Gear Review: Snap-on LED Hybrid Light

By David Webb
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

snap-on

If you’re looking for a great way to light up — check out this new flashlight from Snap-On. Their new LED Hybrid Light features 53 LEDs and unlike incandescent bulbs, which burn hot, this portable, battery-powered auxiliary light is cool to the touch. The tubular-shaped light has a tough tube lens, a rubber molded comfort grip and a magnetic base. The light functions not only as a head beam flashlight, but its body projects 360-degree illumination as well. It also features an anodized aluminum handle and cap. The water-resistant hybrid light is useful in casting light where it’s needed from … Read more »

Hunting Adventures: Muskwa Elk

By Western Sportsman
Monday, May 14th, 2012

dept-how-to-101-HOLMES

Tom and I left for Fort Nelson from Prince George early in the morning on the 20 of September, heading for Fort Nelson to meet my wife’s cousin, Rock Donkey (Davin) and his pal Mister York (Richard) for a week of elk hunting on the Muskwa River in the Northern Rockies. A first for Two-Tins (Tom) and I, Davin and Richard have done this a half dozen times. We should have left the previous night as I didn’t sleep a wink. We are off to the boat launch, located 30 minutes out of town, to load the 18-foot Harbercraft Jet … Read more »

Gear Review: Browning Dirty Bird Waterfowl Hunting Apparel

By David Webb
Friday, May 11th, 2012

Dirty-Bird-Vari-Tech-Jacket-MID-303302-hr-lo

Brand new from Browning – Dirty Bird Waterfowl Hunting Apparel is sure to be a hit this fall! New in Browning’s diverse line of outdoor apparel for the avid sportsman is the new Dirty Bird Waterfowl line that is the most effective, ergonomic and comfortable clothing yet. The new line of clothing includes insulated models with Browning’ Pre-Vent® waterproof, breathable fabric shell for colder days in the field as well as models with Browning’s Vari-Tech Temperature and Motion design that are more adaptable when the weather looks better in the marsh. All insulated models in the Dirty Bird line will … Read more »

Deep Water Fishing Tactics

By Western Sportsman
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012

deep-water-DAVID_WEBB

When the dog days chase the fish deep — you just have to follow them down. Every angler knows fish are not always to be found on the surface or in shallow water. Various factors contribute to this migration into deeper water — but two of the most important are water temperature and availability of feed. Once fish are at these depths, you must be prepared to either get your lures down to them or deal with the frustration of an empty creel. Many lakes go through a transitional stratification each year. As spring turns into summer and the sun … Read more »

Gun Review: Tikka T3 Lite .223

By Western Sportsman
Monday, May 7th, 2012

T3-Lite-Stainless

A lightweight varmint-buster with excellent accuracy! This past year I had the pleasure of carrying, shooting and handloading for a new varmint rifle, the Tikka model T3 Lite. I acquired this rifle; a six-pound three-ounce blued steel and synthetic stocked model chambered for the .223 Remington cartridge early in the spring and had plenty of opportunities to try it on our local varmints. First Impressions The Tikka model T3 Lite is chambered for a number of varmint and big game hunting cartridges and is offered with both blued and stainless steel barrel and actions. The varmint calibres include .222, .223 … Read more »

Whitetails throughout the Year

By Western Sportsman
Friday, May 4th, 2012

FEA_whitetails-through

With today’s technology — not to mention the relentless hype focusing on giant bucks, for a growing number of hunters — whitetail deer have become an around-the-clock obsession. More often than not, it’s the folks who employ trail cams, scour the woods for sheds, and monitor their deer herds year-round who are consistently closing tags on bruiser bucks.   I’ve heard it referred to as a religion. Sure enough, that might be an overstatement, but for some it’s not far off. Indeed whitetail hunting has become a year-round North American obsession. From the shedding and regrowth of antlers, to gestation … Read more »

Understanding Mono-Metal Bullets

By Western Sportsman
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

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Testing today’s best mono-metal bullets for velocity, expansion and penetration. Are they right for you? I squeezed the trigger and a millisecond later dust flew from the big wildebeest bull’s hide. Its rear legs kicked out in reaction to the impact and its tail whipped frantically as it bolted from the herd. Guy Swart, my Professional Hunter (PH), was feverishly demanding I shoot the bull again. I was very confident in my shot but obediently racked another round in the chamber. At that point the old bull went into a blind-eyed stagger — but just seconds from total collapse it … Read more »

Small Stream Fly Fishing How To

By Western Sportsman
Monday, April 30th, 2012

FEA_small-stream

Nothing epitomizes fly fishing like casting to trout in a small stream environment — and here’s how to best target trout in your area. I really enjoy fly fishing small creeks. They offer a tremendous amount of diversity, from small babbling mountainous brooks, to raging torrents, to slick meadow spring creeks. They harbour brown, rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout and arctic grayling add a nice spice to complete a great recipe. However, becoming a small stream fly fisher requires a specific skill set and equipment list. Do you have what it takes? Stream Types There are two broad types of … Read more »