by David E. Petzal

This took place in the 1990s at an airport in one of Canada’s western provinces, and involved a member of that country’s Immigration Service, which is dedicated to making life as hard for American hunters as it possibly can.

I had been invited to this province by a scope manufacturer to hunt whitetail deer, freeze, and see what great stuff they made. By sheer chance, a few weeks previously, Field & Stream had been visited by a minister of Canada’s Department of Tourism who asked the magazine’s help in persuading sportsmen to visit their country, eh? He left a couple of his cards, and I, in a rare stroke of foresight, kept one.

So I got to the Canadian airport and on the entry card, where it asked whether I was there on business or pleasure, I checked off business, because I was, after all, representing the magazine and was the guest of a manufacturer. This was a mistake.

by David E. Petzal

Because of a calamitous case of human error, I did not get to review the Weatherby Series 2 Vanguard when it came out last year. So, making up for lost time, I can say that I’ve shot one in .308 at some length, and can state without fear of contradiction that it’s one of the best hunting rifles around at any price.

The Series 2 barreled action is made in Japan by Howa, as it always has been, but the stock is now made in the United States, and the rifles are assembled here. There’s a blued and a stainless version; the MSRP for the former is $489, and for the latter $200 more.

There are two principle changes to the rifle. First is the stock. Weatherby has scrapped the old, clubby stock for a new one that follows the lines of the original Mark V stock very closely, including the wonderful, slim pistol grip. Second is the trigger, which is now a true two-stage mechanism that is virtually perfect. No creep, no drag, dead-clean release, 3 ½ pounds every time, and if you even think of messing with it you’re nuts.

by David E. Petzal

Cabela’s, perhaps because it’s their 50th anniversary, or because they’re getting soft in the head, or because they felt sorry for me, sent me a whole sleighload of gear to play with this past hunting season, so much so that our UPS guy developed a conspiratorial smirk each time he drove up with a new package from Sidney, Nebraska. Everything that follows, I’ve used, but first a note:

All of this gear comes in the company’s Outfitter camo pattern, which is the only one I’ve ever seen that you can take anywhere without standing out like a zit on your daughter’s forehead the night before the prom. You may, if you wish, opt for a pattern such as Redbug and Pellagra, but eventually you’ll regret it.

Bow and Rifle Pack It’s 2400 cubic inches overall and weighs 4 pounds. The pack has a 2-litre water bladder, holds a reasonable amount of small stuff, plus shooting sticks and a spotting scope, and lets you carry your rifle down the center of your back, making it a hell of a lot easier to lug, and freeing both hands. The Bow and Rifle Pack has an excellent suspension, a waist belt big enough to go around the guts of even the calorically challenged, and no flaws that I can find. If you’ve never carried a rifle this way before, the Bow and Rifle will make a believer out of you. $150.