is less likely to be true.

Don’t forget the shallows. Especially during early ice northern pike will frequent water less than 5 feet deep.When setting up your tip-ups put one in shallow. You won’t be disappointed.

The mystique of the northern pike• Northern pike are common in Wisconsin. At last count they were found in over

2,000 inland lakes, rivers, and flowages in Wisconsin. Not to mention the bays of LakesMichigan and Superior, and the Mississippi River.

• Northern pike are multi-dimensional. They are mostly known as a food fish but alsoprovide trophy opportunities. Northern pike fillets in a skillet are second to none. Checkour website for proper filleting techniques to remove those troublesome “Y” bones.

• Northern pike are active and bite all day. Show up at noon and you are good to go.No more of that putzing around in the dark. You should be on your way home by then.

• Northern pike are low maintenance; the perfect winter fish for kids. Drill a fewholes in the ice, put in some tip-ups, sit back and have a cup of coffee, let the kids play,and when a flag goes up, everybody runs. That’s good living in a Wisconsin winter.

090_001.qxd 1/28/13 10:53 AM Page 1

We offer many things to do during the off-season, such as snowmobiling,fall fishing or ice fishing, cross country skiing, ATV trail riding…

All while enjoying the beauty of the changing seasons!Looking for a weekend getaway?!

Deerfoot offers many nice choices!Cozy Cabins, Lakeside Motel,

a Nice Lodge, Bar & Grill. Enjoy a Hot Toddy and cozy up to the Fireplace!

Come relax & escape to the Northwoods.!!Centrally located on the beautiful Chippewa Flowage.

Looking to Start a New Tradition? Start a New Tradition with Us!FIRST-TIME GUESTS WILL GET A THIRD NIGHT FREE

WHEN YOU COME STAY WITH US JAN.-MAY & SEPT.-DEC.

Your Hosts: Amanda, Chris, Bev & Jim8534 N. Deerfoot Rd. • Hayward , WI 54843-4467

(715) 462-3328deerfootlodge.com

“Like” us on

Facebook.com/DeerfootLodgeResort


091_001.qxd 1/26/13 1:35 PM Page 1


duckbandbrand.com

Custom Designed Hunting JewelryFull Service Jewelry StoreLaser EngravingLaser Welding

Great for: Hunting Clubs

Service AwardsWedding Bands

8208 Old Rte. 13 West Marion, IL

618-997-9100All images & designs are the property of: The Jeweler’s Bench, Inc.

The Jeweler’s Bench, Inc.Where the Difference is Trust

Jewelry for Hunters, by Hunterswww.dandkjewelrybydesign.com

MADE IN THE USA

092_001.qxd 1/28/13 11:06 AM Page 1


First AnnualVeterans Trap

Shoot inMontrose Iowaby Deborah Whitaker

Founder Hamilton Area Troop Support

Hamilton Area Troop Support(H.A.T.S.) along with GoldenEagle Distributing hosted the firstannual Veterans Trap Shoot onSunday, November 18th. 2012 atthe Tri-State Gun Club inMontrose, Iowa. Fifty people cameout to show their support at theevent.

This event was designed to letour local veterans and their sup-porters get together and blow offsome steam. The winner in theLadies division was MissyWinheim from Fort Madison. Thewinner in the Veterans divisionwas Clay Seabold. The winner ofthe Youth Division and top shooterover all was William Faeth, win-ning a $100 gift certificate toScheels Sporting goods. Williamwas also awarded a plaque dedicat-ed in honor of Dustin Whitaker, thesoldier son of Ron and DeborahWhitaker, who lost his life inApril.

Presenting the plaque wereDustin’s two bothers Beau andLance Whitaker. Dustin was on theArmy National Guards, Presidentscup last year and won the metal forExpert Marksman.

A special thank you goes out tothe Tri-State Gun Club for hostingthe event and Shawn Schrepfer forall the time he spent making thispossible. We would also like tothank Whittney Vigen, Bob Gundy,Blake Schrepfer, and everyonewho participated for all their help.Thank you to every one that donat-ed items for the auction and toKyle Dart, our local Vietnam vet-eran, for being our delightfullyeccentric auctioneer.

Money raised will go to!our localsoldiers and The Wounded WarriorRetreat, in Washington Iowa. Thistruly was one for the memorybooks and we hope to see evenmore people participate next year!

News from the Field…“I harvested this deer 30 minutes after I shot coyote on Saturday of 2nd deer season. The deer came up the ridge to me. The shot was 15 yards with my savage bolt action 20 guage. The buck was a 10 point and weighed 200 lbs.field dressed.”

Congrats to Gary Amos! Thanks for sharing these trophies taken on a great hunting day with ASO. Beautiful Buck!William Faeth accepting

his awards.

093_001.qxd 1/28/13 11:28 AM Page 1


JLS Marine, Inc. would like toinvite everyone to attend The 20thAnnual Boat Show in Springfield,located in the Orr Building on theIllinois State Fairgrounds, FridayFebruary 22 - 2pm-9pm, SaturdayFebruary 23 - 10am-7pm, and Sun-day February 24 - 10am - 5pm. Wehave extended our hours on Fridayto open at 2pm.

JLS Marine, Inc. has assembled

an outstanding line up for the 2013show. There will be boat dealersrepresenting over 30 manufacturersof the latest watercraft on the mar-ket. The Orr Building will be jampacked with an outstanding varietyof boats.

Illinois Boat Dealers scheduledto display at the show will include: The Boat Dock- Springfield, EastSide Marine- Springfield, Lake

Springfield Marina- Springfield,Clinton Marine- Weldon, HanksSales and Service- Raymond,Yachts to Sea, Nashville, TaylorMarine - Belleville, Victory Lane-Litchfield, & The Liquid Edge -Farmer City.

Find a great selection of fiber-glass and aluminum fishing boats,runabouts, Inboard ski boats, pon-toons, personal watercraft andmore.

There will also be a number ofboating related booth vendors of-fering products and services. Rep-resentatives will be at the showwith Alpha Omega Marine audioand upholstery, Noble Sport fish-ing charters, Mark Twain Lake, EZDock Personal Watercraft Lifts,Hewitt boat docks and Lifts, Resi-dential and Commercial floatingdocks and air lifts, boating safety,

top of the line wakeboards, waterskiing and wakeboarding acces-sories, Illinois Department of Nat-ural Resources, Gillie Jigs customBass Jigs and more.

Doug Meeker with The LiquidEdge will be at the show to discussIllinois's Very First Cable System.(System 2.0)

System 2.0 has been revolution-izing the sport of Wakeboardingover the past 5 years! This uniquesystem allows riders to be pulledover the water from a Cable ratherthan a boat. This system also al-lows us to incorporate aspects ofskateboarding and snowboardingwith wakeboarding by using railsand kickers as opposed to a wake.In addition to the cable park locat-ed in Farmer City, IL, The LiquidEdge also offers wakeboard andwaterski lessons, stop by the showto get on their schedule.

With 10 boat dealers all underone roof The 2013 Boat Show inSpringfield provides an outstand-ing opportunity to compare all thelatest models of boats and boat re-lated services offered in CentralIllinois and surrounding areas. Thisis a great place to purchase yournew boat!

Regular adult admission is $5,children 12 and under are free.FREE PARKING!

For additional information clickthe boat show link on www.jlsma-rine.com or visit www.theboat-showinspringfield.com.

If you have any questions aboutthe boat show you can contact JeffSmith at 217-341-1730 or [email protected]. We look for-ward to seeing you and thank youfor supporting The Boat Show inSpringfield.

094_001.qxd 1/28/13 12:23 PM Page 1


2000 E. War Memorial Dr. (1 mile West of McCluggage Bridge) • Peoria, IL

Custom Colors

Lifetime Warranty

Installation

Available!

“Peoria Area’s Elite Truck& Auto Accessory Center”

AUTO • TRUCK • JEEP • VANRESTYLING SPECIALIST

• Sun Roofs• Window Tinting• Running Boards• Spray On Bedliners• Tube Steps • Fiberglass Hard

Lids & Caps

SPRAY ON TRUCK BEDLINER

• Remote Starts• Tonneau Covers• Keyless Entry• 4x4 Accessories• Trailer Hitches• Tool Boxes• & MUCH MORE!

by Keli Van CleavePinkOutdoors.comPinkOutdoors.com

Product Flare for a new season

The 2013 Trade Shows welcomedarchery and hunting professionalsfrom around the world. The sheervolume of new products at this sea-sons shows are impressive. Thisyear’s theme appears to be aboutlighter, faster and stronger. There wasalso a renewed buzz surrounding tra-ditional and competitive archery,likely due to archery’s “pop culturemoment” thanks to the 2012 SummerOlympics and blockbuster movieslike!Hunger Games!and!Brave.

My favorite broadhead companyRage is changing the game again.Brand new for 2013, is the muchanticipated Hypodermic. This aero-dynamic, compact design is extreme-ly tough and offers more penetrationthan any Rage broadhead to date!The solid steel ferrule sports a brandnew hybrid tip design, allowing theHypodermic to have the aerodynam-ics and accuracy of a leading edge

blade, cou-pled withthe bonec r u s h i n gperformanceof our chiseltip.

Don’t for-get to pickup theirT u r k e yBroadheadbefore sea-son starts.Designed exclusively for turkeyhunting, the 2-blade TurkeyBroadhead has a 2.25-inch cuttingdiameter, and the 3-blade TurkeyBroadhead has a 1.75-inch cuttingdiameter. Both broadheads feature1.25-inch blade edges.

Staying with archery products for2013, the TightSpot quiver is clearlyof high quality. The mounting hard-ware is machined aluminum or some-thing similar. The arrow grips areadjustable, and accommodate anypink fletched arrows. The instruc-tions are clear and mounting is easy.This TightSpot quiver lays flatagainst your bow, and adjusts for-ward/back. Rage two blade broad-

heads fit perfect insidethis quiver.

Best of “gadgets” goesto Crooked HornOutfitters Trail Light.For the female that does-n’t want to wear a lighton your head whilewalking in the dark andalso doesn’t want smashyour hair down whilehunting or fishing, thenyou will enjoy “Thelight.” This light comeswith two sets of batteriesand has two clipping mechanisms. Itcan clamp to a vertical or horizontalstrap and opens wide enough to evenbe clipped to the brim of a hat if youchoose to wear one. The main lightportion opens to show four LEDbulbs. Two bulbs are white and theothers green with one of each on sep-arate heads that can swivel independ-ently.

Having the two independent headsmakes it easy to light the grounddirectly in front of you as well as fur-ther ahead on the trail. Brilliant tech-nology and it simply works. It can fitany application and the movement ofthe lights makes it super easy to lightwhatever area you need no matterhow it is fixed to you or your gear.Lastly, for the turkey hunters whowant to keep your feet off the coldground. The innovators atMillennium have done it again.Designed for multi-season use, the

M300 Tree Seat willprovide you with a morecomfortable sit than youever thought possiblewhen waiting! for thatbeautiful longbeard toappear. Featuring alu-minum constructionand! weighing in at 4pounds,! the M300comes with a convenientcarrying strap.

Simply attach theM300 to the tree at thedesired height keeping

cover and!terrain in mind. Once set inplace, this seat is secure, silent andextremely comfortable. You’ll keepyourself dry and avoid pesky insectsin the M300.!

Should you need to move quickly,simply unstrap the seat, throw it overyour shoulder and you’re off to thenext setup.! Before you start turkeyhunting this spring, do yourself afavor and purchase a dry seat.

While outdoor companies are uni-fied as an industry and collaborate ina mission to grow archery, hunting,and fishing, each company is uniqueand, collectively, they provide a localtwist in selling a myriad of productsmixed in with a creative, spontaneousflare that is punctuated by new ideas.

Contact Keli at:[email protected]

095_001.qxd 1/28/13 12:43 PM Page 1


eral favorite fishing spots along theway as we passed an isolated islandthat was once a sacred, Indian burialground. The boat glided easily overflats and through narrow channels asour captain led us to a secluded scal-loping site. When we dropped anchorin 6-8 feet of water over marine grassbeds and sandy bottoms, everyone ea-gerly strapped on snorkels and jumpedoverboard into the crystal clear, 83 de-gree water.

Beneath the surface, there was aburst of activity as fish darted in andout of grass beds and a lone stingrayfed on the sandy bottom. Within min-utes my husband, Skip, had baggedhalf a dozen of these highly prizedmarvels. I spotted a scallop hidingdeep in the sea grass and ventureddown to investigate. It was standingupright, shell slightly ajar, lookingback at me. This was a monster, ap-proximately 3 inches in diameter and Iwas determined to grab him.

Unlike most shellfish, these craftycritters have the ability to propel them-selves through the water at times ofcrisis. Just as I reached for him, hesnapped his shell shut and launchedhimself like a jet engine across the seabed. I surfaced, took a deep breath and

by Nici HaerterMy husband and I have literally

snorkeled and fished our way across 3continents. In the midst of all our trav-

els, we have somehow neglected totake advantage of the abundant scal-loping season right here in our ownbackyard, the waters of Florida’s GulfCoast. Last month when my pathcrossed with a fellow angler and char-ter guide on the Homosassa River, Idecided to take him up on his offer totry some scalloping.

Often referred to as both a deliciousand fun sport, successful scallopingmay be achieved by anyone able toswim. Our small group ranged in agefrom 21 to 70 years old. We were a di-verse assortment of anglers from cen-tral and south Florida, all on our firstscalloping adventure and full of ques-tions. Our charter captain passed ashell around for inspection and gave usthe basic “how-to’s” of scalloping. Theonly equipment necessary is a swimmask, snorkel and mesh bag. Thisyear’s season has produced an abun-dant supply of scallops in the gulf wa-ters and he promised us our bag limitin only 3 or 4 hours of snorkeling.

With afour mileboat rideahead ofus, wesoon foundourselvesr e l a x e d ,en joy ingthe sightsof indige-nous birdsf e e d i n galong ther i v e r ’ sedge andsoaking upthe hotF l o r i d asunshine.Our cap-tain point-ed out sev-

Rep. Wayne Rosenthal IL, 98th DistrictSupports the ISRA, NRA & YOUR RIGHT TO CARRY!

Springfield Office: 242A-W Stratton Office Building

Springfield, IL 62706(217) 782-8071

District Office: 324 North State StreetP.O. Box 38 • Litchfield, IL 62056

(217) 324-5200

Gamber Cove…Gamber Cove…With Over 10 Well-Stocked Fishing Lakes, Miles of Hiking Trails, Berry Picking, Mushroom Hunting, Swimming Pool, Shower House, Shooting Range & Club HouseCamping: Full Hookups or Primitive,

Near Victoria, IL

309-879-2490 • 309-696-0172www.gambercoverec.com

Call Ray Gamber to get your

membership lined up today!

Enjoy 315 Acres!

Shellfish withAttitude

went back down, intent on capturingthis renegade. It took me 2 more divesbut he ended up in my mesh bag. Iproudly surfaced, waiving my prizedcatch in the air as the other snorkelerscheered me on. I was hooked! By theend of the day, I had netted 87 scallops.Skip boasted that he was able to scoopup three in a single dive!

After a prosperous day on the water,our return boat trip was filled with ex-cited chatter, all sharing our uniquescalloping experiences and discussingrecipe ideas for dinner. One snorkelerhad spotted a sea turtle lazily swim-ming amongst us while we foraged inthe grass beds. Throughout all of theenthusiastic banter, one commontheme continued to surface, we allagreed that scalloping was now on ourlist of “must-do’s” every year!

096_001.qxd 1/28/13 1:14 PM Page 1


PEPSI SUPPORTS WOMEN IN THE OUTDOORS!

Meatsaws • Grinders • Stuffers • Freezer PaperJerky & Summer Sausage Seasonings • Casings

Anything & Everything for Home Deer ProcessingWE HAVE IT IN ALL STORE LOCATIONS!

ILLINOIS: Macomb, Monmouth, Canton, Galesburg, KewaneeIOWA: West Burlington

WWW.FARMKING.COMSHOP NOW AT:

www.BuckGirl.comCamo Clothing For Women By Women!”

• Designed with a woman's body in mind, the pants do not come up to your chin and the shirt doesn't fit like a potato sack.

• Finally great-fitting comfortable 100%camouflage from Buck Girl!

• Shirts available in XS - XXL; Pants sized 0/2 - 12/14.

• Pink stitching along the shirt and pant seams gives a little Buck Girl touch!

Check us out on Facebook!www.facebook.com/BuckGirlsCheck us out on Facebook!

www.facebook.com/BuckGirls

Check out all of our great productsand get yourself or your loved

ones the best women's camo on the market!

BringingBringingHome theHome theBacon (orBacon (or

Backst raps)Backst raps)

Now that hunt-ing season is overyou can concentrateon planning yourhunt for this comingfall. Promoters real-

ize that this is the best time of the year toorganize hunting and sports shows and exposbecause it will be a couple months before thelast trace of winter has melted and we head forthe outdoors whether it is for fun in the sun ordoing yard work.

These shows and expos give me a greatopportunity to actually talk to outfitters face toface. I like to feel the firmness in their hand-shake and even the twinkle in their eye as I sitdown with them and find out exactly what I’mpaying for.

I can glean some information from a website.With the ever increasing tv hunting showsincluded in my satellite plan I can actually seethe territory being hunted, quality of game andhow comfortable the accommodations are. ButI’m more into the actual meet and greet experi-ence before I ever book a hunt.

by MarleneOdahlen-Hinz

Most of the time when I book an out-of-statehunt I drive to my destination. The reason is sothat I can be prepared for any situation thatmight come up. I pack extra clothes in case acool front moves through the area or an unpre-dicted storm. If I’m warm and dry I can huntlonger. I also throw in a treestand incase I finda spot the outfitters stand doesn’t cover. Beingprepared for the unexpected usually fills theback of my truck and there have been timeswhen I was glad I didn’t travel “light.”

Being prepared for the actual hunt is impor-tant but so is knowing what you will do afteryou’ve taken an animal. Ninety-five percent ofthe meat I serve is wild game so I try to bringhome as much of the animal as I can for use incasseroles, chili and soups throughout the year.

Nearly every outfitter has a place to processthe animal once taken but I want to know if theyhave a freezer to put the meat in once it hasbeen skinned and quartered. When I head back

home I don’t want the meat to spoilif I should have trouble on the road.Meat that has been thoroughlyfrozen and placed in a cooler won’tthaw for days. Take a lesson fromhow many days it takes even asmall turkey to thaw in your refrig-erator at Thanksgiving.

Like many hunters, my husbandand I do all the butchering of gametaken so we have separate saws,cleavers and assorted knives to dothe job properly. Working with asharp knife makes the job go quick-ly but the edge needs to be sharpened periodi-cally so I also include an electric knife sharpen-er because I’ve never mastered using a steel tobring back the edge.

It’s my responsibility to supply the coolersbut several standard sized ones should holdmost any animal taken. Most of the time theoutfitter will help me bone it out for an extrafee. By boning it out I have only the actual meatto deal with once I get home and not have toworry about disposing of the ribs, should bladeetc. before they start to “stink.”

If I plan to have the hide tanned then I makesure to include a larger cooler knowing I’ll prob-ably need a little extra muscle to lift it in andout of the back of my truck. The coolers alsoserve as storage bins on the trip to our destina-tion.

In the past few years I’ve also included a vac-uum packer on my equipment list. The more Ican get done at the outfitter’s the less I have todeal with once I get home. This has proven to bea super idea especially when my husband and Ihunt bear at The Bear Camp near Armstrong,Ontario. Since we tend to just hunt in the after-noons when one of has a bear down that personcan remain in camp cutting up the bear whilethe other still hunts. Being able to process ourbears at the camp really reduces the amount ofspace we need to reserve for the trip home.

With a little preparation you can bring thosebackstraps home ready to be grilled with mush-rooms and onions.

So until next month, remember to take yourdaughter, granddaughter or niece bowhunting.

First step is to skin your bear.

097_001.qxd 1/28/13 1:53 PM Page 1


[email protected]

For a Free Catalog, Call: 217-376-3873

Gerald & Jeanne Sampen421 Olive St.

Emden, IL 62635

Spearing Northern Pike

A blanket of snow lies upon rockspiled on the shoreline of PokegamaLake. Like marshmallow cream fiveinches thick as far as I can see. I ride thesnowmobile across the frozen bay withJoan. Bits of ice swirl in the air andsting my face as we round the bend to-ward the shelter. Her husband, Randy,is already in the darkhouse and willguide me fishing. Ice and cold watermake Northern Pike aggressive. This isno ordinary ice fishing. A spear replacesa fishing rod as my weapon. Spearfishingfor Northern’s is the most exhilaratingfishing I have ever done. Today feelslike a great day for these aggressive pred-

ators. We arrive at The Shack to find Randy

holding a large Northern Pike. “I wasbarely in the shack and had justskimmed the ice out of the hole.” Randyspeaks with confidence as he tells abouthis catch. “I watch a big fish swim by. Igrab the weapon and spear him.” I canhardly wait to get into the shack to speara pike just like this. Minnesota ranksfirst nationally in sales of fishing licensesper capita (at over a million sold peryear). Spearfishing accounts for fiftythousand of those. Spearfishing is an ex-hilarating sport. I love everything aboutit: the warmth inside The Shack, theview into the cold water watching fishswim below me, the conversations as wesit on the bench, the thrill with thethrust as I release the spear, and the tasteof a freshly speared Northern.

They all com-bine to make an en-joyable winter after-noon.

I enter TheShack and hang mycoat on a hook.Orange glow fromthe heater produceswarmth as I sit onthe grey woodenbench. The rectan-gular hole has beencut through the

floor of The Shack and the ice beneath itcut out, making a window into anotherworld. The wooden decoy is eight inch-es long and is painted greenish-yellowexcept for its metal fins. It hangs intothe water three feet beneath the surfaceand is held in place with a string. Thestring is tied to the wall of The Shack.

Weeds grow on the bottom of the lakeand my guide tells me we are above wa-ter 15 feet deep. I pick up the string,forcing the decoy to swirl, imitating aswimming fish. A school of perch fin-gerlings swim by. I hope a Northernwill be hungry enough to pursue.

Pike are ferocious predators and theirappetites intensify during wintermonths. They prefer cylindrical fish likeperch. I watch the cold, clear water in-tently. Soon a dark green fish swims in-to my view. I hold the spear, stand, andbegin to lower the spear into the water.Immediately the Northern notices mymovement, curls her body, and disap-pears in a flash. Will she return? I sitand watch the water for movement. Al-most immediately a Pike swims towardthe decoy. I am doing all I can to re-main calm.

The dark green elongated body mim-

ics a charging alligator, coming in fastand furious. I must react quickly. Istand, lower my spear in the water, andthrust it into the fish. In the split-sec-ond flurry, she thrashes her tail andcurves her back. Water bubbles enve-lope and rise with her as I pull her up.She is large. The spear is parallel to herbody, instead of the ideal shot, behindthe head and cross-wise to her body. Imust be careful as I lift her out of thewater. I do not want to let her shake offthe spear. I must get her out of TheShack and away from the water hole.She has sharp needle-like teeth thatpoint backwards. I am cautious and stayaway from her dangerous mouth.

Randy throws open the door, grabsthe spear, and shakes the pike onto thesnow. I did it! Joan and Randy con-gratulate me. We get back into The

Anita Williams & Bill WhiteSHE HUNTS, HE COOKS

AND THEY TRAVEL

GOBBLERS KNOBGOBBLERS KNOBHUNTING PRESERVEHUNTING PRESERVE

26471 E. State Hwy 9, Canton, Illinois 61520Gobblers Knob Hunting Preserve is located 4.5 miles east of Canton, Illinois on Route 9

BOOK HUNTS TODAY!PHEASANT, QUAIL

& CHUKARWE TRAIN & SELL

QUALITY BIRD DOGSPlease call or e-mail your hunting needs to Don at

Gobblers Knob Hunting [email protected]

(309) 647-3641Cell: 309-219-2343

Don Deuel, Preserve Owner/Manager

Joan & Anita arriving on the snowmobile.

Congratulations to Anita forspearing a northern pike!

Way to go!

098_001.qxd 1/28/13 2:16 PM Page 1

BakedNorthern

Pike By Bill White

3-4 lbs Northern Pike fillets,skinless, boneless5 tablespoons clarified butter2 cloves garlic, chopped4 basil leaves choppedsprig of parsley choppedsprig of oregano choppedsea salt and pepper to tasteI medium white onion diced3 tablespoons fresh squeezedlemon juice6 strips of Prosciutto (can substi-tute bacon if need be)

Take a 9 x 13 baking pan andlightly coat with clarified butter.

Season the pan with sea salt andpepper.

Lay the Pike fillets on the pan,brush with remaining butter and season with sea salt and pepper totaste.

Sprinkle with chopped garlic,chopped basil, parsley andoregano.

Spread diced onion evenlyacross the fillets.

Pour lemon juice over filletsevenly.

Last lay the 6 strips of prosciut-to across the fillets to impart fla-vor.

Bake in the oven for 20 minutesat 425 degrees.

Check periodically, and feelfree to remove from oven if youfeel the fillets have cooked longenough.


Her empty nest allows time to pursueinterests of photography, bowhunting,fishing, travel and food. Follow her onfacebook.

Customer Service Index #1 at Watkins Marine for ‘08, ’09 & ’10!

we enjoy spearfishing. Anita lives in Grand Rapids, MN and

is the mother of two adult children. Shehas been a hairstylist for thirty years.

Shack to try for another fish. All of asudden I see a smaller fish and can’treact quickly enough to spear her. Thesun is lower in the sky and darkness willcome quickly. We head back to thehouse, clean the fish, and enjoy dinner.The good news is that Minnesota may beknown as the walleye state, but the truthis, the northern pike is the most wide-spread game fish here. That is greatnews for Joan, Randy, and Me because

Pokegama Lake frozen solid!

099_001.qxd 1/28/13 2:22 PM Page 1


ColbySimms

RaySimms

THE

COUNTER-ROTATINGHATCHET BLADES!

UNIQUE DESIGN

CATCHES BASS

LIKE NO OTHER LURE!

DIFFERENTVIBRATION,

FLASH & ACTION!

Hatchet Spins are the ultimate lures for bass and many other species. The Wild Turbulencewill fool even the oldest fish. Give yourself The Advantage in your next tournament, or just give that local trophy something never seen before and trigger the Big Strike!

Hatchet Spinsare the ultimate lures for bass and many other species. The Wild Turbulencewill fool even the oldest fish. Give yourself The Advantagein your next tournament, or just give that local trophy something never seen before and trigger the Big Strike! Dealer Inquiries

Welcome!

ColbySimmsOutdoors.com618-521-0526 • 573-358-5948

(top left) David Denny and his son Silas pheasant hunting on Dec. 20th.

(top middle) After a long day of walkingSilas would not give up the bird!(bottom left) Congratulations to

10-year-old Dana Barker of Chatsworth,for taking his very first buck.

A nice 8-pointer killed with a shotgun inLivingston County. Thanks to proudGrandparents Rusty & Becky Barker

for sharing Dana’s trophy! (bottom right) Last pheasant hunt on

Dec. 27th at the Chandlerville Hilst farm.

Cody, Eric & Isabella Hilst allhad a great day hunting!

100_001.qxd 1/28/13 2:49 PM Page 1


MorelMania

By Tom Nauman

The 2012 morelseason started aboutthree weeks early. Infact, it was a full six days (March 22) before theprevious early start (March 28) for the Peoria,IL area. That’s when things really got busy. Theyalways do during the season regardless of whenit starts.

An early season is still okay if it progressesbut that didn’t happen for us here in CentralIllinois and many other places. In fact thedrought that started about the same timeresulted in the worst morel season I’ve ever wit-nessed. And, I’ve seen quite a few of them.There were a few areas that received ample rainat the proper time and the morels respondedaccordingly. But, those areas were few and farbetween.

We can tolerate a poor season once in awhile.But, 2010 and 2011 morel seasons were alsomediocre, at best. By the time the festivalscame around, the morels were all but gone. Thewinner of the Midwest Morel Fest found a totalof seven. The winner of the NationalChampionship in Boyne City, Michigan found fif-teen.

The people that benefitted most from theweak season were those that brought mush-rooms to sell at the Illinois festivals. Many of themorels sold came from the area whereMinnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin meet, whichhad received rainfall at the proper time.

Find Morels at the Indiana Deer, Turkey &Waterfowl Expo!

“Find Morels” is the title of Tom Nauman’spresentation at the Indiana Deer, Turkey, &Waterfowl Expo on February 15, 16, & 17, 2013

(the first weekend of the Ford IndianapolisBoat, Sport and Travel Show – the largest out-door consumer show of its kind.) For times andmore information visit the website: www.ren-froproductions.com

See Tom at these events in 2013:ILLINOIS Deer & Turkey Expo, February 1-3Springfield / Prairie Capital Convention CenterOHIO Deer & Turkey Expo, March 15-17Columbus / Ohio Expo Center (State Fairgrounds)WISCONSIN Deer & Turkey Expo, April 5-7Madison / Alliant Energy Center of Dane CountyWebsites for the IL, OH, & WI expos may befound at: www.deerinfo.com

Mushroom PoisoningsThis is turning out to be a really negative

issue. First the report on the terrible seasonand now I’m sad to report numerous peoplehave been treated for mushroom poisoning inthe past few months. At least four of them havedied.

The main culprit seems to be the “DeathCap” mushroom (Amanita phalloides). In oneOhio case, someone created a chicken caccia-tore made with the Death Cap that a friend hadgiven him. Four people were hospitalized.Additionally, several immigrants fromSoutheast Asia have become ill from eating thismushroom because it resembles an ediblefound in their homeland. Another poisonousmushroom that has been mistaken as edible isthe “Destroying Angel” (Amanita virosa). Youmay find descriptions and photos of deathcapat David Fischer’s website:

www.americanmushrooms.com/deathcap.In the California case, a caretaker at an

assisted living center for senior citizens madea soup from mushrooms he harvested from thebackyard of the facility. The result was thatfour of the residents died. According to thearticle, California recorded 1,700 cases ofmushroom-related illnesses from 2009 to2010, including two deaths.

As a result of the Ohio incident and others,

Keltner Auction ServiceFARM LAND • REAL ESTATE

ESTATES/HOUSEHOLDS • ANTIQUE SALESAVAILABLE FOR AUCTIONS…CALL TODAY!Mike & Bonnie Keltner • Carlinville, IL

217-556-3125 • 217-854-5423IL Licenses #440-0000143 • #440-0000144

Hotline 24-hours daily

314-846-0751

March 16 & 17, 2013 • St. Charles Convention CenterOne Convention Center Plaza • St. Charles, MO

OVER 500 TABLES! ST. LOUIS' LARGEST SHOW! Public: Sat: 9am-5pm, Sun: 9am-3pm

Admission: $10 • Children under 12 are free with parentDealers Set-Up: Fri: 9am-6pm, Sat: 8am-9am

June 7, 8 & 9, 2013 • Machinist's HallSt. Charles Rock Rd. • Bridgeton, MO

St. Louis Weapons Collectors 2013 GUN & KNIFE SHOWS

BUY - SELL - TRADE!24-Hour Security

No Loaded Weapons • Free ParkingFor more information cal l or wri te:

Pete Cutel l i , Show PromoterSt . Louis Weapons Col lectors

PO Box 510023 • St . Louis, MO 63151 Emai l : pete@stlweaponcol lectors.com

www.SaintLouisWeaponCol lectors.com

Ohio doctors are recommending that peopledon’t eat any wild mushroom. I have mixed emo-tions about their advice. I can’t imagine notbeing able to forage for mushrooms. But thenI’ve educated myself. If I’m not 100% sure of amushrooms edibility, I leave it alone. Not doingso is stupidity in its purest form. My dad had aeuphemism for stupidity.

He called it “Lack of Knowledge”.I’m reminded of an Arabian proverb that

begins with, “He who knows not, and knows notthat he knows not, is a fool; avoid him.” If you’renot 100% sure of the identy of a mushroomyou’re thinking of consuming, avoid it. It truly isa matter of life and death. If you “know not”,get your mushrooms from the grocery store.And, after your trip to the grocery store, stop ata bookstore and gain some knowledge by pick-ing up a mushroom field guide. Easier yet, thereare thousands of web pages with pictures anddescriptions on a web search. Just be sure thewebsite is credible.

These events are also creating legal problemsfor people who sell harvested wild mushrooms.In Iowa and Indiana, it is illegal to sell any wildharvested mushrooms, including morels, unlesssomeone trained in mushroom identificationhas inspected them and declared them safe.The states differ in requirements necessary tobe a “mushroom inspector”. The state of Mainepassed one of the most comprehensive laws

regarding the sale of wild mushrooms. It has yetto be implemented because the certification feeand the advisory board as required by the lawhave yet to be established.

The Maine law is a result of two chefs pur-chasing mushrooms the seller identified asporcinis (Boletus edulis) which are edible andchoice. The mushrooms were really (Boletusseparans) also shown in some field guides as(Xanthoconium separans). The common nameis lilac brown bolete. The mushrooms werenever served to the public. But the chefs con-sumed them and required hospitalization.

Find more info on morel mushrooms at Tom’swebsite: www.MorelMania.com

The first half-pound bag of morels to sell at the Wyoming, IL morel festival brought the seller $160!

101_001.qxd 1/28/13 3:33 PM Page 1


replacing Guinness? I knew that she was one of akind – my own little soul mate dog, and I felt baddeep down for even typing the words “English Bull-dog” into a search engine. But some outside forcewas pulling me to search. Not just for a new dog, buta new rescue dog – that much I knew was anabsolute.

After being turned down by various English Bull-dog-exclusive rescues (they charge a minimum of$400 for a dog that has been liberated from a pup-py mill at auction, and have a laundry list of require-ments for approval – apparently a spotless recordof over a decade of breed knowledge, love and com-mitment wasn’t one of them), I felt as though thewind was knocked out of my sails. Why won’t theworld let me rescue another bulldog? I felt a wave ofsick emotions. But then I remembered one thing – Ihad searched for Guinness a good 6 months beforeI found her. I had to let the critter come to me oncemore.

And she did. I ran across “Malibu” online(Petfinder.com – a wonderful site!) in earlyDecember. She was being held at a humane societyand I called the instant I saw her fuzzy photo. Thewoman I spoke with is an amazing individual. Ishared my story with her and she told me to emailthem an application right away. A week later I wasapproved to adopt “Malibu.” I traveled to Robinson,

P.O. Box 212 • Arnold MO 63010 • [email protected]

Choke work for all barrels and gauges, including thin barrels and chrome-lined bores

STEEL SHOT and TURKEY, Shooting match barrel work, including“factory legal” specials to pass choke test plug gauges

Choke tubes fitted and super-long forcing cones for all gauges, backboring and chamber work

Smoothbore slug accurizing and combination barrel conversions

Youth shooter modifications: fittings for short stature, cushy recoil pads, and more

Serious home protection, defense improvements for guns

Mechanical improvements, reconditioningTrigger / action smoothing / wear reduction

Classic Doubles, Winchesters, Mag-10 / SP-10 re-workRemington 1100, 870, Mossberg, some barrels stocked

NEW GUN JUST NOT RIGHT?

• SloPPy Fit• CROOKEDTube• Rough Action• HARD Trigger

~ THE SHOTGUN SHOP ~~ THE SHOTGUN SHOP ~GUNSMITHING & SPECIALTY WORKGUNSMITHING & SPECIALTY WORK

lish Bulldog fashion, and she is a sweetheart. Ibelieve she is an angel – except that instead ofwings she has a slobbery mouth and big jowls per-fectly engineered to administer sloppy kisses.

Now I must be totally honest and say that I neverintended to get another English Bulldog. I told myfamily and friends years ago that I would neveragain get another one of these goofy flat-faceddogs – that I was done with the breed. Why? Well, Iguess I said it because I knew how hard it was tocoach Guinness on how to be a dog, and quitefrankly I failed miserably at it, that is until I res-cued Joe Buck, and like natural magic – whod’athunk? – all it took was another dog to show herhow to be a dog.

Still, it was years, I’d say between two and threeyears, before Guinness was behaving like a regularhappy dog and not the shell of a dog I rescued froma puppy mill in 2003. You see, the dog goes throughwhat you go through and the same happens inreverse – I went through those very hard first yearswith Guinness – and the very hard last year whenher health was failing – and I just plain didn’t wantto do it again.

Except I didn’t count for one thing: The power oflove.

How silly of me to over-look the most importantpart of dog ownership – and how embarrassing ofme to think I wouldn’t get bitten by the bulldog bugagain. So it went that after a few months of griev-ing I did eventually begin to search again for anoth-er bulldog. But I felt stupid. How can I even fathom

Illinois to meet the dog and to make sure she wouldget along with Joe. After everything went swim-mingly, we scheduled her spay operation, and aweek after that I picked her up on January 3rd.

A new year and a new bulldog! I could not be hap-pier. I re-named her Lola, which she has taken toinstantly. She has so many traits that actuallyremind me Guinness, and it has turned out to beendearing – not the disloyal “replacement” of adog I feared, but a celebration of the dog I loved somuch and all the love I have to give to this new dog.

Please, please, if you’re thinking of adding a petto the family, think adoption first! And don’t stopat dogs and cats, Petfinder.com gives you accessto shelters across the United States – your localshelter probably has rats, rabbits, ferrets, andcountless other species in need of a good home.There are also horse rescue agencies – pigs, goats,donkeys – you name it, but whatever the critteryou’d like to add to the family, please considersharing your love with a homeless animal first –they really do appreciate it and give so much love inreturn!

Friend Dirt Church on Facebook! Just search for “Dirt Church”

Questions/comments please emailA.K.! [email protected]

By A.K. ThompsonAbout a Bulldog

As most of you know I lost my English Bulldog,Guinness, in July of 2012. In my September article,“Dust to Dust” I devoted this space to her andshared some fond memories of a wonderful dog.This month I would like to introduce you to my newbulldog, Lola. Let me get right out and tell you thatgetting this new dog has brought nothing but purejoy to my heart. She is quirky in that signature Eng-

Custom built PC's ! System upgradesVirus & malicious software removal ! Anti virus software installation

! Residential & small business networking solutions! We build liquid cooled custom gaming PC's!! We now offer web hosting & web design!

CLETCHER TECHNOLOGIES SERVICESComputer repair, inhouse, on location, or pickup available!

913 W. Garfield Ave. • Bartonville, [email protected]

309-453-9055www.CletcherTechnologies.com

102_001.qxd 1/28/13 3:51 PM Page 1

Crappie PizzaWhat a treat as the main event on

pizza night or as a great appetizerto another meal. As delicious as acold leftover as it is piping hotright out of the oven.

1 tube of refrigerated crescentsrolls1 pkg. 8 oz cream cheese (soft-ened)1 1/2 c fresh spinach (chopped &divided)2 green onions (thinly sliced)1 1/2 t fresh dill (chopped)1 1/2 t grated lemon peel (divided)1/2 t lemon juice1 1/2 c crappie cooked and flaked1/4 c black olives sliced1/2 c red peppers dicedSalt and pepper to taste

Unroll crescent roll dough andplace on a 12" pizza pan and flat-ten. Bake at 350 degrees for 8- 10minutes until golden brown. Mixcream cheese until smooth, stir in 1c spinach, onion, dill, 1/2 t gratedlemon peel, lemon juice and pep-per. Spread over browned pizzacrust. Top with cooked and flakedfish, olives, remaining spinach, redpepper and grated lemon peel. Cutup in to bite size squares and serve.

Hot and Sour Pheasant SoupNothing warms a body and heart

like a hot cup of delicious soup!And the best part is that even aunique tasting recipe like this oneis incredibly easy to make.

2 cups water2 cups chicken broth1 pkg chicken flavored Rice ARoni1 jalapeno pepper (minced andseeded)1 cup cooked pheasant or grouseshredded2 green onions (chopped)1 Tbsp soy sauce1 Tbsp lime juice1 Tbsp Cilantro (minced)1/4 cup red pepper (chopped)

Combine water, broth, pheasant,rice mix, peppers, onions and soysauce, bring to boil over high heat,reduce and simmer 20 minutes. Stirin lime juice and garnish withcilantro.

Cherry Caribou TenderloinLean, protein-rich caribou meat

is amazing, and this recipe reallymakes it special. If you don't havecaribou, you can use venison, elkor even lean beef tenderloin.

1 caribou tenderloin3 Tbsp butter (unsalted)1/4 cup shallots (sliced)1/2 cup Balsamic vinegar1/2 cup cherry preserves

Season tenderloin with salt andpepper, melt butter in a skillet andsear meat on both sides until med


Dolphin Cove1111 Sunset Dr.

East Peoria, IL 61611River Mile Marker: 167.8

309-694-2606

Hours: Kitchen: 11am-10pm Daily

Bar: Closes at 1am

Made to Order Pizzas after 10amDaily Lunch Special $4.00

Specialty Sandwiches:Dolphin Dip • Hot Italian Beef • Broken Wing

Inugay Watch •Jewelry RepairInugay Watch•Jewelry Repair

101 W Walnut St. • PO Box 1102 • Tremont, IL 61568

309-925-3019

Kris’sKitchen

By Kris Winkelman

rare, let rest. In small skillet add 1-tbsp. butter and shallots sauté 3minutes, add 1 tsp pepper, salt,vinegar and cherry preserves sautéuntil sauce slightly thickens. Add 2Tbsp of butter to sauce stir. Sliceyour tenderloin thin, place on serv-ing dish pour sauce over it.

Sometimes you want to make alittle bit of halibut go a long way.This pasta salad is a great way toextend your protein while givingyour family a taste sensation they'llnever forget.

Halibut Fennel Pasta Salad8 oz Penne Pasta1/2 to 1 lb Halibut Filet2 t lemon rind (grated)3 T lemon juice1 Fuji apple thinly sliced about 11/2 cup1 small fennel bulb with stalks

Fill kettle with lightly saltedwater boil: add pasta cook accord-

ing to package. Drain pasta reserv-ing 1/2 c cooking liquid. Rinse incold water. Cook Halibut inmicrowave safe dish until fishflakes reserving 3 T of liquid: grate2t of lemon and squeeze 3 T oflemon juice combine all liquids inlarge bowl, add pasta to mixturetoss until fully covered in liquid,fold in halibut and apple. Removefeathery fronds and chop: slicebulb thin and add to pasta and hal-ibut mixture carefully.Thanks to Kris Winkelmanfor these great recipes. Buy

Kris’s "Ultimate WildGame and Fish

Cookbook" for only $8.00plus shipping & handling.

What a great gift idea!Order yours today at

www.winkelman.com orcall 1-800-333-0471.

103_001.qxd 1/28/13 5:39 PM Page 1


Outdoor News from GrandviewOutdoors.com

BLACK SEA BASS SEASON NOW ON IN DELEWARE

RUNS TILL FEB. 28Daily bag limit of 15 fish, must be

at least 12.5 inches long.

DOVER, Del. - Recreational fishermenwill be permitted to harvest black sea bassin Delaware's coastal waters until Feb. 28,2013.

State of ficials say the new black seabass season follows a vote earlier thismonth by the Atlantic States Marine F ish-eries Commission. Anglers can also hook black sea bass infederal waters in Jan & Feb. Federal watersbegin 3 miles from the Delaware shore.

UNDER STATE LAW, NOTHINGIN THE LAW PREVENTS A

FELON FROM OBTAINING ACOLORADO HUNTING LICENSE

AND NO CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

CHECK IS REQUIRED. Colorado says Felon Hunters

dif ficult to find

DENVER Colorado Parks and Wildlife of-ficials say they're having a tough time en-forcing laws that bar felons from huntingin the state.

Under state law, nothing in the law pre-vents a felon from obtaining a Coloradohunting l icense and no criminal back-

ground check is required. According to the Denver Post, it is illegal

for felons to possess the f irearms orarchery weapons needed to bring down ananimal, but plenty of felons are doing it.

Of ficials say more than 300,000 hunt-ing licenses are issued for big game in Col-orado every year and the state cannot tracethe number going to felons.

The Denver Post, www.denverpost.com

MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLESIGNED UP TO HUNT PY THONS IN THE EVERGLADES THROUGH

FEB. 10 IN THE HOPES OF WINNING CASH PRIZES. 27 pythons killed so far in

F lorida's python hunt

MIAMI- University of F lorida researchersare examining more than two dozenBurmese pythons harvested as part of thestate's “Python Challenge.''

The F lorida F ish and Wildlife Conserva-tion Commission said Tuesday that 27 ofthe invasive snakes have been killed so farin the competition that began Jan. 12.

More than 1,000 people signed up tohunt pythons in the Everglades throughFeb. 10 in the hopes of winning cash prizes.Competitors are allowed to keep the pythonskins, once researchers finish examiningthe snakes.

Researchers say the large number ofhunters will help them gather more infor-mation about the snakes' habits. It's un-known how many pythons live in the Ever-glades. The snakes are considered a men-ace to native F lorida wildlife, and they faceboth state and federal bans. Python Chal-lenge: www.pythonchallenge.org

a 10-day period in a traditionally slow tourism seasonfor a region that welcomes 10 million visitors annual-ly.Tourism officials claim the estimated loss is conser-vative, factoring in only the direct and indirect spend-ing for the 1,000 vendors and anticipated 250,000attendees.

"Reported numbers do not account for lost revenueat the event complex from parking, food and bever-age, and service and rental fees," said Mary Smith,president of HHRVB.

The bureau did not have details on the lost revenueat the complex but Smith said it would be in the mil-lions considering the scale of this event compared toother shows they have secured for the complex. Theestimates also do not account for lost revenue fromthe 5 percent hotel tax collected by Dauphin County.

Officials are not commenting on the producer'spostponement decision, nor are they aware at thistime what Reed Exhibitions plans are for rescheduling.

"Our relationship with Reed Exhibitions has contin-ued to strengthen and grow over the years and we arehopeful that the show will return," said Sharon Alt-land, director of sales for HHRVB. "This is the largestprivately produced show at the complex consideringthe PA Farm Show is a state organized event. Thosetwo traditional events have become pillars of our Jan-uary and February tourism business with many localbusinesses relying on them to make their first quarternumbers."

HARRISBURG PA SHOW CANCELED!

Local businesses become collateral damage in 2013 Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show

controversial decision

Event slated for February 2-10 in Harrisburg,Pennsylvania was officially postponed today by eventproducer Reed Exhibitions, costing local economy$80 million in lost revenue.

HARRISBURG, Pa. PRNewswire-USNewswire - Theproducers of the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, alongstanding tradition at the Pennsylvania Farm ShowComplex & Expo Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvaniadating back to 1951, announced today that the eventwas being postponed due to the controversy sur-rounding its decision to limit the sale or display ofmodern sporting rifles at the event, according to astatement posted on the show's website on January24, 2013.

Tourism Officials at the Hershey Harrisburg Re-gional Visitors Bureau estimate the postponement ofthe state's largest outdoor sports show means $44million in direct spending from vendors and attendeesand $80 million in lost revenue for the local economy.The 22 hotels offering special room rate agreementsfor show vendors and attendees say the event ac-counted for approximately 12,000 room-nights over

INVENTORY LIQUIDATION SALE! STORE CLOSING!

104_001.qxd 1/28/13 4:17 PM Page 1

ite has a crystalline structure and contains naturalsmall spaces or fissures that require regular sealing.This maintenance needs to be done about once a year.It’s easy to do but if you forget to do it you run the riskof allowing stains and bacteria to find safe harbordeep inside of your countertop.

Is One Surface Safer Than The Other?The nonporous aspect of quartz also allows superi-

or protection against pathogens, because it is harderfor them to develop and makes it easier for you to keepa clean kitchen.

As for granite, it is said to emit a small level ofradon, which is a gas found naturally occurring in theEarth. Considering that granite countertops are madedirectly from the extracted rock, there is a higher riskof radon exposure. The risk is very small however and Iwould not worry about it.

Which Surface Is More Attractive?This is the most important consideration when

making a choice between granite vs quartz. It’s a per-sonal choice that is completely a matter of opinion.

Both materials are available in a wide variety of pat-terns and colors. However, you should know that, withgranite, seams are nearly impossible to hide. In thecase of quartz, you can conceal them better with dark-er colors or with the help of professional installers.

Countertop InstallationYou’re going to need a specialist to install your

countertops, as both quartz and granite are ratherheavy and can be hard to handle. You should also go forprofessional installation if you want to reduce the riskof breaking, fissuring or chipping, especially withgranite.

Comparing the CostAs for the price, granite tends to be more expen-

sive, but it depends on the colors, patterns, and man-ufacturers that you choose from. Granite can be moreaffordable and it has lowered in price in recent yearswhile the cost of quartz countertops can vary widely.However, considering the easy maintenance of quartz,you will find it more practical than the costly repairs ofthe granite and the regular maintenance.It may seem like a hard choice to make when it comesto comparing quartz and granite, as granite is high on


Real Estate ChatterBy: Mary Ann Vance

Winter is in full swing but doesit feel that way?? As of this writ-ing the forecast is to be in the 50’sover the next few days (are wereally in Illinois?). We are to haveheavy rains also this week and boydo we need the moisture in theground so let’s hope we get some.Our winters have really changed over the past fewyears and we are avoiding those heavy snowfalls whichdoesn’t help the economy especially those businessesthat rely on the snow. Enjoy the rest of your winter.The article I have chosen for this month may be ofinterest to you if you are purchasing a new home orupgrading yours.

QUARTZ VS GRANITE COUNTERTOPSGranite may be the best selling natural stone on the

market but quartz is gaining ground quickly and forgood reason.

Which Countertop Is More Durable?When you compare quartz countertops vs granite

the first thing that you have to consider is the durabil-ity of the surface. Will it stand up to the daily use andoccasional abuse that we put these surfaces through?

Are quartz countertops better than granite?Granite is a very strong material and resists crack-

ing and chipping very well. Quartz does however ratehigher on the hardness scale (known as the MohsHardness Scale) and it resists cracking and chippingbetter.

One word of caution: Don’t get square corners inany natural stone. Opt for a bullnose or another edgedetail that is rounded. Square and ornately decoratedcorners have a tendency to chip. You can eliminate thepossibility of an unrepairable chip by getting a morefunctional edge detail for your countertop.

Which Counter Resists Stains Better?Quartz is highly stain-resistant as it is a nonporous

material, which makes it very easy to clean. It canrepel the most common stains such as wine, oil, cof-fee, vinegar or even makeup. On the other hand, gran-

the list for many families, but quartz has started togain popularity recently by offering a safer solutionand easy availability at local home improvementstores.

SUMMARYQuartz Pros:

Quartz countertops that are available today consistof 93 percent quartz while the remaining seven per-cent is made up of other minerals. This particularcomposition makes quartz countertops naturally hardand extremely durable, ranking just below gemstoneswhen comparing its hardness and scratch resistantquality.

Quartz countertops are less porous which keepsfood particles and other liquids from sticking to thecountertop’s surface. HYPERLINK "http://www.unit-edgranite.us/"Quartz countertops are also mold andmildew resistant and are considered an excellent food-safe surface.

Cleaning and removing stains from quartz versusgranite countertops is far easier, requiring only soapand water for most cleaning tasks.Quartz has a natural stone appearance and is availablein a myriad of colors to suit your interior perfectly.

Quartz Cons:The greatest disadvantage of quartz countertops

verses granite is that they are quite expensive as com-pared to other surfaces.Granite Pros:

Granite countertops don’t depreciate in value.It’s a one-of-a-kind, natural surface that has an

almost luminous look.It comes in a wide range of colors.It is durable, heat resistant and stain resistant

when sealed.

Granite Cons:Each slab of granite varies within the piece, so it

may not be a good choice if you prefer a completely

uniform look.Granite can be permanently discolored if it has a

preexisting stain when sealed.It can crack when hit by a hard, sharp object.Granite is heavy and often will require additional

structural support, especially in spans and can-tilevers.

In summary, in the granite versus quartz counter-tops debate, quartz seems to have the edge in durabil-ity, cleaning, stain resistance, uniformity of color andmaintenance, while granite is more cost friendly, has awide variety of colors and is heat resistant.

The eye-catching and durable nature of eithercountertop is wide spread. The choice of which suitsyou best in the end is mostly determined by personalpreference.

When you look at your budget, your decoratingstyle, and the desired functionality of your countertop,what is your preference: quartz or granite?

DID YOU KNOW???The longest distance a deepwater lobster has been

recorded to travel is 225 miles Percentage of American men who say they would

marry the same woman if they had it to do all overagain: 80%

12 newborns will be given to the wrong parentsdaily.

A company in Taiwan makes dinnerware out ofwheat, so you can eat your plate.

I maintain a staffed office in Tremont, Mondaythrough Friday, 8:00 to 4:00. Evenings and weekendsare available by appointment.

Mary AnnPH: (309) 925-3545

Toll Free: (800) [email protected]

www.maryannvance.com

And Auctions!And Auctions!And Auctions!

7695 WHITE OAK LANE, DELAVAN, $159,900 7695 WHITE OAK LANE, DELAVAN, $159,900 • Awesome 3 bdrm home in the Hills of Argyll subdivision, surrounded by plenty of trees.• Many Exterior updates: concrete driveway, doors, windows, gutter guards, newergarage doors, and irrigation.• Fabulous Kitchen, Granitecountertops, Kohler cast-iron sink,hickory cabinets, KitchenAid gasstove & convection oven• 3-season porch overlooks wooded back yard & wildlife.

00 SPRINGFIELD ROAD, PEKIN, $89,00000 SPRINGFIELD ROAD, PEKIN, $89,000• Lots with acreage in Tremontschool district. Springfield Rd tocorner of Broadway Rd• Groveland water taps will berun under Broadway Road.Each lot will be responsible forwater to lot.• The plat is online or call theoffice. The physical address ofthis may change pending 911review of address after recentsplit.

105_001.qxd 1/28/13 10:35 PM Page 1


HARGATEBy: Dan Gapen, Sr.

Many years have passed since I firstfished the waters of Ogoki River. Visitswhich produced long-lasting memoriesof walleye and pike fishing not to be bet-tered anywhere else in Ontario. Of tro-phy brook trout and sturgeon fishingunequaled in my lifetime. Of canoeingthe Ogoki’s wild rapids with a delightfulcompanion. Of tenting under a star andmoon-filled night sky while the Hargateband of wolves serenaded us. Of watch-ing a pair of bull moose fight for posses-sion of a sleepy-eyed cow.

I remember best a flight into OgokiPost with my friend MalcolmLeuenberger piloting a De HavillandBeaver aircraft mounted with skis duringa January snowstorm to deliver the week-ly mail. At times we flew in complete

Ogoki River system-a good scene if youwere hunting waterfowl. Low waterexposes the miles of marsh flats whichgeese and ducks feed on. Low waterwould also concentrate the walleye, pike,sturgeon whitefish and brook trout theriver carries.

Leuenberger’s new outpost camp had-n’t changed since we were there two yearsago. The only difference was that no onehad fished it all summer. It seems theOgoki Lake control dam 90 milesupstream had been releasing high waterup until August 10th and conditions did-n’t allow anglers the opportunity to fish.The last people to set foot on the Hargateoutpost had been moose hunters andtheir stay had been cut to two days

end. We went to reap thebenefits this wild placemight bring.

Stepping on the metalladder of Leuenberger’sturbo Otter floatplane thequestion often asked of mecame to mind.

“Dan, you’ve fished allover North America. Wherewould you choose to go ifyou had one last trip avail-able to you?”

It would be ‘Hargate’ onthe Ogoki River system innorthern Ontario. Why? Not because ofthe monstrous fish this place holds, northe exotic hunting species available. Ineach case these are average in nature. But,it’s the wilderness setting into which youare transformed that makes this place sospecial. And now, along with my favoritebuddy and my yellow Labrador‘Thumper’, we were on our way into thismagical land of wild.

This trip to Hargate began with mypartner ‘Bobber’ Anne and Thumper sit-ting in the doorway of Leuenberger’sturbo Otter. As always we departed fromLeuenberger’s home base just outsideNakina, Ontario. Flight time would last45 minutes.

This summer, water was low on the

white-out conditions relying on theplane’s panel instruments to guide us.

Yes, the memories are many, all creat-ed by this wilderness world of the Ogoki.But it is Hargate I treasure most.

Hargate, as I’ve often described, is aworld set apart from man. It’s a world ofsquawking ravens, rattling cranes, howl-ing wolves, tail-slapping beaver, yippingfox, grunting moose, the haunting call ofloons and the rustling whisper of yel-lowed aspen leaves as they sing to a softnorth wind.

Hargate is also the place, though smallas lakes in Ontario go, which producesthe glassy-eyed walleye, the toothy pike,the colorful brook trout and the prehis-toric-looking sturgeon in goodly num-bers.

So, it was this past year, my 80th, mytreasured companion, ‘Bobber’ Anne,and I returned to Hargate one more timebefore my time on Mother Earth might

Thumper gets ready to fly

106_001.qxd 1/28/13 5:31 PM Page 1


because of the number of wolves in thearea. Wolves discourage moose and makethem skittish.

Fishing and gunning should be fantas-tic.

With gear unloaded, camera equip-ment and fishing rods and reels readied,‘Bobber’ Anne, Thumper and I took offup to where the rapids entered the lake.Here we’d catch supper.

It took two minutes of trolling a Spin-Bee™ 40 feet behind the boat to pro-duce the first walleye, a 4-pounder. Toobig! Another minute saw an excellentdinner walleye boated, this one a twopounder. Fifty yards later a threepounder came to net. Supper wassecured! From that point on 21 morewalleye from 2-1/2 to 5 pounds werecaught and released. As generally is thecase the 7-pounder got off before the

landing net came to bear. All were takenon Gapen’s new experimental lure, theSpin-Bee™. So far success was ours.Similar results had been previouslyobtained on the Spin-Bee™ on small-mouth bass on the Mississippi River. Iwas beginning to believe we had a winnerbut more tests on other species wereneeded.

Exhausted from our long trip toNakina the two of us hit the sleepingbags early. As the moon came out loonsand wolves serenaded us as sleep took

hold. Downstream a small flock ofCanadian geese honked their way into alanding on Hargate’s eastern mud flats.

Hargate is part of the eastern flywaywith 90% of its waterfowl migrationheaded for Chesapeake Bay on the eastcoast near Maryland. So it wasn’t unusu-al that the first duck shot on our trip wasan eastern scoter. We’d passed up a cou-ple pair of black ducks, or black mallardsas the locals called them, as our first fullday began.

If there is a fish that’s easy at Hargateit’s the walleye and they average muchlarger than those found elsewhere inOntario. I’d say 3 1/2 pounds on averagewith a 6 to 7 pounds not unusual. AND,there are plenty of them. Where theOgoki River comes into Hargate thesenice walleye stack up like cord wood.Using Gapen’s new lure, the Spin-Bee™

experimental models, ‘Bobber’ Anne andI caught and released better than sevendozen the next day. We wore out fourlures and received aching arms becausethe fight was continuous. We had a hardtime finding a couple two-pounders forsupper. Our largest hit the scales over 6pounds.

If it’s in your heart and spirit to expe-rience the true wilderness, Hargate is theplace to go. And, it’s my advice to gothere in the next two or three years.

Thumper gets her wish to retrieve ducks.

Gapen’s Spin-Bee™ deadly on walleye

The Ol’ man takes a very nice walleye on Gapen’s new Spin-Bee™(bottom) ‘Fish-battered’ Spin-Bee™

Thumper looks on at “Bobber” Anneholding a walleye caught on new

Gapen Spin-Bee™

Unlimited Commercial

Call Michael O’Bryan309-687-5069Cell: [email protected]

3622 N. Knoxville Ave.Peoria, IL 61603www.CommercialPeoria.com

160 ac. London Mills, IL All or part

40 ac. Morton building with living area, Astoria, IL

5 ± acre lots on 40 acre lake, Canton, IL

CALL MIKE FORALL YOUR

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE & RECREATIONAL

GROUND NEEDS!

Land Inves tment Opportuni ty. . .Land Inves tment Opportuni ty. . .

THE LINDSEY PROPERTY • Combination Farm with Cropland, Recreational Land and Mature Timber Ready for Harvest

138.5 acres, more or less, 47 acres tillable. Located near Versailles, between Springfield & Quincy in Brown County, Illinois

Asking $3,290 per acre Edgar County, Illinois • 153.64± Acres Farmland

118.5 FSA tillable acres, Southwest Quarter of Section 24 lying East of the railroad right-of-way, Township 15 North,

Range 12 West of the 2nd Principal Meridian. $6587 per acre Christian County, Illinois • 42.5± Acres Farmland

Highly Productive • $14,000 per acre For more information Contact Agrivest, Inc offices:

Jacksonville: (217) 479-8600 • Springfield: (217) 241-1101w w w. a g r i v e s t i n c . c o mw w w. a g r i v e s t i n c . c o m


107_001.qxd 1/28/13 5:31 PM Page 1


This adventure Anne and I took likely will be my lastto Hargate. At 80 years of age my body just doesn’tseem to endure such outings anymore. The spirit isthere, the willingness is there, but the physical beingjust doesn’t seem to have it. BUT, I have my memoriesof this wild place. No one can take that away!

Two ducks on day three were shot by my partnerfor our supper. And, oh what a supper it was--mashedpotatoes, fried duck, brussel spouts and pan-friedwalleye. A meal fit for a king!

The flat marsh downstream from Hargate heldsand hill cranes, eastern Scoters, teal, black ducksand plenty of noisy Canadian honkers. As we roundedthe river into Patience Lake Delta all my waterfowl

that place of ‘Wild’ will last me until I pass beyondthese bonds of earth and make passing much easier,for Hargate has blessed me with the real memory oflife, a truth that death cannot take away.

In case you, my readers, have the spirit to travel tosuch a place I recommend you call or write:Leuenberger Air Service Limited, PO Box 60 - 7Beach Rd, Nakina, Ontario !P0T 2H0, 888-246-6533, www.leuenberger.ca

For you too may enjoy a place of ‘Wild’ which givesa lift to one’s heart and allows the spirit to soar.

And the walleye fishing is like no other place. Why?Because the fish are muscular, better than averagein size and host a true walleye color and fight likehell!

Post Note: Rumor has it that a Canadian Mining

Company has found Chromite, the mineral whichmakes stainless steel from north of the Ogoki. Rightnow the only place in the world they mine this metal isin South Africa. If this be true and the 170 mile longroad is built it will pass within 20 miles of Hargate tothe east on its way north. This, of course, will be theend of my ‘Wild’ place.

It is my fear that a wild place such as Hargate maynot be there for long. Man has ways of fouling up theworld.

So, if I were you, my reader, book a fly-in trip withmy friend Malcolm Leuenberger and enjoy the sereni-ty, joy and peace such a place can bring to your life.

And, if you are lucky there will be an opening whenthe waterfowl season begins or a chance at that oncein a lifetime moose hunt.

friends were there to greet me, just like they have fordecades. What memories the sight of winging water-fowl rising off the grassy meadows brought back.Because of my physical condition I wasn’t able tochase them as before but that didn’t matter. THEYWERE THERE, as wary as ever.

Our two final days at Hargate were filled with wall-eye boated, the largest 7 pounds, several pike caughtand released, the howling of wolves (but never asighting) a big bull moose who swam the lake, (prob-ably a 48-incher) and wonderful meals of fresh friedwalleye cooked by Anne as only she can do it.

Yes, my final trip to Hargate was one which bringsgladness to my heart. Like all the others in the pastthree decades Hargate played its magic for the Ol’Man. I’ll probably never return but the memories of

11225 Garman Rd., Pekin2-bedroom home in rural Pekin area,partial basement,1-car garage. Many

updates. Ready to move-in.

1801 St. Clair Dr., Pekin3 Bedroom,

split level home. Large lot, on a lake.

$91,500

2117 Sunset Dr., Pekin3-bedroom, 2-full bath ranch home located in Sunset Hills. Full basement w/ 1 finishedroom (office). Family room w/ woodburning

fireplace, surround system. Screened-in back porch, mature trees and bushes.

Attached 2-car garage. Security system. Inground irrigation system in front yard.$134,900. AGENT OWNER/INTEREST.

906 Jefferson St., Pekin3 Bedrooms, 1 Full Bath, 1 Half

Bath, Detached garage with built onshop. Mostly finished basement.

Homes For Heroes by Norman V. Kelly

Most Peorians remember Patti Smith and her wonderful work with Operation Santa, whichbenefited so many of our service men and women. Well, Patti and her friends are back helpingout the heroes in our community with something called Homes for Heroes.

She would be the first to tell you that she is not alone in this new venture which hasbeen set up to help heroes such as current service men and women, and the folks whodaily, right here in our own community, protect and care for us on a full-time basis.

Homes For Heroes is meant to save the qualified home buyer money…it is that sim-ple: 25% off the Gross commission whether the hero buys or sells a house. Title closingdiscounts through the attorney offices of Heyl Roster. Home inspection discountsthrough Hultgren Home Services. All of these savings will be reflected on the HUD settle-ment.

Homes For Heroes wants to help and recognize firefighters, active duty personnel, policeofficers, healthcare workers, teachers, veterans and others that offer valued services to ourcommunity.

This program is catching on all over America and is currently in forty-four states. Thenearest cities to Peoria that at this point are involved are Chicago and Saint Louis. “We aretrying to give back to the people that serve us every day of their lives.”

To find out if you qualify for this generous break in buying or selling your next homeplease contact these members of the local team and they will answer all of your ques-tions.

The Realtors: Patti Smith, 309-231-5090; Cindi Janke, 309-264-9725; Judy Behan, 309-453-0889

You can also visit them on line: www.HomesforHeroes.com Other members of the team like Jim Manning and Jackie Harms can be reached at

Heyl, Royster Title Company. The home inspector is Bob at Hultgren Home Services.These folks are willing to give their time and money to give a little back to the peoplethat spend their lives looking out for us. Got any ideas how you can do the same?

GAPEN… Cont’d. from previous pg.

108_001.qxd 1/28/13 5:28 PM Page 1


Congratulations to StanBrown the winner of aTen Point Crossbow val-ued at over $650, givenaway by Raber Packing

Company.Raber supports the Sportsmen

Again Hunger Program. They do anexcellent job of processing venison,you can choose from more than 25different sausage products for yourdeer meat. Some favorites are bar-

beque sticks, salami & cheese sticks,jalapeno & cheese salami, jalapeno &cheese polish sausage, just to name a fewproducts they offer.

Raber also smokes turkey & geese. Visit Raber’s to find a wide variety of

excellent fresh meat for sale. At Raber’syou’ll experience old fashioned individual

service when you come in the store. Thebutchers cut your meat just like you wantit, delicious steaks, beef and pork. Askabout the meat bundles they offer at verylow prices.

Raber’s is located at 1413 N RaberRoad, off Farmington Road, across fromthe Peoria Speedway. Call: 309-673-0721.

FARM & CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENTCONSIGNMENT AUCTION

SAT., MARCH 2, 2013STARTING @ 9:00A.M. • TREMONT, ILLINOIS

Sale Located at Rt 9 & Old Rt. 121TAKING CONSIGNMENTS FEB. 18–MAR. 1Mon. – Sat. 8 a.m. -- 5 p.m. Closed On Sun.

NO CONSIGNMENTS ON AUCTION DAY

AUCTIONEERS:C AL KAUFMAN- (309 ) 696 -9019

BRENT SCHMIDGALL - (309 ) 202 -83 78FAX (309) 2 46 -5072

[email protected]

Check Out:ASOMagazine.com • ASOMagazine.net

Here is Dylan Lee with his first deer taken on his first

hunting trip with his

dad Clyde.CongratulationsDylan! WOW!

Thanks to Dean Lee

for sharingDylan’s photo

with ASO!

109_001.qxd 1/28/13 6:16 PM Page 1


Facebook page, and graces the pages of Amazon’sreviews with my 5-star recommendation. I still didn’thave a topic, but I had spent some enjoyable timethinking and writing about one of my favorite booksand what was the inspiration for this column.

Since Jorgenson’s book reminded me as muchabout duck hunting as fishing, I considered shifting towaterfowl for this article, but ducks in Minnesota wereassociated with Ducks Unlimited events and feedingthe broods of our summertime visitors. Katie askedme if I had ever hunted ducks up there, and, AHA!, Ihad once! The waterfowl opener coincided with cabinclosing one year, and I joined Bob and others on HeronLake for several hours. I have the connection betweenHorses, Minnesota, and duck hunting which allows meto write about the Red Nose Gun Club!

Hunting ducks in Illinois can (sort of) be a legiti-mate topic for Minnesota Memoirs! Yes?

I will need to pass over the many memorable tripsto Nebraska with Darhl Brown and Corey, Mark Wertzand others, unless I want to shift to Nebraska Notes forsome time. But before turning to the Red Nose, I mustexpress my deepest appreciation to Darhl for making

me a duck hunter and teaching memost of what I know about pursuingthe elusive waterfowl. He is as goodas there is, and I owe him for most ofmy early appreciation of what a spe-cial, wonderful time can be enjoyed“in the marsh.”

The Red Nose Gun Club!Somehow, back in the early 90’s,Mark Wertz opened a door to mymeeting Harry and the Red Nose,then located at Quiver Beach justsouth of the Chautauqua Refuge.And more often than not, I’ve beenpart of the Red Nose ever since,including some memorable years atthe “ancestral” grounds on DuckIsland. So, Harry and I have been chasing ducks fortwenty years, and now we’re doing it at the mostrecent and most ambitious incarnation of a club whichtraces its beginnings to 1923.

With headquarters at the Red Nose Lodge onPatterson Bay Road about two miles south of Bath, oreleven miles south of Havana, we drive some six milesto the landing at Snicarte Slough and cross over tomore than 700 acres of hunting property. By “we” Imean Harry, Dave Herschelman, Dr. James Smalley,Brad and Rick Severs, Al Ferguson, and I – the activeowners of the domain. Shooting members this yearincluded Greg “Spoonbill” Nelson, Tom “Roadhouse”Dalton, Dr. Dick Fredrick, Josh Wagoner, and formerowner Steve Bennett. We have a “silent” partner inPaul Breznay. We have acquired an acre of ground

(across the road) from MarkClark, whose “headquarters” isadjacent to our acre. The groundprovides extra space for parkingand storage of boat trailers. TheLodge is, well, a Lodge!

Huge kitchen with dining area,central island, all stainless steelappliances, every utensil andgadget imaginable, and DIRECTV.Four bedrooms with identical bedsto sleep nine. Great Room withanother dining area, stone gas fire-place, plush furniture, andDIRECTV. Two full baths withwasher/dryer. Grand screened-inporch/deck along the entire back

of the building. Large yard, some fenced for the dogs,sloping toward the slough at the rear. Full doublegarage with attic storage. Way too nice for a bunch ofduck hunters!

The hunting grounds are divided into two distinctareas. The largest is our part of Stewart Lake (400acres). The smaller and more accessible is what wecall Goose Puddle – drained, planted, flooded, andhunted more easily with four main blinds, a floater,and the shoreline of Burr Oak Island, which separatesStewart from the Puddle. Last year Stewart was ahuge mud flat void of vegetation and basically useless.This year it was home almost daily to 25,000 ducks,but very difficult to hunt. Watching the tornadoes ofducks each day was almost worth the price of admis-sion. Getting to them was the problem. Bottom was

I read Nathan Jorgenson’s Waiting For WhiteHorses in Jan 2008, and as I finished, I announced toKatie, “I’m ready to write.” Thus began my now five-year association with ASO with my “MinnesotaMemoirs.” Harry had been prodding me to write, ashad Katie, Bob and Muff Johnson, and others who werefamiliar with my long association with Nokay Lake,Crow Wing County, Minn. Perhaps a few regular ASOreaders may recall my early discussion of Jorgenson’sbook and how it inspired me to write – finally.

Now in Jan of 2013, with the Christmas seasonbehind us (and all the decorations are finally storedagain), thoughts begin to focus, however dimly, on thespring ahead. How long until the first weekend in May?With half of cold January, gloomy February, and unpre-dictable March and April standing between now andglorious Opening Weekend, I began to consider wintertopics for this month’s Memoir. I didn’t have one.

After some time of considering this and rejectingthat, I did a “bing” search of Waiting For WhiteHorses. I clicked on an entry that mentioned reviews,read some, and then responded to Amazon’s invitationto write my own. It was accepted, posted on my

MINNESOTA MEMOIRSby Dave Evans

“Red Nose Respite”

BEAUTIFUL RIVERSIDE CONDO

Each unit is 2-stories, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 great rooms,fireplace, walkout basement,

2-car garage. Located in Havana on the Illinois River, 2-blocks

from downtown. Built by Master Home Builder Wes Hilst.

PRICE REDUCED...ASKING $180,000!

Call: 309-657-3262

Location: Pool 19, Mississippi River, Pontoosuc, IL (Rio Vista). Rustic 1200 Sq. Ft. Cabin with 200' of River Frontage with

Private Boat Dock & Ramp. $75,000 REDUCED! ONLY $65,000

Be on the Mississippi River & Enjoy a Water Lovers Paradise!

Properties are Priced to SELL…Call Now while Offer is Still Available!


2 Bedroom Completely Remodeled Trailer with River Access

by Public Boat Ramp. ONLY $12,000

DaveEvans

110_001.qxd 1/28/13 6:47 PM Page 1

treacherous under water, too shal-low for a mud-buddy and mostly toodeep for ATVs. Hard walking!

Last year the Puddle (and itsmillet) was a duck magnet, and thedaily harvest sheets showed it. Thisyear, ducks by-passed it until thelate season, and we had some ex-cellent shoots then. Fair weatherhampered our hunting at times.The ducks just didn’t want to move!One day the refuge area of CraneLake, one of our neighbors, held100,000 ducks! Amazing!

That the ducks move, and leavethe comfort of their nesting area isimportant to nearly half-a-dozengun clubs in the immediate area. Within a few milesradius the Red Nose, Crane Lake, Central, IRC, and(Dave Conway’s) Sprig clubs vie for the attention ofthe ducks. Early in the season this year we watchedthousands of ducks exit Crane Lake at dusk, flying outto feed. Thousands! We would see more birds in a fewminutes than some guys see in a season! But they did-n’t always come back to hunting areas. I don’t knowhow many hunters would be in blinds on a given day,but the number of boats, and ATVs of all descriptionsassembled in a central staging area made our islandlook like a military exercise.

When we would hear shooting at a given time, wecould guess that Central, or Conway, or IRC was havingsome success at drawing birds. Sometimes whatsounded like a naval “broadside” would echo through

began to appear from – every-where! Of course, we couldn’t seethem coming; we picked them upwhen about 40 yards high. Butthey were coming and landingeverywhere, mostly 60 or 70 yardsaway. Wind driven snow obscuredeverything beyond 100 yards, andnow we had the ducks! It wasn’tlong before we had our eight mal-lards and decided that bonusducks were not necessary. Wepicked up and made our way to theATV now encrusted with ice andsnow. The ignition key was acces-sible, and we were out of there!

The drive back to the lodgewas in a white-out and I thought of the infamousArmistice Day blizzard of Nov. 11, 1940, so long ago.That day had begun with balmy weather and endedwith so many Minnesota hunters freezing to death,and more, all the way to Illinois. Over 150 people diedthat day. I could see Doc half-dressed in the morning,and it was 29 degrees when we reached the lodge.

My duck season was over with a very memorable,very successful shoot. Ducks landing for us in a bliz-zard! Who but duck hunters could find such enjoy-ment in such an environment? If it doesn’t sound likefun, then, well, I could never explain it. I will be readyfor more when Oct comes again, and the ducks returnto the Illinois River Valley and the Red Nose Gun Club.Thanks, Harry, for keeping the tradition alive!

Copyright: 2013 • [email protected]

pleasantly with awarm 52 de-grees. The fore-cast for the daywas ominous,however, and wewere prepared forthe worst. Dickbecame so warmand “sweaty”during our prepa-ration that oncesettled into“Earl’s Blind,”(our most protec-tive), he strippedoff his warm

clothes and soaked T-shirt. So, he sat there in“balmy” temps bare-chested, drying his shirt. By9am we hadn’t fired a shot but were listening to Con-way’s guys blasting broadsides. The weather waschanging, just as forecasted. By 10:30 Dick would pulldecoys from the buckwheat blind, and I would ride myATV to Stewart Lake to see what might be there. Wewere bored. No ducks yet.

By then the wind was up, and a biting mist hit mein the face as I rode the levee. An hour later the tem-perature was really dropping, the wind was increasing,and rain was beginning. Back in the blind, we wereglad for the protection from what was becoming nastyweather. When the snow began at noon, the wind pro-duced horizontal blasts, and before long, visibility wasreduced. When the weather really closed in, the ducks


the area. At oth-er times onlysporadic shots. Iwould alwayswonder howmany hunterswere within afive-mile radiusaround us andwhy some wereattracting ducksand othersweren’t. Lastyear we hadflocks of teal –25 – 50 – 100– appear sud-

denly and strafe the Goose Puddle. And it happened allthe time! Lots of shooting! With three or four guys ina blind, nine to twelve shots were not uncommon. Ofcourse that didn’t mean nine to twelve kills, teal beingteal. They loved our millet and “look.”

Anyway, this season did not enjoy the same suc-cess as our first, but we’re learning more about thearea and its potential. More strategically placedblinds, good food, weed control, water level control,and a plan for attacking Stewart Lake will all be part ofconsiderable work for next season. It was not the bestyear for many clubs, so we were not alone.

My last hunt of the season was memorable andworth sharing. Dr. Dick Fredrick, his golden retrieverGideon, and I were the only members of the Red Nosepresent to hunt on Thurs. Dec. 20. The day dawned

Pat Murphy & Dave Herschelman

Harry & Teddy Bear

Tom “Roadhouse” Dalton

111_001.qxd 1/28/13 6:45 PM Page 1


GET YOUR REDNOSE GUN CLUBHOODIE!

ONLY $29.95 up to size XL$32.95 for Size!XXL

Place your Order today!Visa, MasterCard,

Discover, Checks or CashAll!Welcome!

Call toll free: 1-877-778-HUNT (4868)

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON!Brian Grider says his greatest

teacher was his father, Tom Grider, and from the looks of it, WE AGREE!

Here are a few of their big bass caught at various favorite

honey holes! Thanks for sharing the awesome photos

with ASO…Keep ‘em coming!

“Early Christmaspresent!”

112_001.qxd 1/28/13 8:33 PM Page 1


we had the opening, we had 33 bobcats that were har-vested.''

Charles Mix led the way with 14 bobcats, followedby Yankton with seven and Bon Homme and Brule withsix each. Buffalo didn't record any harvested bobcats. Sports enthusiasts welcomed the ability to seek bob-cats east of the Missouri River, Schelhaas said.

“I think there were a lot of really good commentsfrom a lot of trappers,'' he said. “They have been trap-ping for a number of years, and they knew there werebobcats around. Now, they had the opportunity to geta chance to trap them. Not everyone was successful,but that was part of the fun of it. The people I talked towere excited and happy.''

The 7 Yankton Co cats consisted of 4-females and3-males, Schelhaas said. Six were trapped and onewas shot.

The majority of cats in Yankton and Bon Hommecounties were trapped among the river hills and alongthe Missouri River, primarily along Lewis and ClarkLake. The cats were large sized, with one cat weighingnearly 30 pounds and another one 20 pounds.

“Everybody I talked to considered it a trophy. Ofthe 7 that were tagged in Yankton Co. only one decid-ed to sell the fur,'' the game warden said.

“Out by the lake, we had one trapper who got 2cats in legholds in 2 different traps. He was able totake one and release the other one.''

This initial year, the East River bobcat season waslimited to one cat per hunter or trapper. Schelhaaswasn't aware of any violations.

A REAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE Johnson, like many hunters and trappers, was

aware of bobcats from trail cameras, tracks and theavailable food supply. He actually trapped two cats,harvesting one and releasing the other. Surprisingly,

he trapped his cats in areas where he expected to findfox and coyotes.

“I had seen some bobcats in several areas where Ideer hunted in the past. There isn't a high (bobcat)population, but I do think we have a pretty viable pop-ulation,'' he said.

“I talked to several friends, and they were realexcited, especially at the beginning of the season. Ididn't hear much negative from anyone.''

Johnson characterized his harvested bobcat as alarge male. He didn't have it weighed, and the carcasswas sent to officials in Sioux Falls for testing in accor-dance with regulations.

“What they learn will bring in lots of informationabout the cats,'' he said. “I think they will pull quite abit of valuable data.''

When it comes to the bobcat season, the data col-lection will prove as valuable as the sport itself,Schelhaas said. Biologists will compile data such asthe bobcats' age, gender, litter rates and foodsources.

The 5 East River counties contain prime habitat,Schelhaas said. Those factors include large tracts ofriver hills, the Missouri River banks, the James Riverwith trees and rolling hills, uninhabited areas and ade-quate food sources.

GF&P officials believe some of the South Dakotabobcats migrated from Nebraska, Schelhaas said.“The bobcats are looking to expand their territories,''he said. “During the freeze, they go over the river(from Nebraska) and set up their home range in SouthDakota. And right now, the river is way down (becauseof drought). We believe the bobcats are good swim-mers. We imagine they are crossing the river at asmaller stretch like the Springfield area.''

With outdoors enthusiasts trapping among thehills this fall, the cats were aware of the human pres-

ence even before the East River season, Schelhaassaid.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE The East River bobcat season was conducted as

an experiment, Schelhaas said. The Division of Wildlifewill now analyze the data and make its recommenda-tions to th GF&P commissioners. Those recommenda-tions could include changes in length of season, num-ber of cats per license holder or some other variations. “You don't want to lose too many bobcats, so theykept it conservative this season,'' the game wardensaid. “I think it will help determine whether we willhave a more restrictive season, a more conservativeseason, a more liberal season or no season at all.''

Schelhaas remains optimistic that the East Riverseason will continue into future years.

“I think we have more bobcats than people sus-pected,'' he said. “We hope to continue managing theanimals properly, and it looks like we can supportanother season.''

Johnson strongly supports continuing the EastRiver bobcat season and the GF&P management prac-tices so far.

With the success of the recent season, Johnsonsees the possibility of increasing the limit to two catsper person or some other formula. He strongly recom-mends holding another round of public meetings togather input from landowners, outdoors enthusiastsand conservation officials.

“This season, these cats were considered once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some people,'' Johnsonsaid. “At the same time, if there is a viable population,there is no reason why we can't have more opportuni-ties in the future.''

Info from: Yankton Press & Dakotan, www.yank-ton.net

DOZENS OF BOBCATS HARVESTED IN SOUTH DAKOTA'S EAST RIVER SEASON

When it comes to the bobcat season, the data collection will prove

as valuable as the sport itself.

When it came to trapping animals, Christmasarrived early for Mitch Johnson.

The Yankton man sought the prized bobcat inSouth Dakota's 1st season for the furbearer east of theMissouri River. The South Dakota Game, Fish andParks (GF&P) commission approved the Dec. 8-30season for licensed hunters and trappers in Buffalo,Brule, Charles Mix, Bon Homme and Yankton counties.

“I got (my bobcat) Christmas Eve in northernYankton Co along the James River, in a thick cedartree-covered area. I caught him in a trap,'' Johnsonsaid.

“It felt more like Christmas morning. Every time Ichecked the traps, it's very hard to explain the antici-pation. It was a unique experience.''

“I was excited to get (my bobcat) before thesnowstorm. Once you get the freeze in the ground,trapping is more difficult.''

A SUCCESSFUL SEASON Johnson's experience mirrored the feelings of

other hunters and trappers, according to an area con-servation officer. Game warden Sam Schelhaas ofYankton Co said he was pleased with the initial EastRiver bobcat season.

“There was apprehension as we went forward withthis first season, and nobody really knew what thenumber was going to be,'' he said. “In my opinion, thebobcat season was a success. In the five counties that

113_001.qxd 1/28/13 7:19 PM Page 1


The Good Ole Days PT. 1

By Jack L. Hartph. 309-888-4071 [email protected]

When ani n d i v i d u a lreaches that agewhen he or sheis considered tobe a senior citi-zen all priorevents in theirlife are history.In other words,when the senior

citizen can no longer be physicallyactive due to health problems or agethe only thing they can do is remi-nisce. That certainly applies to meconsidering the severe health prob-lems that I have & that I have beenon this planet 7 decades.

Having given my situation consid-erable thought, I have elected to sitdown & put in print my memories ofthe good ole days relative to mymemories about hunting, fishing &trapping in those good ole days. For

those of you reading this who aresenior citizens you may very well beable to relate to what I have to say &you, of course, will also have yourown memories of the good ole days.Hopefully the members of theyounger generation may benefit fromwhat I will be writing about.

I was born in 1940 and was raisedon a farm in southern Illinois. Iloved the outdoors & found out that Iwas fascinated by Mother Nature. Iremember that when I was a teenag-er I would get up at about 5:30 a.m.,eat breakfast & sneak off to the tim-ber that was just across the road fromwhere my folks lived. I would havemy 22 rifle & would sit down in thetimber & quietly wait as the sun rose.I knew as soon as the sun made itsappearance those grey squirrelswould be out looking for breakfast. Ihad the patience of Job & I wouldhunt for only an hour or so because Ihad to catch the school bus whichwould take me to high school atMcLeansboro, IL located inSouthern Illinois. This would havebeen in the 1950’s.

Yes, I hunted because I loved tomatch wits with those pesky squir-rels but also to put some food on thetable. I would clean them & Mom

missed Southern Illinois. Within afew years I had to admit that yes, “Iwas in God’s country.” Why??Because jobs were very plentiful &there was, I found out, a good popu-lation of pheasants & quail inWoodford County & surroundingcounties as well as numerous placesto fish.

Yes, this was the beginning of anew life for me & each year I gainednew experiences relative to my loveof the outdoors & the opportunities& experiences that I found hunting,fishing & trapping & the many newfriends I made who also loved theoutdoors & had the same interests asI did. In the following articles infuture issues of this publication, Iwill share some of those memoriesabout the good ole days.

would cook ‘em up. She neverrefused any game that I brought tothe table. My folks were poor aschurch mice but we always had aroof over our head, clothes on ourback & a full stomach. This was thetime when gas was less than 30 centsper gallon, you didn’t lock yourdoors, no gangs, no drugs, no TV, noinside plumbing, and life was sim-ple. I walked one & 1/2 miles tograde school & thought nothing of it.

Even though I was a teenager, Ihad no vehicle. No money, no job.My hunting was, of course, confinedto walking distance from my folk’splace & restricted then to squirrels &rabbits. There were no whitetail deerback in those days. In 1957 my folksmoved to Eureka, IL because theyknew there would be no jobs inSouthern Illinois for me or my 3brothers & 3 sisters.

That move opened up a new worldfor me regarding opportunities tohunt & fish. My Dad ran the Texacoservice station in Eureka & I workedthere part time while putting myselfthru Eureka College. One day one ofour VIP customers said & I quote,“Young man you are now in God’scountry”. I was, at first, offended butsaid nothing because I loved &

114_001.qxd 1/28/13 7:28 PM Page 1


the morning as af ter a fif teen-minute fighthe brought in a 50-pound wahoo, which hit askirted bait on the flat line, followed by twobull dolphin.

“The conditions weren’t perfect, but Icouldn’t ask for a better catch on my firsttrip out in three months,” said Sands, whooperates Ricky Sands Charters out of GuanaCay in the Abacos. “The seas were rough butthe water was clear, a front was approachingand the tides were favorable. In the end Ihad a great day of fishing with big, beautifulfish that gave a nicefight and seemed tolike my bait.” Sandsof fers half and ful lday charters, as wellas private guides andisland hopping toursout of Guana Cay.

For more informa-tion on S ands, visithis website atwww.rickysandschar-ters.com or by phone:242 577 5143 oremail: [email protected].

Guana Cay AnglerScores Tuna, Dolphin,

Wahoo SlamGuana Cay, Abacos – A rough day at sea

yielded bountiful results for angler RickySands in late December, as the Guana Caybased fisherman reeled in a tuna, wahoo, andtwo dolphin to round out his slam. Sands’catch comes af ter a 3-month hiatus, anddespite less than perfect conditions he man-aged to bring in four beautiful fish, includinga yellowfin tuna.

Sands was fishing solo on his 27 foot SeaPro, and af ter leaving the dock at 7:30am heencountered 6-8 foot seas in the channel.The waves remained consistently rough theentire morning, but despite the chop, lessthan 20 minutes af ter dropping the lines afish hit the long rig ger. The catch ran about300 yards of line before Sands stopped it.Af ter clearing the lines, putting the fightingbelts on, and adjusting the throttles, Sandsfought the fish for about 20 minutes. Sands’work paid of f when he leadered up and gaf feda 35-pound yellowfin. His luck held out into

Smith & Wesson® Continues Support of Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA)Donating $50,000 to Veterans Organization at 2013 SHOT Show

The donation will support programs designed to assist disabled veterans and wounded active dutymilitary personnel. With continued support from its co-sponsors, HAVA has been able to heightenawareness of issues facing disabled veterans upon returning home. Donations from these companiesare crucial for HAVA, which hosts numerous outdoor activities, including hunts and shooting events,each year.

In 2012, HAVA served over 500 disabled veterans, wounded active duty military personnel, andfamily members. During 2013, HAVA will celebrate its five-year anniversary and has begun plans forevents that should exceed 1,000 participants.

Those who would like to learn more about the HAVA organizationcan do so at www.honoredveterans.org.

Guana Cay angler Ricky Sands scored a wahoo tunadolphin slam, pulling in this wahoo second in 6-8

foot seas. (Photo courtesy of Katie Hoog)

115_001.qxd 1/28/13 7:48 PM Page 1


Farm King is your one stop shop for holsters, ammunition, gun clips, cases, safes, cleaningequipment, scopes, binoculars, hunting supplies and hunting clothing and footwear. Get readyfor concealed carry with a full selection of handguns available at your local Farm King store.

While Quantities Last. Visit www.FarmKing.com for phone numbers, pricing & quantities on-hand.

116_001.qxd 1/26/13 11:58 AM Page 1

are cell phone, which most of us have, and aportable weather radio.

If you have questions regarding this or anotherfishing subject, drop me a line through the Dan’sFish ‘N’ Tales® website at www.dansfishntales.com, which also provides a link to the ASO’s web-site.

Until next time, get out on the water and enjoy agreat day of fishing.


Year Around Survival KitPeople generally think of putting together survival

kits for the winter season. If a person stops andthinks, they will see that if the proper tools are put to-gether, it can be a year around survival kit.

A tool, which would be confined to the wintertimeuse, would be a “picks of life”. This is a pair of re-tractable ice picks, which are worn with a cord aroundthe neck, to be used if a person falls through the ice,and needs to pull him or herself out. Since they float,the picks can be tossed to another angler who has fall-en through.

An extremely important item to have hooked toyour side is a multi-purpose tool. Most uses are self-explanatory. However, if an angler doesn’t have thepreviously mentioned picks, the multi-purpose toolcan be unfolded and the needlenose pliers stuck intothe ice to help pull a person to safety. Of course, thisis only in an emergency, and not meant to be a substi-tute for some sort of floating ice picks device. In theopen water months the uses are endless, especially inthe boat. There are many of these tools on the market,but my suggestion would be to check out the productsproduced by Coast, Leatherman and Gerber. I wearone on my belt at all times.

If for some reason wood is needed for a fire, or alimb or small tree obstruction needs to be removed,then a hatchet and folding saw are a great benefit. Amachete can also be used, but these are a little longer,and take up more room.

While on the subject of fire, a cigarette lighter andwaterproof matches are “must have” items. Com-bine these with a four-pack of Nature’s Firefirestarters. I’ve used these firestarters severaltimes, and can highly recommend their effectiveness.They can also be laid on the ground, and used similarto a flare.

The folding “military style” shovel can be used as aregular shovel, or positioned like a pick ax.

A flashlight isneeded for manythings, and is re-quired by the CoastGuard to pass boatinspection. This isa primary signalingdevice for any sea-son. One of thebest that I havefound is a Coast HP7, which is small, but very brightwith flood and spotlight adjustment. The HP21 is evenbrighter, but much larger. With the HP7 comes a beltsheath, making it easy to carry, or store in a back-pack, boat or truck glove drawer, or wherever.

Everyone knows that ropes are needed, and are an-other item required by the Coast Guard in a boat. Iprefer the nylon rope for all seasons, especially winter.The poly ropes are too stiff for many uses, and in thewinter can become so stiff that they are difficult tomanage or toss to a person who has fallen through theice. On this same line of thought, keep the nylon ropedry in the winter, as it will freeze solid.

A simple coffee can is used for boiling water, orbailing water from a boat. It can also cook food, suchas beans, or pre-packaged meals in a bag. Thesecome in heavy foil bags, which are dropped into boilingwater. Boiling bags of rice are another idea.

Granola bars are a very good food item. These willnot spoil, don’t need cooking, and provide energy.

First aid kits should be complete with antisepticcreams, gauze pads, tape, iodine, bee sting ointment,band-aids, scissors, etc. It is also a good idea to havesnakebite and hook removal kits. The only hook re-moval kit I have encountered is from South Bend.

While a multi-purpose tool, such as mentioned ear-lier, will contain one or two knife blades, I also like tocarry a folding knife. These will have a heavier blade,with a different handle. My favorite is spring-assistopening Recon made by Coast, which is clipped insidemy pocket. The spring-assist makes it ideal for whenonly one hand is free to open a knife.

At first thought this kit may seem to be a lot to car-ry on the ice, and in a boat or vehicle. Actually it isn’tall that bad, and if Gerber’s Sport Utility Pack is used,it is even better. The Sport Utility Pack comes with afolding saw and shovel, hatchet, MagLite flashlight,multi-purpose tool, and small first aide kit. This allfolds into a case made of 600 denier polyester, whichmeasures 12” x 11” x 3”. You may want to beef up thefirst aid kit with a few more items, but the room ispresent to accomplish this task, and store the hook re-moval kit.

It was already mentioned about wearing the otheritems on the belt with sheaths, and around the neck(picks of life). If a 2 pound coffee can is used, it willeasily carry the lighter, matches, fire starter and acouple of food bags and granola bars.

The Sport Utility Pack, filled coffee can, and 25feet long coil of rope, will fit into an ice angler’sbucket or portable shelter, or a boat’s storage com-partment. It is advisable to carry this same kit inthe truck or car.

While we all hope that problems will never arise,it is good to know that a well-equipped survival kit isclose at hand.

Two other electronic items that would be of help

DAN’S FISH ‘N’ TALES®By Dan Galusha

117_001.qxd 1/28/13 8:00 PM Page 1


118_001.qxd 1/28/13 8:09 PM Page 1

The Streckfus Line purchased theboat in 1910 and continued packetservice until 1917, making a chartertrip to the Shiloh Battlefield in 1912for the St. Louis & Tennessee RiverPacket Company. During the winterof 1919–20, staterooms were re-moved to make room for excursion-ists, and the vessel was renamedCapitol. The alterations increased themeasurements to 256.6 by 50.7 by6.2. The sternwheel, turned by pit-mans 24 feet long, was 25 feet in di-


THE EXCURSIONSTEAMER CAPITOL

By Keith NorringtonAfter a long and busy season oftramping the rivers, it was at this au-tumnal time of year that the excur-sion steamboats began to head forsafe quarters during the winter hiatus.Many boats went into layup to under-go repairs in preparation for the nextseason, while others, such as theCapitol, moved to warmer climates inthe South to continue operating.

The Capitol began its lengthy lifeas the packet Pittsburgh, built at theCincinnati Marine Ways in 1879 forthe Cincinnati & Pittsburgh PacketCompany. The wooden hull, whichmeasured 250 by 39.2 by 5.8, drew24 inches light and the boat had areputation for making speedy tripsbetween Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.Four boilers with six flues providedthe steam for the engines, which had22-inch cylinders and a seven-footstroke.

In the early 1880s, the big stern-wheeler was purchased by the fa-mous Diamond Jo Line and taken to

St. Louis for service on the Missis-sippi. The disastrous tornado thatstruck the St. Louis riverfront in 1896removed nearly the entire superstruc-ture of the boat, but it was rebuiltwith new upper works into a finerpacket named Dubuque. In July1901, the boat sank after ripping a142-foot-long hole in the hull at Kei-thsburg, IL, but was quickly raisedand repaired.

ameter with 30-foot bucket plankshaving a 24-inch dip. There were fourmain rudders and two monkey rud-ders.

From 1920 until 1941, the Capitoltraversed the Mississippi from St.Louis to St. Paul, usually wintering atNew Orleans and offering harborcruises at that city before returningupriver in the spring. When the NewOrleans Industrial Canal was formal-ly opened on May 5, 1923, the Capi-

River historian Judy Patsch poses with the pilotwheel of theCapitol at the St. Louis Museumof Transportation in July 1995.

Photo by Keith Norrington

The Streckfus excursion steamer Capitol at the Alton, Illinois landing with a large crowd aboard.

Photo by Robert K. Graul, Keith Norrington collection!

Greene Farm ManagementService, Inc.Founded in 1942

213 Second St. • PO Box 400 • Dunlap, IL 61525309-243-1070 • www.greenefarm.com

Farm Appraisals • Farm Management • Consulting ServicesAgricultural Insurance • Farm Real Estate Brokerage

Dale Clary, A.F.M., A.L.C. • Jim Erlandson, A.L.C. • Jerry Huffman, A.F.M., A.L.C.


119_001.qxd 1/28/13 8:22 PM Page 1

CAPITOL…Cont’d. from previous pg.

tol carried many notables to the ceremony. Capt.Roy M. Streckfus was master of the boat for manyyears with his son, Capt. J. Curran Streckfus, as-suming command for the final seasons.

The Capitol, largest excursion sternwheeler onthe Mississippi, laden with wooden gingerbreadtrim and thousands of decorative white lights, wasa favorite of many residents along the Upper Mis-sissippi who greatly looked forward to riding thebig boat each summer and dancing to the livelytunes of the bands and orchestras that brought thelatest popular music to the river. One of those avidyoung excursionists was the late Walter Patsch, ofRock Island, Illinois, father of well-known riverhistorian Judy Patsch, who faithfully followed inher father’s footsteps aboard the steamer Avalon asa youngster and for many years served as a crewmember aboard the New Orleans excursion steam-boat Natchez during summer vacations from teach-ing.

As with all things that have their time under theheavens, so it goes with old steamboats, and the63-year-old hull of the Capitol became water-logged and weary, making it a great safety concern.At the time, Streckfus Steamers was in the processof bringing out its modern all-steel riverboats Pres-ident and Admiral, and the older vessels of thecompany were all retired, beginning with theWashington in 1937, the J.S. (De Luxe) in 1938and the Senator (formerly the Saint Paul) in 1941,along with the Capitol. The latter two were tied upabove the Eads Bridge to await dismantling.

My mother recalls seeing, as a young teenager,the derelict riverboats during a family trip to St.Louis. During the summer of 1945, the Capitol wasstripped of salvageable parts and the remains even-tually moved to the lower end of the St. Louis lev-ee and scrapped. The pilotwheel from the boat to-day is exhibited at the St. Louis Museum of Trans-portation. The 32-whistle Nichol calliope was in-stalled on the roof of the Admiral in 1951 and re-moved in the 1970s.

Stay tuned for more on the fascinating saga ofthe Streckfus sternwheelers and sidewheelers infuture Old Boat Columns!

Faded glory. The Capitol

being dismantled at the St. Louis levee.

Photo by Ruth Ferris,

Keith Norrington collection


A postcard view of the spacious dance floor aboard the Capitol.

Keith Norrington!collection

120_001.qxd 1/28/13 8:21 PM Page 1


121_001.qxd 1/21/13 2:00 AM Page 1

2013

March 6th2013


122_001.qxd 1/21/13 1:59 AM Page 1


123_001.qxd 1/21/13 1:58 AM Page 1


124_001.qxd 1/21/13 1:51 AM Page 1

Documents

Adventure Sports Outdoors Feb. 2013