Happy Independence Day fellow hunters, and welcome to another edition of The Hunting Wire! We are excited to announce a new partnership with Barnes Bullets who will debut a rifle ballistics 101 series beginning in August! The new series will teach our viewers all about rifle ammunition basics including topics like what parts make up a cartridge, what ballistics are, bullet construction, understanding rifle barrel twist rates and bullet stability, and range safety. We are also pleased to announce the creation of our Voice of Leadership Panel which will debut this fall. The Voice of Leadership Panel is an appointed six-person group of outdoor industry leaders who have volunteered to contribute their voices on key hunting and outdoor recreation issues to inform, inspire, and educate participants within our community. In this issue we continue on in our partnerships with NSSF and their +One hunter recruitment program, Easton Archery’s Bowhunter Basecamp, our third episode of Hunting Wire Radio, and more tips from Outdoor Solution’s Greg Ray for getting into hunting shape, and much, much more! Thank you, Jay Pinsky jay@theoutdoorwire.com

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks vision is to conserve our state's outdoor heritage to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations.

Each month The Hunting Wire highlights one of America’s state-run wildlife management agencies to enhance the ongoing education and awareness campaigns of each state. The United States bases its hunting and conservation programs on what is known as the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. While often geographically unique, all state programs align with the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, and offer news, information, and resources which can benefit American hunters.

The mission of South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks is to provide sustainable outdoor recreational opportunities through responsible management of our state's parks, fisheries and wildlife by fostering partnerships, cultivating stewardship and safely connecting people with the outdoors.

RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND REACTIVATION (R3): South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks’ hunter development program helps new hunters of all ages and all experience levels successfully grow into mature, responsible hunters. Click here to learn more about their Youth, Apprentice and Mentored programs.

CONSERVATION & EDUCATION: Click here to learn more about the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks efforts in conservation.

COVID-19 Information: Click here to learn about South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks COVID-19 information.

By Larry Weishuhn and Luke Clayton

Luke Clayton and Larry Weishuhn co-host Hunting Wire Radio and talk about all things hunting in every issue of The Hunting Wire.

Radio File: Hunting Wire Radio Episode 3

A collection of bowhunting training videos and written content on how to help you become a better bowhunter.

By Easton Bowhunting

Video: Bow Tuning Basics

Jace Bauserman walks you through the basics of tuning your bow. Including how to tie a D-Loop and how paper tuning works. ???????

Understanding Point of Impact with the CZ-USA Reaper Magnum

By Dave Miller, CZ-USA

CZ-USA’s David Miller explains how to set your point of impact on a shotgun for turkey hunting

Outdoor Solutions’ Founder Greg Ray looks at his journey from the couch to tackling some of the toughest terrains and conditions routinely encountered during a big-game hunt.  

By Greg Ray, Outdoor Solutions & Kevin Guillen, Wilderness Athlete

To get into hunting shape, you’ll need to plan ahead.

We’ve established that, if you are going to be successful out west, you have to prepare mentally, maintain the proper fuel for the body and have a good level of fitness. Big-game hunts are usually in rugged and remote areas where you will need to hike miles with large elevation changes. Then once the animal is down, the real work begins with field dressing and packing out the meat. All of this requires a great deal of energy and effort, so hunter fitness is one of the most critical aspects to ensuring a successful hunt. Getting to that point takes much work and determination. I can personally attest to the need to be in the best shape possible before venturing into the field.  

Knowing what I know now, it is much easier to stay in shape rather than get in shape. And when I say, “stay” in shape, I don’t mean working out twice per day and eating salads every day for the rest of your life. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend eating salads every day regardless, that’s just gross. 

Hunting takes stamina, and what you’re hunting has more than you on your best day. Get ready long before your moment of truth.

Everyone has a starting point. If you are one of those that need to GET in shape, you can’t go from the couch to hunting the Tetons overnight. You didn’t get out of shape overnight; so, don’t expect to be ready to go in two weeks. My best advice is to make this a lifestyle change, not a quick fix. Quick fixes in health and fitness are like “get-rich-quick schemes,” with no retainable gains.  

Like my friend Kevin Guillen from Wilderness Athlete says, “Fully Commit.” We mentioned in Part II that the best diet is one that you will stick with and the same goes for fitness. Start with a routine you like and that you will stick with. The biggest mistake, other than doing nothing, is people being overzealous their first week or two and make themselves so sore they can’t or don’t want to continue because they’ve made it too hard on themselves and they quit. 

Cardio fitness is just one part of getting into hunting shape. You’ll need muscle strength and endurance as well.

Here are some of my best quick tip pieces of advice I can offer. 

• Don’t rely on just the scale to measure your progress. Use it as a tool in your arsenal but don’t let it determine your success. There are too many factors other than what the number on the scale says. 
• Take a picture day 1 (before picture). This picture is just for you and no one else. It has to be a picture that shows you where you are. For guys, that means no shirt; for girls, sports bra and shorts. Here is why. You see yourself every day, and we are our own worst critic when it comes to progress. You will be amazed at what you see on day 45 as compared to day 1, and that will be your motivation! 
• Take measurements. The tape doesn’t lie. For me, at 54 years old, I am not concerned about adding a ton of more muscle. I want to maintain what I have, but my gut is my indicator. It seems to go up and down with my weight. I can determine my progress just from that one measurement.  
• Set a goal. There are numerous goals you can set; lose a certain number of pounds, inches off your waist, time it takes to run a mile, hitting level 10 on the Stairmaster. Once you reach that goal, set a new one. This is how you get better and better.  
• HAVE A PLAN! You will go nowhere fast without one and you will NOT hit your goals without one. Every morning before I go to the gym, I know exactly what workout I am doing and why. In fact, I pretty much know my entire week and, in some cases, my entire month ahead of time. 

Video: CrossFit-style workouts help give you a dynamic range of motion and strength you’ll need in the field.

I get bored easily, so I really mix my workouts up. I have learned a ton from different trainers I have used, and for the past five years have been a CrossFit junkie. Below is my current routine, but I am getting ready to change it up about mid-July to be more specific to a hunt I have coming up and to specific areas that I am lacking physically. I will be enlisting the help from Dan Staton of www.elkshape.com  

Please keep in mind, my routine below is pretty aggressive, and I have been doing this for years. So don’t feel like you have to work out twice a day every day to get to where you want to be. In fact, we will have a discussion about over training with Kevin soon. 

Here is my current routine. The workout below is early mornings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On Tuesday and Thursday, I walk 20 minutes on an inclined treadmill, 20 minutes on the Stairmaster and then I do an Every Minute On the Minute (EMOM) of pushing a sled about 20 yards and then add in either 10 pushups or 10 Goblet Squats for 10 rounds. My evening workouts are either at my CrossFit (not an affiliate) gym or walk three miles with my weighted vest.  

Three-Day Hypertrophy Workout 

Day 1 – Pull 

A) Deadlift 4x8 
B1) Wide grip pull up 3x12 
B2) DB Shoulders shrugs 3x12-15 
C) Single arm bent over row 3x12 
D) Dumbbell lateral raises 3x12 
E1) Bent over DB Rear deltoid flyes 3x15 
E2) Biceps curls 3x10-15 

Day 2 – Legs/Hips 

A) Back squat 4x10 
B) Front squat 3x8 
C) Walking lunge 3x10-12 
D1) DB single leg DL ?3x10-12 
D2) Split Squat 3x10 
E1) Single leg glute bridge 3x15 
E2) DB Calf raise 3x15 

Day 3 – Push 

A) DB or BB bench press ?4x8 
B) DB incline press 3x12 
C) DB overhead press 4x10-12 
D) Close-grip push up 3x12-15 
E1) Leaning lateral raises 3x12 
E2) DB Triceps extensions 3x12 

It doesn’t matter if you work out in your garage, the park, or nice gym. The important thing is to get out and move. 

There are a ton of resources for workouts online, but here are a few that I have used and really liked.  

• Any type of Crossfit 
• Mike Millner: I’ve used Mike’s workouts for years https://www.peakoptimizationperformance.com/ 
• Dan Staton: I will be using his program in the final weeks before my mule deer hunt. www.elkshape.com  

TULSA, Okla. (June 29, 2020) - Outdoor Solutions adds Margie Nelson to its From-Field-to-Table team. Nelson will serve as one of the expert content creators for FromFieldtoTable.com - a one-stop shop for hunters who understand the connection between hunting and the food it

"Margie has acquired a set of skills from years of being in the backcountry that are perfectly suited to help our students," said Outdoor Solutions Founder Greg Ray. "From the ocean to the mountains, she knows the outdoors and cooking wild game like no other. She will be a great addition to our team."

A native of Montana, Nelson began her outdoor adventures at an early age, hunting and cooking with her grandparents. She has served in the corporate world, the hospitality industry, as a backcountry cook and has a degree in Marine Biology. Nelson is also active with many conservation groups and her local Rod and Gun club.

"I am delighted to join Greg Ray and his team," said Nelson. "I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with others and look forward to celebrating the hunting lifestyle with the students."

Outdoor Solutions From Field To Table platform provides a wide variety of content to guide hunters through their journey of providing naturally sourced protein and making delicious meals for friend and families. The culinary events offer students field-to-table hunting and butchering and cooking instruction from professional guides and chefs.

To learn more about Outdoor Solutions From Field To Table, see recipes and read tips on bringing wild game to the table, please visit FromFieldtoTable.com.

Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Outdoor Solutions provides expert instruction at long-range shooting schools in Texas, Utah and Michigan and has trained hundreds of shooters and hunters to extend their effective shooting ranges. Outdoor Solutions also provides outdoor enthusiasts access to hundreds of pre-vetted hunting and fishing destinations around the world. The Outdoor Solutions staff has successfully planned thousands of hunting excursions, fishing trips and corporate retreats. Incorporating the culinary event has created a one-stop service for hunting, shooting, butchering and cooking wild game.

For more information about Outdoor Solutions and their services, go online to www.outdoorsolutionscorp.com.

Beginning July 5, Whitetail 46 will capture the oldest tradition in deer hunting: the story of the hunt. 

“In an era where technology can bombard us with information, sometimes it gets hard to separate ourselves from agenda driven information.  The concept of Whitetail 46 will capture the oldest tradition in deer hunting: the story of the hunt. 46 represents the number of US States where a whitetail can legally be hunted.  Every State has its own unique traditions, terrain, and techniques. No matter where you go, as a hunter, you can meet another hunter and inevitably the topic of conversation will turn to hunting stories. Those stories can be humorous, nostalgic, or a learning experience. In the end, hunters LOVE to hear and TELL the stories of where and how they hunt.  MonsterMeal recognized that hunters really want to be educated and entertained, and what could be more entertaining than exploring the way other people hunt all over the US, Canada, and Mexico. Whitetail 46 will give insight about all types of hunters and have real conversations about regional hunting stereotypes and the unique opportunities that the Whitetail can offer. Whitetail 46 will involve hunters from all over the country. From everyday people who you may never have heard of to a couple people you may have, we all have a story to tell.  Whitetail 46 is where we tell it. 

By Hunters Connection Series International Hunter Education Association (IHEA)-USA

Learn the basics about how to properly sight-in your compound bow.