Muzzleloader Innovator Tony Knight Passes at 67

Founder of Knight Rifles and renowned gunsmith Tony Knight passed away on Monday at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Monies, Iowa. According to his obituary at Thomas Funeral Home, Knight is survived by his wife Rose, two adult children, and four grandchildren who were “his greatest joy.”

Knight is perhaps most well known as “the father of modern in-line muzzleloading.” He founded Knight Rifles in 1985 and opened his first factory in Missouri two years later. There, along with a few friends and a love of elk hunting, Knight began to pioneer new designs for muzzleloader firearms. In an interview with Randy Wakeman, Knight said it all began with elk season and the frontloaders of that time. Dissatisfied with the reliability and accuracy of the firearms he was using, the gunsmith decided that he could do better.

Knight went from a small bow and gun shop in 1982 to an expansive plant in Centerville, Iowa by the early 90s. He attributes much of his success to the mentorship of Roy Weatherby, who was instrumental in encouraging Knight to move forward with his plans.

“Roy Weatherby told me all the details of how he started, what his challenges were, and shared with me what he felt his successes were due to,” Knight said in an interview. “Roy helped me along the right path when others couldn’t be bothered, and I’m indebted to him for that.”

In addition to producing groundbreaking designs like the Knight MK-85, the gunsmith spent his leisure time enjoying nature and hunting. Knight confirmed his favorite stomping ground is Alaska and enthusiastically encourages everyone to experience what the state has to offer.

Funeral services will take place on Saturday, March 23 at Thomas Funeral Home.

Knight Rifles continues to manufacture muzzleloaders and accessories to this day from its Tennessee location.

Read and join the discussion on Muzzleloader Innovator Tony Knight Passes at 67 at OutdoorHub.com.

NM Elk Guide Turns the Tables on Brotherhood Outdoors

The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s award-winning hunting and fishing TV show, Brotherhood Outdoors, will feature a late-season New Mexico elk hunt with Dan Reyes, a proud member of United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 412, at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, February 10 on Sportsman Channel.

Also the owner of Ridgeline Outfitters out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Reyes challenges the Brotherhood Outdoors crew to pursue stealthy New Mexico elk with only a muzzleloader, comfortable hiking boots, high energy levels and a lot of patience.

“Traversing difficult terrain, scaling rock walls and mountainsides, all while keeping the cameras rolling was only half the battle,” said Brotherhood Outdoors co-host Daniel Lee Martin. “The real trick was to get the animal within range for a primitive weapon without using any sweet-talking or traditional calls.”

Nominated by former Brotherhood Outdoors guest Jake Lovato, Reyes is one of the only professional hunting guides in New Mexico who is also a member of the UA. Guiding professionally for the last 20 years, he is also a member of the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation, NRA and SCI.

“My dad taught me to appreciate the great outdoors at an early age,” said Reyes. “My outdoor way of life is very important to me and I plan to hand all of this down to my kids.”

Winner of a 2012 Sportsman Choice award, Brotherhood Outdoors awards union sportsmen and women who are committed to preserving North America’s outdoor heritage with a guided trip or the opportunity to show off their guiding skills and local hunting or fishing destinations on national TV.

Presented by Bank of Labor, Brotherhood Outdoors is also sponsored by Employee Benefit Solutions, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, National Electrical Contractors Association, United Association/International Training Fund as well as Buck Knives and Burris/Steiner Optics.

Tune in at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, February 10 to Sportsman Channel to see if Reyes can lead Brotherhood Outdoors host Daniel Lee Martin to his first New Mexico elk.

For more information about Brotherhood Outdoors or a complete lineup, visit www.BrotherhoodOutdoors.tv.

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Why the World Hunting Club is Giving Away CVA Rifles

Michael Clay is the webmaster and creator of the World Hunting Club.

“The World Hunting Club is an online network for hunters,” Clay explains. We’ve tried to design it similar to Facebook and make it a fun place for hunters to gather, seek and give information, show pictures of their trophies and communicate with each other. The page also has links to outfitters and guides and can take you straight to their webpages to find someone who can tell you about hunting in their area.” This website was created to help beginning hunters learn more about how to hunt and where to hunt, as well as provide information for seasoned veterans to give them tips and tactics on where to find more game, how to locate trophy animals and what strategies to use to take that animal of a lifetime.

To incentivize hunters to come to this webpage and to participate in it, Clay reports, “We try to give away CVA rifles as often as we can. When I first started hunting with a muzzleloader, a good friend of mine, Chad Schearer, gave me a CVA muzzleloading rifle. I got accustomed to the Quick-Release Breech Plug, especially since I didn’t like to carry tools in the woods with me or have to find tools at camp when I need to remove a breech plug. Another feature of CVA guns that was extremely helpful to me when I first started hunting with a muzzleloader was the customer-support phone number. Any time I had a question about my CVA rifle or hunting with a CVA rifle, the company had experienced people I could contact to help me. I personally believe in the CVA products, and more importantly I’ve appreciated the help the company has provided to me after I’ve had my rifle.

If you would like the chance to win a CVA Optima muzzleloader and free 4 day guided hunt click on the following link. The World Hunting Club Optima/Hunt Give-a-way.

“When we started the World Hunting Club, I posted a note on social media that after we received our first 100 members we would give away a CVA blackpowder rifle. After that drawing, we posted a note saying after we got 250 members, we would give away another CVA rife. When we reached the 500 mark, we would give away another and a fourth gun when we reached the 1,000 mark. We were expecting we’d need at least a few months to get to those numbers. However, we gave away two guns within a week, after going from 15 members to 250 verified members, which means they are hunters who have joined the club and sent us their email addresses. We had almost 600 people sign-up who weren’t verified. Our initial launch of www.worldhuntingclub.com was a fantastic success, and I really believe that the CVA rifle giveaway was a major contributor to that success. I think people came to our site to register for the giveaway for the CVA rifle, saw our site, liked the site and decided to join.”

One of the unique features about this site and this club is they have a rating system that allows you as a hunter to chart your progress as you gain more experience hunting in different places and taking various animals. The club has a point system that enables you to follow and track all of your hunting activities. One of the big features that continues to gain in popularity is that hunters can upload not only the pictures of themselves with the animals they take, the friends they hunt with and/or unique live animals, but they also can upload videos to the forum. The World Hunting Club also has experts in many areas of hunting who can answer your questions about hunting. Another feature is that you can ask the questions anonymously and get the answers that you may be embarrassed to get from someone who knows you. For example, why should you try to hunt and call a wild turkey from above the turkey, instead of from below the turkey, may be a question a hunter has but doesn’t want to ask of anyone he knows.

“We try to have information for individuals of all levels of hunting experience from the beginner to the pro,” Clay emphasizes. And, the good news is joining the World Hunting Club doesn’t cost anything. All you have to do is go to www.worldhuntingclub.com, and sign-up to become a member. Non-hunters, would-be hunters and first-time hunters are more than welcome to join too. Let’s face it, if you don’t know anything about hunting, and you don’t have a friend or a relative to mentor you, hunting can be as challenging as brain surgery. This new website can be a major tool in helping you learn more about how to hunt, where to hunt, what equipment to use for hunting and which  tactics most often result in a successful hunt. Check out www.worldhuntingclub.com.

Read and join the discussion on Why the World Hunting Club is Giving Away CVA Rifles at OutdoorHub.com.

Yamaha Outdoors Tip of the Week: Switch Up Your Slam

A couple weeks back I offered some tips for those folks attempting their first wild turkey grand slam. This week, I’ll provide some ideas for folks who have already completed a slam or two, or more, on how they might add a little spice to their next attempt by trying a different weapon.

Muzzleloader – Switching to a smokepole can be a nice change of pace, and add more challenge to a typical turkey hunt. You’ve only got one shot, so you’d better make it count. Besides, there’s a bit more satisfaction to be gained from preparing your own loads.

Most major muzzleloader manufacturers make shotguns, or shotgun barrels for their more popular models. Then you’ll need a few components. Veteran shotgun smokepolers recommend loose powder as it allows you to customize and tone down your loads. Standard shot and wads are available anywhere reloading components are sold. Be sure to pattern your gun so you know its effective range, which will likely be less than your shotgun.

Bow – Switching from shotgun to stick and string adds the unrivaled challenge of drawing a bow in close proximity to some of the sharpest eyes in the animal kingdom. Taking one bird is noteworthy, but if you can pull off all four, you’ll really have something to be proud of.

You can use the same archery tackle you use for deer, though you might be better off with a much lighter draw weight and let-off as it will be easier to pull and hold for what could be an extended time. You don’t need as much energy so expandable heads are a good choice – the bigger, the better. And make sure your bow and accessories are well camouflaged, unless you’re hunting from a ground blind, which is the preferred method for bowhunters. Decoys will also help distract a bird’s attention.

For tips on using a crossbow as your weapon of choice, please visit http://www.yamaha-motor.com

Read and join the discussion on Yamaha Outdoors Tip of the Week: Switch Up Your Slam at OutdoorHub.com.

Yamaha Outdoors Tip of the Week: Switch Up Your Slam

A couple weeks back I offered some tips for those folks attempting their first wild turkey grand slam. This week, I’ll provide some ideas for folks who have already completed a slam or two, or more, on how they might add a little spice to their next attempt by trying a different weapon.

Muzzleloader – Switching to a smokepole can be a nice change of pace, and add more challenge to a typical turkey hunt. You’ve only got one shot, so you’d better make it count. Besides, there’s a bit more satisfaction to be gained from preparing your own loads.

Most major muzzleloader manufacturers make shotguns, or shotgun barrels for their more popular models. Then you’ll need a few components. Veteran shotgun smokepolers recommend loose powder as it allows you to customize and tone down your loads. Standard shot and wads are available anywhere reloading components are sold. Be sure to pattern your gun so you know its effective range, which will likely be less than your shotgun.

Bow – Switching from shotgun to stick and string adds the unrivaled challenge of drawing a bow in close proximity to some of the sharpest eyes in the animal kingdom. Taking one bird is noteworthy, but if you can pull off all four, you’ll really have something to be proud of.

You can use the same archery tackle you use for deer, though you might be better off with a much lighter draw weight and let-off as it will be easier to pull and hold for what could be an extended time. You don’t need as much energy so expandable heads are a good choice – the bigger, the better. And make sure your bow and accessories are well camouflaged, unless you’re hunting from a ground blind, which is the preferred method for bowhunters. Decoys will also help distract a bird’s attention.

For tips on using a crossbow as your weapon of choice, please visit http://www.yamaha-motor.com

Read and join the discussion on Yamaha Outdoors Tip of the Week: Switch Up Your Slam at OutdoorHub.com.

A Day to Remember

As the story unfolded that mid-December morning, the day a crazed gunman murdered teachers and students at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, professional walleye angler Tommy Skarlis felt punched in the gut. Though his two boys, Jake aged eight and Nick aged six, were safe at their elementary school in Iowa, Tommy felt this tragedy rock his own world. Empathy runs deep with grief for those involved. Instantly his heart ached as he processed the news: That could have been my school, could have been my kids. Skarlis, a passionate outdoorsman and gregarious champion in the sportfishing world, called ahead to the school: “My wife and I are picking up the boys.”

“We had to get our kids home with us,” Tommy said as he looked back on the desperation felt that morning, his heart still tender from the havoc caused by a deranged, mentally unstable young man. “I needed the boys, and I didn’t know what they were hearing or what they were feeling, but I figured they might need us, too.”

Jake, packing up his backpack at school, saw his dad approaching down the hall.

“You’re taking me hunting, aren’t you, Dad?” Jake smiled as his dad met him by his locker. Tommy smiled back. He knew that was exactly what they needed to do. The winter day was mild, and father and son had been practicing and preparing for deer season. Not just months of preparations, either. At the young age of eight—already years of practice.

Iowa has a youth hunting tag valid for every season. Not a party-hunting tag, it resides with the youngster so they can be afield and prepared for each season’s opportunities. Tommy had Jake practice, with close supervision, on a .22 rifle. He practiced shouldering and looking through the scope. Young Jake was methodical, had a great trigger pull, and was an excellent marksman. He was ready.

For a hunt, though, Jake would need a little more stopping power. Tommy bought a youth-edition muzzleloader, the type with a changeable stock to refit as your kid grows. Instead of three pellets of powder, they would use just one, reducing the kick by two-thirds.

The previous season Jake had harvested a doe. All winter the photo hung on the bulletin board at the sport shop. Everyone in the rural Iowa town was excited for a seven-year-old’s first deer.

This year Jake had decided he wanted a buck, bloodlust flowing even at eight. Spike or trophy–any buck would do, according to Jake. The father-son pair had been out a few times previously. No shot for Jake within their designated range of 100 yards.

Through trail cam photos, Tommy had identified a young eight-point buck that he named Nate. It was short for Donate. Tommy hoped Jake would be able to add his contribution to the family’s larder. After settling into the blind, chatting quietly—talking about the news and plenty of other things, too—some does showed up, but a good 400 yards away. They watched and waited for Nate. The does left.

“Can I pray?” Jake asked. You can imagine Tommy’s response.

“Sure, buddy, you can pray about anything.”

“I’m gonna pray for a nice buck.”

Tommy smiled.

“Okay. Doesn’t mean you’re going to get it though. A lot of times we pray for things that we want but we don’t get them.”

During this time Tommy discovered something. If he didn’t quiz his son, if he let the quiet build up a little bit, his boy would often break the silence with something important: getting bullied at school, feelings about the shootings in the news. Time in the blind gave the two a chance to talk.

A half-hour later, Nate came in upwind. Within 100 yards and not alone, Nate showed up with a cousin that Tommy had never seen on any trail cam before—a bigger, older cousin with a distinctive atypical rack.

During their chats, in between the stuff-of-life conversation, Tommy had gone over what they would do if they saw a nice buck. They talked about what if he came in from this side—from that side. What if…what if…what will we do? Over and over.

So when the two bucks appeared, young Jake was ready. With maturity that comes from a father patiently teaching and instructing, he brought the gun up and shouldered.

“I got it in my sights, Daddy,” Jake whispered. But the two bucks were too close together.

“You could hit both, Son. Wait until they separate,” Tommy advised, calmly. Then the big one stepped out. “Are you on him?” Tommy asked.

“I’m right on him,” Jake answered.

They talked through a few steps and then Tommy said, “whenever you’re ready,” and he removed his hands from the gun. It would all be up to Jake.

Crack.

“Perfect shot, dude. You got him—knocked him over right in his tracks,” Tommy exclaimed.

“I got him, Daddy. I got him!” Jake exclaimed as he drank in the moment. “This is the best day of my life,” the young man continued, eyes locked on his father’s.

Later the whole family participated in field dressing that deer. Michelle brought younger brother Nick out and they all helped.

Now, in January, as the young hunter turns nine, they will serve venison hot dogs and venison jerky to the friends attending Jake’s birthday party. Nate’s cousin contributed to the family’s meat for the winter all right. A young man celebrates turning nine and savors his day to remember—back when he was eight and harvested a beautiful buck.

And now there is a new picture on the sport shop bulletin board, because everyone in rural Iowa is excited for an eight-year-old’s first buck.

K.J. Houtman is author of the award-winning Fish On Kids Books series, chapter books for 8-12 year olds with adventures based around fishing, camping, and hunting. Available at Amazon and local bookstores. Find out more at fishonkidsbooks.com.

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Vermont Hunters Harvested 13,850 Deer in 2012

Vermont deer hunters had successful deer hunting seasons in 2012.  The archery, youth, rifle, and muzzleloader deer hunting seasons’ harvest totals were all within management objectives set by the Fish & Wildlife Department.

The total harvest for all four seasons increased in 2012 by 14 percent from the previous year’s harvest.  Hunters harvested 6,300 deer during rifle season, an increase of 9 percent over last year’s rifle harvest of 5,759 deer.

“There are going to be fluctuations in the deer harvest from year to year based on the severity of the previous winter, food availability, and deer density,” said Mark Scott, director of wildlife for the Fish & Wildlife Department.  “We anticipate those fluctuations in harvest and try to manage for a healthy and stable deer herd; to keep the fluctuations small rather than seeing big booms and crashes.”

Last winter’s relatively mild weather and shallow snow depths likely contributed to this fall’s elevated deer harvest.  Additionally, the low availability of traditional food sources such as apple orchards and beech and oak stands this past summer and fall resulted in deer changing their movement patterns.

The archery season harvest rose this year by 25 percent, to 3,384 deer.  This number was also above the previous three-year average of 2,825 deer.  Youth hunters harvested 1,784 deer this year, representing a 9 percent increase over the 2011 harvest, and an increase from the previous three-year average of 1,661 deer.

“Youth weekend continues to prove successful in recruiting young hunters to help preserve Vermont’s hunting heritage,” said Adam Murkowski, deer project leader for the Fish & Wildlife Department.  “This weekend is important for providing young hunters with opportunities to make memories with family and mentors that will last a lifetime.”

Hunters harvested 2,482 deer with muzzleloaders in 2012, representing a 16 percent increase from last year.  “This year’s successful muzzleloader harvest is the result of a moderate increase in the number of antlerless permits approved by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board,” explained Murkowski.  “The antlerless limit allows for a slow growth in the herd while maintaining deer densities within population objectives set forth in Vermont’s big game plan.”

“This was a particularly good year for hunters taking deer with larger body and rack sizes,” added Curtis Smiley, President of the Big Game Trophy Club.  “There were multiple deer throughout the state that were reported to weigh over 230 pounds and one that was reported at 247 pounds.”

All harvest totals are subject to recount, which may result in small changes in harvest totals in the final report due in March.  Hunters interested in deer management and Vermont’s new deer planning process are encouraged to attend one of two public input meetings, held from 7-9 p.m. at the Kehoe Conservation Camp in Castleton on January 30 and at Spaulding High School Cafeteria in Barre on January 31.

Read and join the discussion on Vermont Hunters Harvested 13,850 Deer in 2012 at OutdoorHub.com.

West Virginia Hunters Harvest 131,444 Deer in 2012

Preliminary counts of game checking tags indicate West Virginia hunters harvested a total of 131,444 white-tailed deer during the recently completed bucks-only, antlerless, muzzleloader, archery and youth/Class Q/Class XS deer seasons, according to Division of Natural Resources Director Frank Jezioro. This year’s total harvest was three percent below the 2011 deer harvest of 135,696. A total of 56,658 bucks, 45,169 antlerless season deer, 24,571 bow-killed deer and 5,046 muzzleloader season deer were taken during the 2012 season.

Antlerless Deer Season

The 2012 antlerless deer season, which includes the youth/Class Q/Class XS deer season, was 12 percent above 2011 and one and one-half percent below the five-year average of 45,845.  “It is important to note that the antlerless harvest is the key component to any deer management strategy, as it controls the future deer population,” said Jezioro. “Many counties had liberalized antlerless hunting seasons in 2012, including 10 counties that required hunters to harvest an antlerless deer before harvesting a second buck with a gun or bow, and a new October antlerless firearms season in all open counties.  These modifications to the antlerless season structure led to an increase in the harvest and will ensure that deer populations do not exceed management objectives.”  The top 10 counties are: Preston (2,343), Mason (2,026), Jackson (1,759), Wood (1,608), Lewis (1,575), Upshur (1,569), Harrison (1,511), Ritchie (1,391), Monongalia (1,340) and Randolph (1,325).

Muzzleloader Deer Season

The 2012 muzzleloader harvest of 5,046 was 36 percent less than the 2011 harvest of 7,873 and was 37 percent below the five-year average of 7,969.   “A change in season dates and an above-average acorn crop contributed to the decline in the muzzleloader harvest,” Jezioro said. The top 10 counties are: Preston (237), Randolph (230), Nicholas (219), Braxton (216), Webster (203), Jackson (173), Fayette (170), Upshur (160), Lewis (157) and Mason (147).

Archery Deer Season

The bow hunters take of 24,571 deer was 10 percent below the 2011 harvest of 27,404, 10 percent below the five-year average harvest of 27,339. Archery harvests are directly correlated to hard mast crops, and the above average acorn crop was the primary factor for the lower harvest in 2012.  The top 10 counties are: Preston (1,089), Kanawha (863), Raleigh (796), Randolph (791), Monongalia (769), Wyoming (765), Logan (739), Greenbrier (727), Fayette (707) and Nicholas (693).

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Ohio Muzzleloader Deer Hunters Harvest More Than 21,000 Deer during 2013 Season

Successful hunters checked 21,555 white-tailed deer during the 2013 muzzleloader season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Muzzleloader season concluded on Tuesday, Jan. 8.

The 2013 harvest total represents a 12 percent increase over the 2012 season, when hunters checked19,251 deer. The muzzleloader harvest was 17,375 deer in 2011.

Counties reporting the highest number of deer checked during the 2013 muzzleloader season include: Guernsey (821), Coshocton (813), Tuscarawas (784), Muskingum (751), Belmont (739), Carroll (683), Harrison (677), Licking (675), Jefferson (619) and Knox (520).

Deer-archery season remains open through Sunday, Feb. 3. More information provided by ODNR Division of Wildlife about Ohio deer hunting can be found in the 2012-2013 Hunting and Trapping Regulations or at wildohio.com. Hunters can also share photos by clicking on the Photo Gallery tab online.

Hunters are encouraged to donate any extra venison to organizations assisting Ohioans in need. The ODNR Division of Wildlife is collaborating with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) to help pay for the processing of donated venison. Hunters who donate deer are not required to pay the processing cost as long as the deer are taken to a participating processor. To see which counties are involved in this program, go to fhfh.org.

Read and join the discussion on Ohio Muzzleloader Deer Hunters Harvest More Than 21,000 Deer during 2013 Season at OutdoorHub.com.

Final Iowa Deer Hunting Season Begins January 11

The final deer hunting season begins Jan. 11, in the 38 counties in southern and western Iowa where antlerless deer licenses are available.

Success during the January antlerless season depends on finding where deer are feeding and upon the weather. Cold weather will spur the deer to feed more heavily, so browse lines and food plots will be attractive. Although hunters may see fewer deer as numbers have declined, the season offers some excellent hunting opportunities.

Party hunting is legal and firearm hunters must wear blaze orange. Shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, and bows are legal options in all open counties. Centerfire rifles (.24 caliber or larger) are legal in the 21 counties in the southern two tiers of the state.

Last year, 81 percent of the 8,300 deer reported during the January antlerless season were does.  To avoid harvesting a shed-antlered buck, hunters should pass up shots at lone deer and wait for deer traveling in groups of does and fawns.

In late December and January, bucks may be found traveling together in bachelor groups of 2-4 animals, but these groups will usually consist of only adult deer. If a small group of adult deer contains even one antlered buck, then the group is typically all bucks. But, if the group contains fawns, it is likely composed of does and fawns. Patience and binoculars are especially useful for identifying the type of deer.

Hunters are encouraged to work with landowners to determine if deer are at desirable levels, and base decisions on how they use the remaining antlerless tags on local herd conditions to avoid over-harvesting deer where they hunt.

Hunters may observe the added effect of this year’s EHD outbreak as areas south of I-80 and in counties bordering the Missouri River had higher incidents of the disease. Counties open during the January antlerless season are within that region.

Hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Beginning Jan. 11, a 2013 hunting license and habitat fee will be required. The January antlerless season closes Jan. 20.

Deer must be reported using the harvest reporting system by midnight the day after the deer is tagged. Hunters’ accurately reporting their harvest is an important component of Iowa’s deer management program and future hunting opportunities.

Hunters may report their harvest at www.iowadnr.gov, by calling 1-800-771-4692 or at any license vendor. For hunters with internet access, reporting the harvest online is the easiest way to register the deer. Hunters preferring to donate their deer may do so through the Help Us Stop Hunger (HUSH) program, which provides needed meat to Iowans through the Food Bank of Iowa. Iowa has one of the largest programs in the nation.

Read and join the discussion on Final Iowa Deer Hunting Season Begins January 11 at OutdoorHub.com.

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