Field and Stream - Hunting RSS

2011 RAM Outdoorsman Pickup

Joe_Cermele — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 22:24:51 -0400

This May, I had the chance to hit the road in RAM's 2011 1500 Outdoorsman, a truck that's generating plenty of buzz in the hunting and fishing world. With so many after-market accessories available to rig your ride for sporting quests, it seemed only a matter of time before an automaker took the needs of the avid outdoors into consideration and made all the little extras stock. I covered more than 600 miles in this truck, trekking up to Buffalo, N.Y., in pursuit of smallmouth bass. Though the trip did not lend itself to off-road pursuits, spending that amount of time in a vehicle let's you really get a feel for it, and there are plenty of perks for the fisherman that cruises pavement as much as muddy trails.

Though the 1500 I drove had a powerful 5.7L HEMI V-8, take your foot off the gas on the highway and the engine cuts out 4 cyclinders. The amount of time I was running on 4 may have seemed trivial in the overall course of 600 miles, but it made a noticeable difference in fuel economy. By my calculations, I averaged 17 miles per gallon during this highway-heavy adventure. That's not too shabby for a truck this size.

If you need to haul a boat or trailer, the Outdoorsman has you hooked up, literally and figuratively. The large sideview mirrors adjust to stand horizontally or vertically, while a heavy-duty cooling package and standard four- and seven-pin adapters let the Outdoorsman pull up to 10,250 pounds.

But most unique about the truck is its RAM boxes. Two lockable, insulated boxes on either side of the 6-foot, 4-inch bed feature custom, adjustable brackets designed to securely hold rifles, shotguns, or fishing rods. While I could see how long guns would fit snugly in these brackets, I noticed that fishing rod design limited the ability to use the RAM boxes to store them.

What I found worked best were two piece rods with the reels removed. With spinning reels still attached, I was able to get 2 rods in each box, though without reels, the brackets can hold up to 12 rods. If I were to own an Outdoorsman, I would likely use one box to store a few fly rods for local outings, and the other to keep ice for drinks and the day's catch. Drain plugs in the RAM boxes make using them as coolers even easier. But if a fishing trip calls for taking one-piece rods, they'll have to go in the bed. - Joe Cermele

Gear Review: New Stanley Vacuum Bottles Carry On a Tradition

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:04:34 -0400

by Jay Cassell

Best known for the classic green vacuum bottles that our fathers and grandfathers used to take on hunting and fishing trips (many still do!) Stanley recently introduced a new Adventure series of bottles, cups, food storage and cooking containers, and coffee mugs.

Reasonably priced between $10 and $25, the containers retain the venerable green color, yet feature modern improvements.

One unit that I found particularly useful is the carbonated 32-ounce drink bottle, with a dome construction that the company claims will keep beverages carbonated for up to 8 hours. I tested it by pouring a beer into the bottle; 8 hours later, at the end of the day, I opened it up, heard a gratifying fizz, and happily had a sip of cold beer.

The insulated outer wrap keeps beverages cold for a little more than three hours, plus it’s dishwater safe. This unit is $20 and will be available in late June.

Cooper's New All-Terrain Truck Tires

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:00:25 -0500

by Slaton White

Cooper may not be the first name that pops into your head when looking at new tires, but given what I saw at the company’s test facility in Texas a couple of days ago, it should be top of mind. That’s because this Ohio-based manufacturer (meaning built in the U.S.A.) specializes in replacement tires, and one of the first lessons outdoorsmen learn--usually the hard way--is that original equipment tires are often woefully inadequate tools to meet the challenges posed by muddy trails and slick boat ramps. But two new light truck tires from Cooper are up to the challenge.

The first is the Discoverer A/T3 . T3, according to Cooper, stands for “All Traction, All Terrain, All the Time!” After slogging through a serious mud pit and executing tight turns on a wet handling course (designed to see if we could get the rear of the pickup to break loose on the slick surface), I would tend to agree. This light truck tire, which will be available in April, replaces the Discoverer ATR.

“The A/T3 uses a balanced combination of technology, compounding and design to produce a tire that provides confident all-terrain performance,” says Mike Graham, who helped design the tire. “Its silica tread compound increases tread wear, improves wet traction and helps resist cutting and chipping. The modern tread design significantly improves offroad traction without sacrificing highway performance.”

Though the tire wasn’t designed specifically with mud in mind, during prototype testing engineers discovered that it delivered superior mud performance. I saw that first-hand, when Graham invited me to try to get a Jeep stuck in their mud pit (technically the “Mud Traction Area”), a 500-foot-long irrigated soil bin fitted with sprinklers capable of delivering more than 300 gallons of water per minute. It’s truly a bottomless sea of goo, and I very nearly accomplished my mission, bogging down for a minute. A quick shift to four-wheel low, however, did the trick. This is the kind of mess that deer hunters and waterfowlers often find in late-season fields, and it’s nice to know the tire allows you to scoot through the stuff.

Another thing I like: the tire is self-cleaning, like any good mud tire, but comes without the huge lugs that make heavy-duty mud tires such a pain when driving on paved surfaces. The A/T3 will be available in 30 SUV sizes and 32 light truck sizes ranging from 15- to 20- inch rim diameters.

If you live in an area where hunting big game or upland birds takes you into tough country, you have no doubt lost a tire to a sidewall puncture or gotten stuck in a boulder field. It comes with the territory. But Cooper’s Discoverer S/T Maxx is designed to let you keep on truckin’. One way it does this is through a three-ply Armor-Tek3 carcass construction, as well as a proprietary cut- and chip-resistant compound. As you can see by the accompanying video, shot at Cooper’s test facility, it definitely can handle rocks. The design of the special course was “borrowed” from California’s infamous Rubicon Trail, considered by many serious off-roaders to be the most challenging offroad trail in the Lower 48. Most hunters won’t encounter terrain like this when going to deer camp, but it does give you an idea of how well the tire—and especially the sidewalls--stands up to tough terrain.

The Cooper test facility also has a special area set up for hill climbs with three different concrete surfaces (smooth concrete, brushed concrete and imbedded rock), all set at a 30-degree incline. The fun begins when they turned on the sprinklers, giving the smooth concrete surface all the grip (or lack thereof) offered by a steep, moss-covered boat ramp. This is a situation that gives bass anglers nightmares, but the Discoverer S/T Maxx did just fine.

To me, the most interesting part of the tire’s design is the tread pattern’s non-parallel groove walls, which speedily kick out stones. The enhanced buttress design is also a key component, as it helps provide additional offroad traction and abrasion resistance.

The S/T Maxx launched last month and is available in eight sizes, ranging from 16- to 18-inch rim diameters.

Cooper doesn’t set prices; it leaves that to its dealers. That said, you should be able to find the S/T Maxx for around $150 per tire. My best guess at this point is that the AT3 should be in the same ballpark, but the tire it replaces currently runs from $130 to $170, depending on size. For more information, go to coopertire.com

Best New Fishing Outerwear: Columbia Omni-Heat Squall Line Bib and Parka

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:59:52 -0500

This bib and parka keep you warm with less bulk, which means greater mobility. The waterproof-breathable shell is lined with a thermally reflective fabric that reduces body-heat loss and increases cold-weather comfort.

Practical features include articulated and reinforced knees and elbows, water-sealing cuffs, a stiff-brimmed detachable hood, weather-resistant closures, and optional zip-in liners. --Ted Leeson

2011 Dodge Ram Tradesman

Dave_Maccar — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 09:20:04 -0500

by Slaton White

It’s the classic tradeoff—a truck for work or a truck for play? Ram is bridging that gap with its new Tradesman, built on the Ram 1500 ST platform. Its been designed—and named—for hard-working guys who use their trucks at the job site, but it’s also capable of weekend duty hauling gear to deer camp or towing a bass boat to the lake.

The most compelling feature is the engine—the classic HEMI, which is rated at 390 horsepower and 407 foot-pounds of torque. But it’s not the proverbial gas guzzler of the Muscle Car Era. This modern version can deliver up to 20 mpg (in two-wheel-drive versions). Also included in the Tradesman package is a standard Class IV trailer hitch with lighted, above-bumper four- and seven-pin trailer wire connectors, which makes hooking up the trailer (and more importantly, the boat) early in the morning or late a night much easier because you can actually see the connectors. The Tradesman also features heavy-duty engine cooling and a heavy-duty transmission oil cooler. Maximum towing rating is 10,450 pounds.

At this point you’re probably figuring, “Great! But all this performance is probably going to cost me more than 30 grand."

Not so. Prices start around $22,000. That’s a lot of truck for the money.

For more information, visit ramtruck.com

Introducing the Tough-Towing 2011 Ram Heavy Duty Pickup

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:41:48 -0500

by Slaton White

When considering the 2011 Ram 3500 Heavy Duty pickup, which made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show last week, it helps to think of nose tackle B.J. Raji of the champion Green Bay Packers. At 337 pounds, he’s a massive package, like this truck. But he’s also incredibly nimble. The heavyweight Ram can also come off the line in a flash, too, thanks to the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel found under the hood. This engine is capable of a staggering 800 foot-pounds of torque.

Important for outdoorsmen who tow big trailers or carry heavy loads, the 3500’s Gross Combined Weight Rating has also been increased to 30,000 pounds, and the maximum trailer tow weight is now 22,700 pounds.

Those are big numbers. But one other improvement ought to appeal to fans of diesel power. This new truck starts instantly; no more waiting on the glow plug. And both dual batteries are wrapped in special shields that help keep them cool in hot weather and warm in frigid weather.

Mike Cairns, Ram Truck Vehicle Line Executive said, “performance and durability are key factors in this market, and this Ram truck delivers both.” Just like a great tackle should.

What’s all this performance going to cost you? Stay tuned. Pricing hasn’t been finalized, and won’t be until the truck goes on sale in the spring. For more information, go to ramtrucks.com.

Gear Review: Cabela's MTo50 Gore-Tex Quiet Pack Jacket

JayCassell — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:41:56 -0500

On a recent deer-hunting trip to Kodiak Island, Alaska, I wore this jacket and matching pants every day, and was happy I did. It only rained one day, but even on sunny days the ground and head-high grass lining the trails were always wet. Plus, I did a lot of glassing, which meant sitting in grass and mud for extended periods.

I was a little skeptical about this raingear at first; its super-soft shell material just didn’t say “waterproof” to me. Boy, was I wrong. This stuff is great; with a Gore-Tex shell and Teflon finish, it kept me dry for the week and, when layered with heavy base layers, it cut the wind and kept me warm as well. The soft material also has the advantage of being quiet in the woods, which any deer hunter would appreciate.

I chose Outfitter camo for the terrain and vegetation on Kodiak, but it’s available in four other types, include Mossy Oak New Break Up and Realtree Ap. The jacket goes from $180 to $200, the pants $170 to $190. From cabelas.com. – Jay Cassell

Gear Review: Cabela's MTo50 Gore-Tex Quiet Pack Jacket

JayCassell — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:41:56 -0500

I chose Outfitter camo for the terrain and vegetation on Kodiak, but it’s available in four other types, including Mossy Oak New Break Up and Realtree Ap. The jacket goes from $180 to $200, the pants $170 to $190. From cabelas.com. – Jay Cassell

Gear Review: Cabela's "Perfekt" 10-Inch Boots by Meindl

JayCassell — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:39:15 -0500

Last month I had the opportunity to hunt for blacktail deer on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Our group of six hunters lived on a houseboat, took skiffs into shore in the morning, hunted all day, then took the skiff back at night. If you got a deer, you’d radio the boat and they’d send the skiff out to get you.
Kodiak is incredibly tough, steep country, with mountains rising from the shore up to 4000+ feet. For this hunt, I was wearing Cabela’s Perfekt 10-Inch boots, by Meindl – a German company that’s well known for making sturdy, durable, high- quality boots. These did not disappoint! The break-in time was practically nothing, the boots kept me warm in 30-degree weather (they have 400 grams of Thinsulate insulation), and the treads made me feel like a mountain goat on some of those dicey ridges. The boots have a layer of cork that is designed to protect your joints from shock, plus mold to your foot for custom support. No complaints on that – they worked, and with the Nubuck outer and breathable Gore-tex membrane, they stayed dry. Weight is 4.4 pound per pair, price is $230 – well worth it when you consider that lesser boots might have failed on this hunt. – Jay Cassell

Gear Review: DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator

JayCassell — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:18:22 -0400

Imagine having a GPS unit that can not only plot your route and help you navigate the wilderness, but can also send messages to family and friends around the globe – no matter how far back in the woods you might be. DeLorme’s new PN-60w with SPOT does just that. These two devices are sold together, and are designed to work exclusively with one another via wireless communication. Type text messages on the keyboard and the SPOT sends them to cell phones, email, and your Twitter and Facebook pages; your friends and family can also track your progress online. In case of emergency, send SOS messages with your GPS location embedded. Price is $550 plus SPOT subscription.

Moultrie Game Spy I-35 Trail Camera

Online Editors — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:30:12 -0400

Ease of use: The screen is clear and programming easy. Grade:B+

Picture quality: Daytime shots were crisp; night pics were decent. Grade:B

Trigger speed: Captured some action, but it's better if your subject is moving slowly. Grade:C+

Flash range: Just shy of 40 feet—very good. Grade:A-

Other considerations: A solid unit if you don't need fast-action shots, it adapts to Moultrie's cellular access system, which uploads pics to your computer remotely—unheard of at this price.
Final Grade:B+

Bushnell Trophy Cam Trail Camera

Online Editors — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:25:00 -0400

Ease of use: Programming was fairly intuitive. Tiny buttons and a so-so viewing screen were a little irritating for fat fingers and old eyes, a minor quibble. Grade:B

Picture quality: The photos were not quite tack-sharp, but they were darn good. Grade:A-

Trigger speed: Outstanding. This unit captured fast-action shots with ease. Grade:A+

Flash range: Nighttime picture quality was very solid out to almost 40 feet. Grade:A-

Other considerations: Bushnell beefed up the PIR sensors and night-vision LEDs for 2010. These improvements made the wonderfully compact Trophy Cam one of the best values out there.
Final Grade:A-

Primos Truth Cam 35 Trail Camera

Online Editors — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:19:05 -0400

Ease of use: This was the simplest, most intuitive camera to operate, with five basic settings controlled by a single toggle switch. Grade:A

Picture quality: Good daytime shots, very nice night pics. Grade:B+

Trigger speed: The camera captured slow- to mediumpaced action but couldn't snag the faster stuff. Grade:C+

Flash range: This was the only camera to detect night action out to 50 feet, and pics were good. Grade:A+

Other considerations: It's large, the shutter is loud, and you may have to point it at a scrape or mineral lick where deer will linger. But the Truth Cam is a solid, user-friendly unit at a terrific price.
Final Grade:B+

Trail Cam Test: Budget Trail Cameras of 2010

Online Editors — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:42:58 -0400

How much do you have to spend to get a decent trail camera? Maybe less than you think. I tested three new, low-priced models for their ability to shoot “wildlife” (me, my son, and a retriever pup), and then graded their performance. Here's how they stacked up.

Gear Review: Wenger Traveler Pocket Alarm

JayCassell — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:51:15 -0400

I’ve been using this pocket watch for the past month or so, and after overcoming my initial reservations about throwing off my wristwatch, I’ve really gotten to like it. Called the Traveler Pocket Alarm watch, this time piece comes in a rubber casing, so I can take it along on hunting and fishing trips and not have to baby it. It’s got an analog display (which I prefer to digital), plus second time zone hands, a great feature if you travel a lot. It’s got a timer, and the alarm clock feature is easy to use. I’ve found it’s most convenient if I clip the watch’s S-Biner to one of the loops on my fishing vest/backpack. Then I don’t have to worry about it getting wet, which is always a problem when fishing with a wristwatch. (The company says it’s water-resistant down to 99 feet, but I still don’t like to take chances.)

Complaints? The numbers and hands are luminescent, though I wish it had a backlight feature anyway. Price is $250 – a bit steep, but this is a really well-made watch that’ll probably last longer than me! – Jay Cassell

Hunting Gear of the Year: 2010 Best of the Best

Joe_Cermele — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:19:13 -0400

We spent the better part of the year finding the goods that will make your time in the field more successful and more fun. First up is a buyer’s guide to nine categories that sportsmen obsess over: shotguns, rifles, muzzleloaders, binoculars, riflescopes, ATVs, bows, ammo, and knives. We’ve picked winners in each, plus highlighted some contenders that didn’t come out on top but still excelled in our tests - The Editors

JUMP TO:

Shotguns
Rifles/Pistols
Muzzleloaders
Bows
Knives
Optics
Ammunition
ATVs/Trucks
Treestands
Clothing/Footwear
Accessories

Burris Eliminator LaserScope 4–12x42mm

Joe_Cermele — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:10:06 -0400

2010 Best of the Best (Winner; Rangefinder): Laser rangefinders seem more essential to big-game hunting by the day, and the advantages of having one built into your riflescope are obvious: You don’t have to take your sights off the game, and you can maintain a steady hold while ranging. Weighing not much more (27.7 ounces) than many large scopes, the Eliminator can be used as a straight rangefinder, or calibrated to compensate for the drop of nearly 600 rounds listed in its ballistics table, and fine-tuned beyond that. - Thomas McIntyre

Aimpoint Hunter Series H34L 1x47mm

Joe_Cermele — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:07:47 -0400

2010 Best of the Best (Winner; Red Dot Sight): The 9.1-ounce sight is a good choice on long-action rifles for thick cover or dangerous game. It worked excellently at 30 yards on my .375 with the 2-MOA LED dot at its brightest, and was remarkably accurate with a dim dot at 100 yards. - Thomas McIntyre

Hunt Comfort Specialist

Joe_Cermele — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:04:36 -0400

2010 Best of the Best (Winner): A seat is a seat, right? Not when it comes to the Specialist, a lightweight folding seat from Hunt Comfort. But would you really spend $90 for a pad? My first reaction was absolutely not—that is, until I started setting up the Specialist in all the uncomfortable spots you typically end up calling turkeys from. There will be no more pains in my butt, or back, with this 3-pound 1-ounce, 14x16x5-inch seat. The key is in the three-layer construction with gel pads embedded in the bottom cushion. - Jay Cassell

Montana Decoy HD series Mr. T Gobbler

Joe_Cermele — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:59:07 -0400

2010 Best of the Best (Winner): This two-dimensional decoy shows a beautifully rendered full-strut gobbler screened on the fabric, front and back. It wins for its extreme portability, folding small enough to fit in your pocket. It won’t work well in heavy winds, but you could carry a flock of them in one hand and your gun in the other.- Nate Matthews

Essential Gear Pico Lite

Joe_Cermele — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:54:24 -0400

2010 Best of the Best (Winner): You might know the aggravation of having your flashlight wink out in dark woods just before you’re ready to dress a deer. But an extra flashlight means extra weight, so many of us don’t bother. The 11⁄2-inch Pico Lite, though, weighs only .4 ounce with batteries. It survived my drenching and slamming tests and is practically impossible to turn on accidentally. The beam reaches to 30 feet, and it lasts. - Mike Toth

Sitka Gear Bivy 30

Joe_Cermele — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:51:18 -0400

2010 Best of the Best Awards (Winner): Here is a no-b.s. backpack for hunters who like to go light: no pointless pockets that you’d stuff with gear you can do without; no dreadlock-like straps dangling off the back that snag on brush; and at 5 pounds 2 ounces, no extra weight that will slow you down. The features that the 3,200-cubic-inch Sitka Gear Bivy 30 does have, however, all make sense: a built-in sleeping-glassing pad; a removable lid that allows the bag to double as a daypack; a rain fly that will defend your gear in a downpour; a hydration system and water-bottle holders; and padded mesh shoulder pads. The suspended tension frame maximizes airflow, and the quiet Soft Shell fabric and Optifade Open Country pattern keep you silent and concealed. - Colin Kearns

Zippo Campfire Starter

Joe_Cermele — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:41:53 -0400

2010 Best of the Best (Winner): Tinder, of course, is free for the taking. But this fire starter, a hockey-puck-shaped combination of cedar sawdust and wax, is worth the tiny price tag. It’s basically tinder and kindling wrapped into one. Zippo suggests breaking the puck apart for four fires. It’s especially useful in wet conditions - Tom Tiberio

ThermaCell Outdoor Lantern

Joe_Cermele — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:38:34 -0400

2010 Best of the Best (Winner): While turkey hunting in hot, humid weather that usually has mosquitoes swarming all over me, I set this by my calling position, turned it on (a flame from a butane canister heats a repellent-impregnated pad), and watched as bugs stopped short of an invisible wall 12 feet away. That night, I set the lantern on the camp table, where its eight LED bulbs helped light up the night. - Jay Cassell

Eureka! Suite V4 Tent

Joe_Cermele — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:34:44 -0400

2010 Best of the Best (Winner): If I were tall, this is the tent I’d want. A unique pole structure creates headroom where you need it most—by the door. The design also produces a huge vestibule, making it easy to store a lot of gear. It’s not light, but it’s ideal for car camping - Anthony Licata