Americana Outdoors E-Magazine - August 2020

AUGUST 2020 EDITION

Garmin Expands Solar Charging Technology to Adventure Smartwatches

ALL-NEW 2020 RB200 Aluminum Boat Camo Edition

BlackOut® EPIC Compound Bow Package

AUG 2020 - 30 TH EDITION I n this issue ... The BlackOut® EPIC Compound Bow Package NEW Ranger Aluminum RB200 Boat Yamaha Rightwater™ Sustainability Initiative Marks One-Year Anniversary Deer Stands Come in All Shapes and Sizes AFTCO Wins Again at ICAST 2020 Garmin Expands Solar Charging Technology to Adventure Smartwatches

WOLVERINE ® X2 XT-R

04 08 10 12 14 18 20 22 24 26 27 34 40 44 50 52 56

EXTREME CAPABILITY.

UNMATCHED

ADVENTURE.

Introducing the Yamaha XT-R Edition of ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles designed Exclusive XT-R features include factory-installed WARN ® winch, Special Edition extreme tires, all for unmatched proven off-road capability. PAGE 17

Visit Yamahamotorsports.com

Professional riders on closed area.ATVmodels shown recommended foruse onlyby riders 16 years and older.Never carrypassengers.Side-b with a valid driver’s license. Alwayswear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing.Read the Owner’sManual and the pr engage in stunt riding.Always avoid paved surfaces and never ride on public roads.And be particularly careful on difficult terrain.Never ride Somemodels shownwith optional accessories.©2019 YamahaMotorCorporation,U.S.A.All rights reserved.

What Makes a Soft Sided Cooler Superior? Hunting Rifles Don’t Have to be Expensive Big Bite Baits 2020 Guide to Swimbaits Garmin® Unveils Montana® 700 Series Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ Scouting Cameras: The Do’s and Dont’s TenPoint Crossbows Viper S400 Avoid These Three Boating Safety Mistakes Power-Pole Charge Marine Power Management Station Tips on Attracting Deer Our Top Accessories for theTree Stand

Pub: Careco / Americana Outdoors Live = 8” x 10.5” Trim = 8.5” x 11” Bleed = 9” x 11.5” DVC Work Order #29859 Ref#26889 YMUS #5264

PAGE 31

PAGE 46

ATTENTION

This is an interactive E-Magazine. Click on the links and logos through- out, directing you to company web- sites, products, and videos.

STAFF: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Wade Middleton CONTENT LAYOUT: Shelley Giesecke GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Adam Elmhorst

PAGE 54

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

August means the “dog days of summer” to me and many others. And that also means that it is the time of year when the locusts are happy and humming and the deer are finishing growing out. This is also a time of transition…when many minds start to wander to a Fall morning in tree stands, bull reds running the beach, and birds migrating south. All those thoughts pop into my head daily as I shoot my bow in the back yard, work on new gear for the boats, and start to study scouting cameras on an almost daily basis. Through all this daydreaming and looking forward, we still do not forget the changes and issues our country is dealing with right now. The pandemic has already touched many of our friends and has affected many business operations nationwide. We have all found ways to tweak and adjust to what is a daily changing situation, but like always the American Spirit finds ways to overcome and press forward. I expect we will see more and more of that great spirit in play this Fall as anglers and hunters hit the waters and woods in record numbers. When they do, they will find the outdoors as a place where all things going on around them can be forgotten for at least a few hours. Over the next few pages, I hope you find a few things to daydream about that will inspire you to hunt and fish more ahead. When you do, make sure to share your photos and videos as I sure enjoy seeing them all!

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Wade Middleton President - CarecoTV

GARMIN EXPANDS SOLAR CHARGING TECHNOLOGY TO ADVENTURE SMARTWATCHES

INSTINCT SOLAR Since launching in 2018, the Instinct GPSadventure watch series has proven itself as a reliable tool built toendure themost challengingenvironments, from the city to the mountains and all places between. Instinct Solar takes its rugged reputation to new heights with astonishing battery life, updated bold designs and new activity profiles, including two new activity-specific Instinct editions, Instinct Solar – Surf Edition and Instinct Solar – Tactical Edition. Representing amilestone for Garmin, Instinct Solar can provide unlimited battery life with sufficient solar exposure in Battery Saver mode. Using Expedition Mode with sufficient solar exposure, Instinct Solar provides increased GPS functionality while still delivering over two months of battery life. The Instinct Solar series also boasts up to 24 days in smartwatch mode indoors and more than 50 days with sufficient solar exposure. Users can make these battery-extending changes on the fly through Instinct Solar’s incorporation of Power Manager. Instinct Solar – Surf Edition is purpose-built with specialized surf features such as tide data and a dedicated surfing activity to help customers make the most of every wave. Water rated to 100 meters, the Instinct Solar – Surf Edition is also a multisport water-recreation watch. Instinct Solar – Tactical Edition, popular with military personnel, is equipped with tactical-specific features such as night-vision goggle compatibility and Stealth mode. In addition to Instinct’s already robust outdoor activity and health tracking, Instinct Solar now also includes Pulse Ox2 to gauge how well an individual’s body is absorbing oxygen and Body Battery to optimize body energy reserves through health monitoring metrics.

Garmin recently announced the expansion of its solar charging technology to its Instinct, fenix 6 and 6S, and tactix Delta adventure smartwatches. Building on the success of Garmin’s first solar charging adventure watch, the fenix 6X – Pro Solar, these new solar editions allow customers to “Do What They Love Longer” through significantly increased battery life and new purpose-built functionality including surf, mountain biking and climbing activities. “Garmin’s multisport GPS watches are the choice for athletes and adventurers willing to push themselves through the next mile or over the next mountain. Using our solar capabilities, the new Instinct, fenix 6 and 6S, and tactix Delta solar watches provide extraordinary battery life and give customers the ability to follow their passion to the sunset and further,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “In addition to the solar charging capabilities, these editions are full of updated and unique features. From new camouflage design patterns to surfing activity profiles, there is something for everyone with the new members of Garmin’s solar family.”

data to their Surfline account and later view video of that surfing activity through Surfline Sessions™. Mountain Bike: Track the details of every ride with mountain biking metrics plus specialized grit and flow measurements that rate trail difficulty and how smoothly a user descends, giving a score to beat next time. Indoor Climb: The indoor climb activity profile allows climbers to track their sessions at indoor facilities. Metrics include the number of routes, vertical distance climbed, climbing time, difficultly of each route and more. The fenix 6S Pro Solar battery performance in smartwatch mode is up to nine days indoors and up to 10.5 days with sufficient solar exposure, while battery performance for the fenix 6 Pro Solar in smartwatch mode is up to 14 days indoors and up to 16 days with sufficient solar exposure. The fenix 6 Series – Solar Editions also includes Advanced Sleep Monitoring, which provides a detailed breakdown of a user’s light, deep and REM sleep stages as well as Pulse Ox and respiration data. This can be viewed on a dedicated widget that includes your stress score and sleep insights. Out of the box, the fenix 6 series includes topographic maps for outdoor adventures, ski maps for over 2,000 ski resorts worldwide and over 41,000 golf courses. The fenix 6 series features Garmin Pay™ and on-device music storage of up to 2,000 songs, allowing users to sync playlists from several of the most popular music services (subscription may be required), no phone required. TACTIX DELTA – SOLAR EDITION The tactix Delta – Solar Edition is the fourth generation of the tactix family, which is developed on the fenix series platform. Built to military standards (MIL-STD-810), the tactix Delta – Solar Edition uses solar charging to extend battery life and Power Manager mode to provide up to 21 days indoors and up to 24 days with sufficient solar

FENIX 6 SERIES – SOLAR EDITIONS The fenix 6S Pro Solar and fenix 6 Pro Solar are the newest members of the Garmin flagship outdoor GPS smartwatch line. Featuring Garmin Power Glass™ solar charging lens and a customizable Power Manager mode, fenix 6 Series – Solar Editions harness the power of the sun to stay on and remain performance-ready for weeks, so users will have more on-wrist time to enjoy their activities, training features, onboard mapping, music streaming and much more. Expanding the robust activity profiles included in the fenix series, the fenix 6 and 6S Solar editions come surf, mountain bike and indoor climb-ready. The smaller-sized fenix 6S Pro Solar adventure watch also features an exclusive Women of Adventure design option. Surf: Using a Surf Activity profile, also found on Instinct Solar – Surf Edition, fenix surfers can track total waves, surf time, total time, max speed and their longest wave. When surfing in front of a Surfline® camera, users wearing fenix or Instinct surf-compatible watches can upload their surf

exposure.

Mission-ready features on the tactix Delta – Solar Edition include stealth mode, which disables location sharing and wireless connectivity, and a kill switch to wipe all user memory. The rugged, sophisticated design features an always-on 1.4” display, scratch-resistant sapphire lens, blackDLC- coated steel bezel, black PVD-coated steel rear cover and all-new military-inspired black tactical nylon QuickFit® band with reinforced stitching and exposed black metal hardware. With specialized tactical features as well as mapping, music, advanced training and the same smart features from the fenix 6 family, the tactix Delta – Solar Edition is built for demanding field use and everyday wear. The Instinct Solar, fenix 6 Series – Solar Editions and tactix Delta – Solar Edition represent the continued innovation of Garmin solar technology initiative and are available now. The complete line of Garmin solar charging smartwatches also includes the fenix 6X – Pro Solar and quatix® 6X Solar. Suggested retail prices start at $399.99 for Instinct Solar, $849.99 for fenix 6 Series – Solar Editions and $1,099 for the tactix Delta – Solar Edition. View these new solar wearables in action here. For more information, click here.

THE BLACKOUT ® EPIC COMPOUND BOW PACKAGE

BLACKOUT ® EPIC PACKAGE FEATURES Volt 5-Pin sight, 5-arrow quiver, Whisker Biscuit ® arrow rest, 6” stabilizer and sling, TruPeep, D loop. • Great power, shootability, and adaptability from a compact hunting bow • Great hunting bow for whitetail and other big game • SYNC Cam technology – big power with 4 different let-off settings • Fires arrows up to 340 fps • Pick your preferred let-off without losing performance • Easy handling – 32”″ axle-to-axle • Sleek string suppressor and Shockwaves limb dampening system • Factory-installed accessories: 5-Pin sight, 5-arrow quiver, Whisker Biscuit arrow rest, 6”″ stabilizer and sling, TruPeep, D loop

We’ve been shooting package bow setups for some time, dating back to our days with Cabela’s and now with Bass Pro Shops and the BlackOut® Lineup of compound bows. The BlackOut® Epic Compound Bow Package is the latest addition to the already prestigious lineup of compound bows available at your local Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s. The great thing about the BlackOut® Epic Compound Bow Package is that you can choose to use it exactly as it comes, or you can customize it how you want once you purchase it. When you look at this bow, it’s affordably priced ($599) so that you’re ready for your whitetail hunts or other big game hunts as soon as you walk out of the store with it. Offering bowhunters proven BlackOut® performance with advanced versatility, the BlackOut® Epic Compound Bow Package delivers deadly power and accuracy for any type of hunting. Outfitted with highly adjustable SYNC Cam technology, this bow allows bowhunters to customize its let-off to 4 different positions (75%, 80%, 85%, or 90%) without sacrificing performance. Combining this advanced adjustability with a compact design (just 32″axle-to-axle), the BlackOut® Epic Compound Bow Package still offers hardcore hunters big power for whitetail, big game, and everything in between. Anchored in high-powered limbs and a rock-solid riser, this specialized cam system accurately fires arrows at game up to 340 fps, giving the speed you need for any big game. ShockWaves limb dampening device and compact string stop eliminate the vibration and shock to quiet every shot. Slim grip design for a better hand fit and comfort. Draw length range: 26”-30”.

The BlackOut® Epic Compound Bow is a bow that Wade will be using in the field this year from Kentucky to Texas! He’ll have it outfitted to fit him specifically (including the Garmin Xero Bow Sight). When you combine all this adjustability with its compact design (32” axle-to-axle) it’s a bow that offers the hardcore hunter what they need to take down that whitetail or big game trophy when it comes to heading to field this fall.

Click the PLAY Button to watch our review of the BlackOut® Epic Compound Bow Package.

NEW RANGER ALUMINUM RB200

DOMINATE INSHORE AND NEARSHORE

RB200 LEARN MORE HERE

KEY FEATURES

• All-new pad-bottom hull delivers ultimate crossover utility and performance • 150HP rating • Dry, shallow-drafting hull • Fold-down rear seats with storage below

• Rugged, skid-resistant Rawhide™ interior coating • Aluminum-framed dual-axle Ranger Trail ® trailer

“This is going to be an exciting project rigging out this awesome new boat model which we’ll use in all sorts of situations from crappie, catfishing, red fishing, duck hunting and more. Be sure and stay tuned to see it all unfold.” -WADE MIDDLETON

We’ve been spending most of the summer fishing and tricking out the new Ranger RB200 Aluminum Boat. THIS THING IS SWEET! With the new Garmin Force trolling motor along with our other Garmin electronics, the bass , crappie, redfish, and whatever else we are fsihing for are going to have a hard time hiding from us! Deep or shallow this boat performs at its best everytime with tons of storage for all our Tracker lithium batteries and gear. We can’t wait to get back out on the water be it fishing or maybe even some waterfowl hunting. Be on the look out for more about this boat in a future episode of Americana Outdoors presented by Garmin!

FIND YOUR LOCAL RANGER DEALER HERE

MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH MARINE SUSTAINABILITY

YAMAHA RIGHTWATERS™ SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE MARKS ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Yamaha Rightwaters™ marks its one-year anniversary this week, a milestone that coincides with 2020 World Oceans Day® and Capitol Hill Ocean Week. Serving as the umbrella for all of Yamaha Marine’s sustainability projects, Yamaha Rightwaters champions environmental stewardship and supports marine habitat restoration, invasive species control and scientific research. The mission of the initiative is to improve the quality of boating and fishing waters, and ensureahealthymarineecosystemfor generations to come.

Relations, Yamaha Marine U.S. Business Unit. “We made significant strides through Rightwaters initiatives during the first year, and we plan to continue and even step up our efforts in the future. Conservation is a cornerstone of our business, and we pledge to advocate for policies and practices that ensure clean water and sustainable fisheries for everyone.” Within the last 12 months, Yamaha Rightwaters supported organizations including the NOAA® Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful and Keep Golden Isles Beautiful through efforts including clean up events, outboard-powered research vessels and continued conservation education. In addition, Yamaha Rightwaters teamed up with Skeeter®

“ThroughRightwaters,Yamaha isfighting toprotect the most essential natural resource – water,” said Martin Peters, Division Manager, Government

Boats to provide an SX230 Center Console powered by a Yamaha V MAX SHO® 250 outboard to Florida State University® Coastal and Marine Laboratory to use to study the effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill on oyster habitats in the Gulf of Mexico and Apalachicola Bay. Yamaha Rightwaters also worked directly with Clearwater Mills in Maryland to develop a pilot device engineered with Yamaha electric power and control systems that will automatically remove floating debris from waterways. The first device is intended for deployment in coastal Georgia later this year. Yamaha Rightwaters also works with organizations such as the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.®) to improve conservation techniques and mitigate invasive species, and the Coastal Conservation Association® in support of habitat restoration projects. Yamaha Rightwaters officially launched on World Oceans Day 2019 with support for the Coastal Georgia Clean Up campaign to prevent plastic and other debris from entering the ocean. In sponsorship with Keep Golden Isles Beautiful, the Coastal Georgia Clean Up effort united 18 nonprofit, educational and governmental organizations in a simultaneous removal of litter. The group collected 4,572 pounds (2.3 tons) of trash, including more than 5,200 cigarette butts and 19 tires. Yamaha has a long history of natural resource conservation. Within the last six years alone, Yamaha has given support to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Kenai River Sportfishing Association, WoundedNature.org, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center®, the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, OCEARCH®, the National Aquarium® and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium®. In addition, Yamaha vigorously supported the Save Our Seas Act, S. 3508 on Capitol Hill. The act was signed into law on Oct. 11, 2018.

Click the PLAY BUTTON to laern more about the Yamaha Rightwaters Program

DEER STANDS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES

BY WADE MIDDLETON

When you start looking at all the different stands we’ve built, from the common simple “let’s just throw five pieces of brush up here and hide by this tree”, to some of the most extravagant blinds we can build with feeders and food plots in the area, all of them have a special meaning and all of them are enjoyable at the end of the day. “I just love that aspect of it. I think it goes back to when we were little kids building out of cardboard boxesor brush tohidewhen you’replayingCowboys and Indians. I sit here today in my 50s, and I still like to build forts and deer blinds just as much now as I did then.” – Wade Middleton MAKE-SHIFT BLINDS You know some of the most simple blinds a person can put together is to just take a couple of pallets, spray paint them a little bit, to kind of get some of the shine off of them for a future hunt, throw some brush up around them, and you’re going to find success with those. I’ve even seen those go to massive levels, where you put all kinds of brush around them.

You can easily create a make-shift blind simply out of the trees around you. POP UP BLINDS

Using a Pop Up blind like this one is one of the most versatile ways to hunt.

The reality is, there’s not always the perfect tree, where the deer want to be able to do that and that’s where the pop up comes in, it’s the most versatile hunting stand that you’re possibly going to find. Pop ups come in a lot of different shapes, sizes, designs, fabrics, and each one of them plays and offers a great asset to you as the hunter. The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s lines of pop ups that we use are designed to maximize what we like to do when using a pop up. You’ve got places to put brush on them, loops on them, they’re big enough that three people can sit in there at times. I like the most durable fabric that I possibly can find so that we’re not taking it down at the end of the hunt. That’s not always going to be possible for some people that may be hunting public land, where they have to take it down. But we’re primarily hunting properties that we can leave them up for long periods. You’ve got a multitude of window configurations (which I’m a big fan of) because you can black some of them out or use the mesh on others. They’re such an important part of hunting from their portability, durability, and their ability to conceal you, in a lot of different situations. Say you’re just going to a location for a quick catch, you’re not coming back there, Some of the many price point models out there, are probably gonna work perfectly for you. Flip that to another scenario where you’re gonna be hunting a property all year long. You’re gonna wanna invest in one that’s going to withstand all the elements, the changes that are going to be coming in, probably gonna get one a little bit bigger. We’ve used little small one-man ones up to some that I think we could have had a family reunion in, windows at all angles, different types of set-ups within them. And that’s the cool thing about pop ups is, you can find one that’s gonna fit for the situation that you’re gonna be hunting in. If you start doing research, you’re gonna find a wide range of pop ups available to suit your needs out there. Just think about what you’re gonna use it for. Think about how long you’re gonna use it for.

Think about carrying it in long distances, and think about being able to tie it down, anchor it down, or pick it up real fast. Pop ups are without a question, one of the easiest, coolest, best, most versatile ways to set up for any type of a hunting situation.

Click the PLAY button to learn some tips on how to setup a pop up blinds for success! BOX BLINDS

Muddy Blinds are designed with the hunter in mind.

Box blinds have really evolved. Some guys go build their own and taking all that into account, but for our investment, we like Muddy Blinds. They are well designed, they have a lot of little features built-in there, a mix of window configurations for a rifle, bow, handgun, or even a crossbow. The design of them is inherently thought out by hunters to be able to give you different options. Whether you’re putting in a big food plot, sticking it up in front of some brush, or you’re going to be cutting senderos, it doesn’t matter. You can put them on the ground, or you can raise them on towers.

So, regardless of what you’re looking for, those Muddy blinds, they’re designed straight off the shelf, for lack of a better word, by manufacturers to allow you success.

Once you start putting it up you’ve got to be in a place you think you’re gonna find deer, otherwise, why put it up? Then, safety has to come into play. Make sure you get it anchored down, make sure you’re thinking about all of those things. You hear a lot of people talk about tree stand safety, but they probably don’t practice it enough. Youwant tomake sure it’s anchored down, you want straps around it, a lifeline to get up and down, and you want to be tethered in when you’re up there. You want to know that the tree stand and the ladder are working as one, the tree is in good shape, and you’ve taken every precaution and step you possibly can, to get that ladder in place, secured, so you don’t have to worry about it even when the wind is blowing 20 or 30 mph. See DEERGEARTV’s episode about all the different types of hunting blinds below.

Click the PLAY button to hear Wade talk about the versatility of hutning out of a Muddy Box Blind.

“The insulation to me is a good selling feature, it can get cool in the winters, so you’ll be able to keep warm. Also, it’s hard to hear someone from the outside when all the windows and doors are shut. They’ve all got the keeper latch, which holds the window up and real easily accessible as far as flipping three knobs, one-handed operation as far as raising and lowering the window. We’ve just started putting three hinges and two locks on the door, which is great because it’s actually pulling the door tighter together and it keeps more bugs out, and it will be a good thing that will last.” – Larry Scott GSM Outdoors LADDER STANDS

Ladder stands can be used in areas where it may be more beneficial to be above the line of sight of your game or if you need a tall vantage point. When you start looking at ladder stands and hang- on stands, not every tree is gonna be designed for this specific stand that you’re messing with.

WATCH HERE

YXZ ® 1000R SS XT-R

GRIZZLY ® XT-R

WOLVERINE ® X2 XT-R

EXTREME CAPABILITY.

UNMATCHED

ADVENTURE.

WOLVERINE ® X4 XT-R

Introducing the Yamaha XT-R Edition of ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles designed for dominating extreme terrain. Exclusive XT-R features include factory-installed WARN ® winch, Special Edition paint and color-matched wheels with extreme tires, all for unmatched proven off-road capability.

Visit Yamahamotorsports.com

Professional riders on closed area. ATV models shown recommended for use only by riders 16 years and older. Never carry passengers. Side-by-Side models recommended for use only by operators 16 years and older with a valid driver’s license. Always wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Read the Owner’s Manual and the product warning labels before operation. Avoid excessive speeds and never engage in stunt riding. Always avoid paved surfaces and never ride on public roads. And be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs; it is illegal and dangerous. Some models shown with optional accessories. ©2019 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

AFTCO WINS AGAIN AT ICAST 2020

AFTCO made another statement at this year’s ICAST New Product Showcase with Best of Category wins in Cold Weather Technical Apparel, Warm Weather Technical Apparel, and Men’s Lifestyle Apparel. Over the past three years, AFTCO has won seven out of the nine New Product Showcase awards in the apparel categories, solidifying their place as the leader in innovation. Watch the recap of the ICAST Best of Category here and check out AFTCO’s award-winning products below!

REAPER WINDPROOF 3-LAYER JACKET

Best of Category: Cold Weather Technical Apparel

The Original Reaper — Upgraded. The Reaper Windproof 3-Layer Jacket is constructed from a durable stretch soft shell ripstop fabric with an ultra-warm Hexatron™ fleece lining and integrated face mask.

For the angler looking for a jacket designed specifically for cold weather Fall/Winter fishing, the Reaper Soft Shell is the versatile piece that fits the bill. Learn more here.

DIFFUSE AIR-0 MESH® FISHING SHORTS

Best of Category: WarmWeather Technical Apparel

The only shorts you need to diffuse any situation. AFTCO checks yet another box off the innovation bucket list with the first pair of technical fishing shorts made entirely of AFTCO’s breathable, yet durable Air-O Mesh® technology. The Diffuse Air-O Mesh fishing shorts accomplish this with a proprietary 100% polyester mechanical stretch fabric with dissolving yarn that creates micro Air-O Mesh® venting throughout the shorts. Reap the benefits of ultimate comfort in warm, humid climates that would otherwise make for a sticky situation. Learn more about Diffuse Air-0 Mesh® Fishing Shorts here. A pair of boardshorts that cares about the environment? You got that right. This is AFTCO’s first dive into recyclable material integrated within our technical fishing clothing. Saba recycled boardshorts are made out of sustainable 88% recycled polyester and 12% spandex fabric that is feather-light. In fact, these are the lightest boardshorts ever built by AFTCO. To accomplish this, we reduced the amount of seams and other unnecessary trims to deliver maximum comfort with a “Seam-Free” construction. Learn more about Saba Recycled Seam-Free Boardshorts here. SABA RECYCLED SEAM-FREE BOARDSHORTS Best of Category: Men’s Lifestyle Apparel

SOFT SIDED COOLER SUPERIOR? WHAT MAKES A

BY ENGEL COOLERS

easier to carry. Soft sided coolers are also often made with carrying handles and straps included, which makes them easy to carry and manage. The biggest advantage of a soft sided cooler is that it’s collapsible. That means when it isn’t full of items, it can be folded up and put away. You can store may soft sided coolers in the same space where only one hard cooler would fit before. As you drink the beverages and eat the food in your soft sided cooler, it will become smaller thanks to the design. And when it’s empty, it can be folded to take up very little room. This is truly a superior design because it’s easy to carry and much more portable than hard coolers. Soft sided coolers can be used to store everything you need for any type of camping trip or outdoor adventure. These coolers can also be used as live bait coolers when you’re going on a fishing trip! Half of all campers said they have a love of the outdoors and that’s why they enjoy going camping. You’ll enjoy camping a whole lot more when you have good equipment that’s light in weight and easy to carry. It’s much easier to take a soft cooler with you, or several, for any camping adventure you might have planned.

You probably have some kind of cooler in your home right now. After all, this is an essential item for camping, tailgating, even for just taking a road trip. A cooler is one of those items that everyone has because it’s so highly useful in so many ways. But it’s also likely that you have a hard cooler, or a hard-sided cooler, in your home. It’s time to find out why a soft sided cooler is the better option and how it differs from those other coolers you’ve used in the past. Hard coolers often come with cool features like built-in drink holders and drainage spouts, so you can easily get rid of water left behind by ice. However, a hard cooler may not be your best option when you need to keep food and drinks cool during a camping trip or some other outdoor or cross- country adventure. There are many advantages to using a soft sided cooler instead. There are lots of reasons why soft side coolers are superior to other designs. To begin with, a soft sided cooler is typically much lighter in weight than a hard sided cooler that’s made with thick plastic walls. That means it’smuch Why Choose a Soft Sided Cooler?

The Accessories You Need for Your Soft Sided Cooler There are ways to beef up your soft sided cooler and make it even more efficient at keeping your items cool. Get some performance drinkware to keep your beverages cool as well. Insulated tumblers work wonders at keeping drinks cold or hot, even in extreme temperature conditions. carry some of these with you along with your soft sided cooler to enjoy beverages that stay hot or cold as desired. Having a good cooler with you is a little bit like having a portable fridge freezer! Get soft coolers in multiple sizes. After all, they’re easy to store so you can keep several of them on hand. This way, you can have a soft cooler for tailgating, camping, or anything else you might want to do! Having a selection of sizes means that you’ll have the perfect cooler for whatever you might have planned, whether it’s a day trip in the car or an extended weekend out in the woods. You’ll be ready for anything and well-prepared for whatever might be on your agenda.

Engel Coolers HD30 32qt Heavy- Duty Soft Sided Cooler Tote Bag

HIGH PERFORMANCE DRINKWARE

Engel Coolers HD20 22qt Heavy- Duty Soft Sided Cooler Tote Bag

HUNTING RIFLES DON’T HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE BY WADE MIDDLETON

where we got our crosshairs at, so we know what the gun is going to perform at because we spent a lot of time at the range learning the new trigger that’s built into this generation, this basically second Compass model that’s just come out. It’s all on us, honestly. If we miss it’s an emotional deal, it’s a mistake we would make because when we left the range we were dialed in exactly where we need to be. So it should be a pretty fun hunt because the view ought to be spectacular. Will we get a deer? You never know ‘til you sit down, see what shows up. Click the PLAY BUTTON below to watch the full hunt.

During the 2019 hunting season, we had the privilege to test out the brand new Thompson/ Center Compass II Bolt-Action Rifle. The Compass rifle has been a highly successful rifle for Thompson/Center. For this hunt we have the T/C Compass II chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, which should be perfect for these Texas deer that we’re hunting and the rifle itself, it’s the perfect price point rifle for a lot of hunters that demand accuracy, demand durability, and demand quality. So our debut of the Thompson/Center Compass II, we had a Muddy Box Blind sitting upon a pond dam with a spectacular view, overlooking a pond dam and you can see up into the corner of this pond and there’s a little hill that runs off to the side. There are lots of bedding areas, lots of places for the deer to feed in there as well. It seems like right now there’s a few deer that kind of come from that area but most of the deer are coming from in front of us across there. We sighted in the T/C Compass II, pretty much dead on at 100 yards so, wherever we’re aiming, at the distance we’re shooting, as long as we’re shooting this way, the bullet’s going to hit it right

WX Vapor

2020 GUIDE TO SWIMBAITS THE FINESSE SWIMMER The Finesse Swimmer was designed by Mike McClelland in two key sizes of 3.4” and 4.4”. It works well as a trailer, on an A-rig, or even on a belly weighted hook. The Finesse Swimmer really excels when rigged on a jighead or underspin. It features a triangular shape and flat back to help it stay upright and swim perfectly no matter how it is rigged. The Finesse Swimmer features a slit in the belly, which allows you to rig it any way you choose. THE PRO SWIMMER The Pro Swimmer comes in 2.8”, 3.3”, 3.8” and 4.8” sizes that can be used inmany ways. Two of the most popular ways are on an A-rig or just a single jig head. The round ribbed body features a tail that is perpendicular to the body. This tail design creates a hard side to side kicking action of the tail no matter the retrieve speed or when falling. It is a great choice in any water temperature fromwinter to summer fishing. Pair up the Pro Swimmer with our Swimmer Head for the perfect combination. The Pro Swimmer also works great as a trailer on swim jigs, vibrating jigs, or spinnerbait as a trailer. THE CANE THUMPER The Cane Thumper comes in 3.5”, 4.25” and 5” sizes and was designed by Dean Rojas. It has more of a rolling action on the whole body when retrieved which provides a different appearance and action than our other swimbaits. The Cane Thumper makes a great swim jig and vibrating jig trailer. It can easily be rigged with a belly weighted EWG style hook. It can also provide a much different action when rigged on A-rigs when somany anglers are using other swimmer styles.

THE SUICIDE SHAD The Suicide Shad comes in 3.5”, 5” and 7” sizes and each swimbait ishand-painted for themost detailedcolor patterns. Each one gets a multi-step painting process including a painted forked tail on each one that is combined with realisticmolded eyes to complement the paint schemes. The tail design ensures that they swim perfectly at the slowest retrieve with a side to side kicking action. The 3.5” version can be used on an Alabama Rig, rigged on a single jighead, or even as a trailer when you want a high definition look. The 5” Suicide Shad performs best on a swimbait jig head or on a belly weighted hook. If you need a bigger bait for Alabama rig this also is a great option. The 7” Suicide is a really special large swimbait. This bait performs well when you need to reel a swimbait slow. You can put in on a jighead or even on a belly weighted swimbait hook such as the Gamakatsu Spring Lock Monster Weighted hook. THE B5 SWIMBAIT The B5 swimbait is an affordable hand-painted line thru swimbait. Line thru swimbaits can often be very expensive and require special rigging. The B5 is easily rigged by simply passing the line thru the straw in the bait and tying to the belly treble. The straw is molded with an internal lead weight, so it is ready to go right out of the package. This bait is designed to run around 2-5ft below the surface of the water. It swims at the slowest of speeds with a tantalizing action and is a great choice when you need to throw a swimbait in clear shallow water. THE BB KICKER The BB Kicker is a swimbait that provides a big wide kick and wobbling action. This bait performs the best on a Jig head such as our Swimbait head or a belly weighted hook with a spring lock. Each BB Kicker is hand-painted in a multi-step process to give you high definition and realistic colors. It is available in 4.5” and 5.5” sizes.

Rugged handheld series combines the flexibility of on- or off-road navigation with global messaging and SOS alerts via inReach® satellite technology GARMIN® UNVEILS MONTANA® 700 SERIES, WITH GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY, ROUTABLE TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING AND 8 MEGA-PIXEL CAMERA

Garmin International, Inc., announced the Montana 750i, Montana 700i and Montana 700 GPS handheld series—the latest versatile and featured-packed additions to its popular lineup of outdoor navigation units. The large 5-inch glove- friendly touchscreen display is 50% larger than the previous Montana models, and with mounting options for a variety of activities, the Montana 700 series can be adapted for use on ATVs, boats, cars, motorcycles and RVs. Whether on- or off- road, these handhelds seamlessly transition from trails to road navigation thanks to the preloaded TopoActive and City Navigator maps (700i/750i only). The Montana 700i and 750i offer Garmin inReach satellite communication technology which enables two-way messaging, interactive SOS alerts, location tracking and weather updates. 1

“No matter where your trips may take you, the new Montana handhelds will give you the confidence and security that you’ll stay connected in every sense of the word,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “We are excited to bring inReach satellite technology into a touchscreen product in our outdoor handheld device series, andwith the versatility tobring it from the road to the trail to the water and everywhere in-between, the Montana 700 series is the perfect outdoor companion.” Using the global coverage of the Iridium® satellite network, the Montana 700i/750i allows users to communicate with any cell phone number, email address or other inReach device while using GPS to track and share progress of the journey. Use the full touchscreen keyboard to keep in contact with friends and family by quickly keying messages that are sent via inReach satellite technology. If the

user enables inReach Tracking, friends and family wanting to follow along can view the user’s location at any time throughout their journey. Outdoor enthusiasts can use the Montana 700i/750i to trigger an interactive SOS for emergency help from a 24/7 GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center. A world leader in emergency response solutions and monitoring, GEOS will alert emergency responders and provide updates to the user’s key contacts, while also continuing to message back and forth with the user, until the situation is resolved. To access the Iridiumnetwork and communicate with inReach enabled Montana devices, an active satellite subscription is required. A variety of subscription plans are available for both individuals and professional services from flexible month to month options to annual plans. Each device in the new Montana 700 series offers Wi-Fi® connectivity, ANT+® technology and Bluetooth wireless technology for easy wireless updates and allows users to pair with the Garmin Explore™ app to plan trips, sync waypoints, tracks, and courses, create collections, review your activities and more. Before heading out on an adventure, users can download high-resolution satellite imagery onto the Montana via Wi-Fi, and those photo realistic views can be also be used offline. All of the new Montana handhelds are water-resistant 2 and tested to U.S. military standards (MIL-STD-810), making them ready for any adventure. Access to both GPS and Galileo satellite networks plus a 3-axis compass and barometric altimeter allows these handhelds to track in more challenging environments than GPS alone. Friends and family can use the web-based MapShare™ trip-sharing page to follow along with the adventure from home and view progress, ping a device to see a GPS location of the user and exchange messages during the trip. An 8-megapixel camera in the Montana 750i 3 lets explorers take photos on the go. The device will geotag photos with coordinates so users can easily navigate back to favorite sites in the future. Trek far

In case of emergency, trigger an interactive SOSmessage to GEOS, a professional 24/7 global monitoring and response center (active satellite subscription required).

Optional display of federal public land boundaries on topographical maps helps you know that you’re venturing where you’re supposed to be.

To navigate your adventures, use preloaded topographical maps for the U.S. and Canada. View terrain contours, elevations, coastlines, rivers, landmarks and more.

and wide off-grid with the Montana 700 series with an included rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack that can provide more than 18 hours of battery life in GPS mode, or enable ultralow-power Expedition mode for over 300 hours of GPS tracking between recharges. The new Montana 700 series is available now with suggested retail prices ranging from $599.99 to $799.99. To learn more, click here.

1 Active satellite subscription required. Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communicationsdevices. It is your responsibility toknowand followall applicable laws in the jurisdictions where the device is intended to be used. 2 Rated to IPX7 standards. 3 Montana 750i device does NOT transmit picture over inReach.

JOIN US IN THANKING THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED!

YOUR MISSION Honor and recognize the Hero in your life! Submit a photo along with a short essay as to why this Hero should be chosen to win. All nominations must be submitted by September 13th. Please note, nominees must no longer be serving in the military, this includes Active Duty, National Guard or Reserves. Firefighters, EMTs and Law Enforcement must be retired and no longer working in those roles. See our official rules for more information. HEROES AWARDED Nominees will be contacted to verify eligibility (see official rules and regulations) and availability to attend the hunt scheduled for November 2020. ONE (1) hero from each category will be selected by a committee made up of contest partners, Veterans and Retired First Responders. These 8 heroes will be our Grand Prize Winners that are announced on October 9, 2020.

The men and women that served in our armed forces, and as first responders, had jobs that required them to be willing to sacrifice their own lives every day in order to protect or save someone else’s. Not many of us can say that, nor understand what that truly means. What they have witnessed and the sacrifices they’ve made in their daily lives can have a profound impact on them. Bucks for the Brave is a platform that allows these loved ones and communities that support them, to share their stories and unite us all in honoring and recognizing their service to our great nation. This contest allows you to nominate Veterans (no longer serving) and retired First Responders (Law Enforcement, Firefighters and EMTs) to win the hunt of a lifetime. This all-inclusive hunt (as defined in our official rules and regulations) will take place Veteran’s Day Weekend, November 11-15, 2020, at Trinity Oak’s Thumbtack Ranch in Batesville, TX. We will be awarding one winner from each of our eight categories: Air Force Veteran, Army Veteran, Coast Guard Veteran, Marine Corps Veteran, Navy Veteran, Retired Firefighter, Retired Law Enforcement and Retired EMT. 8 HEROES WILL WIN!

Garmin inReach Mini

Take it wherever the hunt takes you.

HONEY SRIRACHA SMOKED SHRIMP INGREDIENTS: • McCormick® Grill Mates® Honey Sriracha Marinade Mix • 1/4 cup oil • 2 TBSP water • 2TBSP cider vinegar • 2 lbs of shrimp • Bradley Flavored Bisquettes - Mesquite DIRECTIONS: • Set smoker to 220°F using Bradley Flavored Mesquite Bisquettes. • To create the marinade combine the marinade mix, oil, water, and cider vinegar in a bowl. • Add the shrimp to the marinade, let sit for 30mins. • Skewer shrimp and place in smoker for 30-40 minutes.

• This recipe is great for garnishing bloody Mary’s. Adding to salads, jambalaya, seafood pasta, smoked shrimp tacos, cocktail shrimp, and appetizers!

Click here to check out the newest Bradley Smart Smoker!

SMITH &WESSON PERFORMANCE CENTER M&P9 SHIELD EZ PERFORMANCE CENTER M&P9 SHIELD EZ FEATURES EASY TO RACK SLIDE, EASY TO LOAD MAGAZINE AND CUSTOM UPGRADES

Smith & Wesson Inc. launched the new Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ, chambered in 9mm and featuring a variety of Performance Center upgrades. Building on the popular M&P9 Shield EZ pistol, the new Performance Center models share the same easy-to-use features found across the entire M&P ShieldEZ series, and are further enhancedwith premiumPerformanceCenter features. The Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ pistols are available with striking black, silver, and gold accents, and include a ported barrel, flat face trigger, tuned action, and more. Tony Miele, Sr. Director, New Products and Performance Center, said, “Performance Center has the ability to design and manufacture specialty upgrades normally found in aftermarket work, straight from the factory. With the popularity of the M&P9 Shield EZ, we set out to develop Performance Center versions with porting, a tuned action, aftermarket sights, and more. These new pistols deliver easy-to- use features with the custom upgrades that our customers expect the Performance Center to deliver.” Built for personal and home protection, the new Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ pistols are the latest addition to the M&P Shield EZ family and feature an 8+1 round capacity and a 3.8” barrel. The Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ pistol ships with two 8 round magazines that feature a load assist tab for quick, easy loading, as well as a picatinny-style equipment rail to accommodate accessories. The pistol also features an optimal M&P pistol 18-degree grip angle for a natural point of aim, HI-VIZ® Litewave H3™ sights, and a light, crisp trigger.

The MSRP on the Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ pistols is $588.

To learn more about the new Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ pistols and the complete line of Performance Center firearms, including spec sheets and images, please click here.

SCOUTING CAMERAS AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW by Wade Middleton

Scouting cameras are one of the most important tools you can use during the season to locate key hunting areas, identify deer, manage properties, and even find a few surprises now and then. I’ve used scouting cameras all year long for several years now while relying on them to inform me what’s in an area, helping me make decisions on when to hunt areas as well as when to not hunt areas. Additionally, they’ve been invaluable in helping me to determine game populations and the health of the herd in several areas to help determine how many deer and turkeys are in an area as well as identify predator issues. Some of the main things I’ve learned over the years when it comes to scouting cameras are broken down below to help you whether you’re a first timer or seasoned veteran of using scouting cameras.

near food sources, field edges where trails come into key areas, near water sources (especially in dry times), and finally over bait (where legal). These high percentage areas will provide photos that not only provide an inventory of the bucks and does on your property but also insight on where and when the deer are traveling in certain areas. Keep in mind I am not saying these are the best places to find a big buck, but they will certainly help provide insight on game in the area.

PLACE THEM IN HIGH PERCENTAGE AREAS

I prefer to place my Stealth Cam scouting cameras

DO USE WIRELESS CAMERAS IF YOU CAN

I like to place my scouting cameras near key bedding areas or sanctuaries as I call them. What I try to do is find the travel corridors the deer come and go with into and out of those areas and hunt those. What I am talking about here is I always have locations on my leases that I never go into except when I have no other choice to hunt a certain deer. As I mentioned earlier, I try to hunt the edges of those areas and in the same manner place cameras on the edges of those key areas to never spook those deer out of there to another property. I use this strategy regardless if it’s a 50-acre property or a 10,000-acre property.

Click the image to watch Wade guide you through the NEW Stealth Cam COMMAND app.

Recently I have begun using the cell style cameras such as the Stealth Cam Fusion or the Muddy Outdoors Manifest. These cameras allow you to monitor from afar what is going on in a certain area without ever going into it until you are ready to hunt. By doing this you can go hang a set of stands, go in during turkey season, or in the summer set the camera up and receive the data as you desire it. On that same note In a hunting situation when I do sneak into an area to hunt I may put a camera along a trail, scrape, or key area that I pass as you sneak low-impact into a stand and then grab it on the way out. My reasoning is you are going through there anyway. This might give you valuable information, especially when bucks are on a pattern in the pre- rut that you can use later in relation to how deer are traveling in and out of an area. Regardless of how you set up and use scouting cameras rest assured they add an all-new aspect to deer hunting and there isn’t anything better than looking at photos and all of a sudden you see a new deer you’ve not seen before!

Click the image to hear what our favorite Stealth Cam settings are DON’T KEEP THEM IN ONE SPOT ALL SEASON Next up when it comes to deploying cameras is that I amalwaysmoving cameras around, but I only want to do it in a manner that it is not intrusive or will risk spooking deer. For instance in Texas where we generally hunt larger areas so I will put cameras out while driving to and from areas in my Yamaha Side X Side as I travel around the ranch mid-day just like a rancher, oil field workers, border patrol or someone working in the area does. When I do this, I try to do it around the same time that others travel on the property. One thing I avoid doing is going out during the fall or winter early and late in the day and place cameras out when deer should be moving as I don’t want to risk spooking them out of the area to another property.

HAPPY HUNTING!