usa newspaper - fall 2009

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You Are Union. You Are Sportsman. You Belong. Online: www.unionsportsmen.org Page 1 TRCP/Union Sportsmen’s Alliance 555 11th Street NW Washington, DC 20004 Get Lucky Make your own luck in the woods and on the water. African Escape Escape To e Wild winner has safari adventure. Made In The U.S.A. Outdoor gear for you. Non Profit Organization US Postage PAID Hyattsville, MD Permit # 5394 11 5 Proud to Be U.S. Made 7 You are Union. You are Sportsman. You Belong. The USA is a hunting and fishing program of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and its AFL-CIO affiliated trade union partners designed to extend union member benefits to the woods and water. Mike Beatty: Still A Union Man 6 3

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USA Newspaper - Fall 2009

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Page 1: USA Newspaper - Fall 2009

You Are Union. You Are Sportsman. You Belong. Online: www.unionsportsmen.org Page 1

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You are Union. You are Sportsman. You Belong.

The USA is a hunting and fishing program of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation

Partnership and its AFL-CIO affiliated trade union partners designed to extend

union member benefits to thewoods and water.

Mike Beatty:Still A Union Man

6

3

+

ARDENT HOLIDAY OFFER FOR USA MEMBERS.

Purchase an Ardent XS1000 or XS600 reel and receive a free SmartCull ($3999 value).Purchase reel prior to 12/31/09 at participating Ardent dealers, and get your choice of a SMARTCULL, a REEL KLEEN® CLEANING KIT or a PROFESSIONAL PARTS CLEANING SYSTEM. Promotion and mail-in offer are available at the participating dealers below. Include a copy of your Union Membership Card and you’ll also receive a free Ardent baseball hat.

Client /Ad# /Title /

Media /Size /

Pubs /

Ardent6462-B2“Holiday Offer” – USA4-Color Magazine4.8" x 8.5"

Union Sportsman Alliance

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960 Prod. Manager /

Traffic /Digital Artist /Art Director /Copywriter /

Acct Manager /Date Prepared /

Cheryl SparksSherri WaltonEvan WillnowTom HudderTom HudderChris Rarick10/12/2009

Page 2: USA Newspaper - Fall 2009

Page 2 The Union Sportsmen’s Journal

The Union Sportsmen’s Journal is the officialpublication of the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance.

If you’ve been a USA member for awhile, and perhaps if you haven’t, you probably have read, “the USA is your club.” That’s not some sales pitch; it’s what we strive

for everyday. Anyone can join the myriad of sportsmen’s groups out there. But only union members and their families can join the USA. Without union sportsmen, there would be no Union Sportsmen’s Alliance. That’s why your input is so important to us.

In the last issue, we asked you to complete a survey about this newspaper. Nearly 1,000 members responded. If you were one of those people, we sincerely thank you and hope you see that we took your words to heart. You’ll notice there are more outdoor tips in this issue, more content from USA members, and a featured public land hunting destination. With your help, The Union Sportsmen’s Journal will get better and better.

If you haven’t visited the USA website in a while, you’re in for a surprise there too. After a major redesign, the website is more interactive, user-friendly and valuable than ever. Outdoor videos, featured big-value discounts, hunting and fishing articles by outdoor professionals and USA members, and easier-to-use forums make the USA website a one-stop-shop when in comes to outdoor news and entertainment. Since we launched the website more than two years ago, many members told us what they like about the site as well as problems they experienced. Those comments helped drive this transformation, and we hope you agree the website has come a long way.

Responses to our online polls, from your preferred brand of camo to the type of membership renewal gift you’d like, help shape the USA. To us, your “two cents” is priceless, and we want to continue to make the USA even more valuable to you. So share your thoughts with us by phone or email and tell your union buddies the USA is their club too.

More members give us more leverage when it comes to securing exclusive USA member discounts and giveaways. More members mean more events, like the sporting clays shoots and pheasant hunts we held this year. More members also mean a stronger, more unified voice to preserve our hunting and fishing heritage.

Rest assured, when we say “the USA is your club,” we mean it. And as a union member and a dedicated sportsman, you’re more than welcome in the USA.

You Belong.

Fred MyersExecutive Director, Union Sportsmen’s Alliance

From the Director’s Desk...

IBEW Member Wins Chevy TruckKent Erickson claims USA grand prize

Executive Director Fred Myers, [email protected]

Deputy DirectorMike d’[email protected]

Senior Communications ManagerKate Cywinski

[email protected]

Membership Services &Recruitment Manager

Amy Napoli, [email protected]

National MembershipCoordinator

Nate Whiteman,[email protected]

The Union Sportsmen’s Journalis produced by Michigan

United Conservation Clubs’Communications Division.

EditorTony Hansen

[email protected]

Creative ServicesJeanne Esch, [email protected]

You Belong. At The USA,That Means Something

Membership questions:877-872-2211 or

615-831-6779

MUCC TM

When the voice on the end of the line told Kent Erickson, a member of Electrical

Workers Local 26, he was the winner of a Chevy Silverado, he figured it was one of his buddies pulling a prank. But the call wasn’t a joke. When Erickson handed over $25 to join the USA in March, he unknowingly bought himself the Silverado now parked outside his home in Lothian, Md.

“I joined because the USA supports my kind of lifestyle and, as a union member, it’s my club. [I] also [joined] to support conservation to help ensure that I can fish for the rest of my life,” said Erickson.

Hit The Track With Chevy and Team Realtree

We’re putting the pedal to the metal for another exciting USA giveaway where one lucky member and a guest will join TV personality and Realtree Outdoors founder Bill Jordan for a motorsports weekend in Talladega, Ala., this spring. The prize package will include race tickets, pit tours, airfare, accommodations and the chance to hang out with Bill Jordan and the folks from Realtree all weekend. Jordan is kicking in some great Realtree gear for the USA winner and our friends from Chevy are topping off the package with some special gifts including a Richard Petty Driving Experience and Michael Waddell and Bone Collector merchandise.

There is no cost to enter the giveaway. All active USA members on or before January 31, 2010 are qualified to win. Visit UnionSportsmen.org to learn how you can enter the drawing.

IAFF Retiree Wins ShotgunCongratulations to Duane Puckett,

an IAFF Local 157 retiree, on being drawn as the winner of a Beretta 3901 American Citizen shotgun in the USA member story contest.

“I’m blown away that I won. Out of all the members in the USA, I never thought I could win anything, let alone a fantastic Beretta shotgun. But I did, and had I not taken the time to enter, I would be reading about someone else who won,” said Puckett. “Like the lottery, it only takes one chance, so take one.”

The USA received many member stories about the great outdoors. We look forward to sharing them in this publication, in the monthly e-newsletter and on the website. Have a story to share? Send it to us at: [email protected].

And More USA Winners . . .Kevin Dessell, a member of Operating

Engineers Local 310 from Abrams, WI, completed the USA newspaper survey this summer and was drawn from among nearly 1,000 participants as the winner of a Remington 870 shotgun.

“Winning an 870 is going to be the biggest highlight of my season. I was actively shopping for a new shotgun, and this Remington is going to fill the need nicely…This organization is for real. Thank you USA!”

Thomas Baker, a member of Electrical Workers Local 776 from Hemingway, SC, won a $500 fishing package in the USA “Early Bird” renewal drawing. When it comes time to renew your USA membership, make sure you respond quickly and you could be the next big winner. USA

>Around the USA

Kent Erickson with the new Silverado he won in USA’s membership drive contest.

Page 3: USA Newspaper - Fall 2009

You Are Union. You Are Sportsman. You Belong. Online: www.unionsportsmen.org Page 3

On Nov. 8, 2000 Ohio hunter Mike Beatty, a member of Communication Workers Local 4322, killed a buck that

would set a new world record.The buck, which scored 294 4/8 and

is the largest whitetail ever taken by a bowhunter, changed Mike Beatty’s life. But it has not changed who he is.

“I tell people pretty much the same thing – I am not a world record deer hunter. I’m just a deer hunter who happened to have killed a world record. I’ve learned so much since killing the Beatty Buck that I feel like I’m a much better deer hunter now,” Betty said. “I still work 40 hours a week for the phone company. When I’m not working, I’m busy working in the hunting industry and I’m pretty excited about a new venture I’ve started called Tag’D Out.”

When Mike tagged the Beatty Buck in 2000, the hunting world was just starting to change. Outdoor television was peaking, DVD sales were at all-time highs and this new thing called the Internet was starting to take the outdoor world by storm. News of Beatty’s buck spread like estrous scent in November and made him a celebrity overnight.

“Things happened so fast and were so crazy, in a way, we don’t even really count the Beatty Buck. It’s kind of sad to admit that but I know that’s the biggest deer I’ll ever kill. I know that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Beatty said. “But all of the attention and chaos, in a way, sort of took away from what actually happened and what was accomplished. So I almost don’t even count that deer.

“It’s all about having a passion for the sport. I still get excited and shaky when a good buck walks in. It may not be a world record, but it’s something that I’ve been pursuing. It’s hard to explain really. I just love hunting and the outdoors.”

While the Beatty Buck earned him almost instant fame, Mike was not content to simply let that one deer define his path. Instead, he chose to use the opportunity to align himself with companies and people that he believes in and to use his success as a way to introduce more people to the sport that he loves.

“I’ve been very fortunate, because of the Beatty Buck, to have relationships with some great sponsors and people in the industry,” he said. “I’ve been very careful about who I partner with – and they are companies that are careful about who they partner with as well. Groups like Primos, Cuddeback, Rocky and Antler King – they’ve all taught me so much about hunting. They’ve allowed me to be part of their product development process and I get to see first-hand just how much research and care goes into producing something.”

For the past few years, Beatty has appeared at numerous outdoor shows and made appearances on a number of different TV shows and DVDs. In December, he was at a sport show and ran out of the photographs that he signs for folks who visit with him.

That chance event spurred Beatty’s latest venture – Tag’D Out.

“When I ran out of photos, I was putting together an 8X10 picture that had not only the Beatty Buck but several of the other trophies I’ve taken since then because people always ask me about what I’ve been doing,” Mike said. “And my son, said, hey why are you just giving out photos? All of those hunts are on video. That got me thinking. He’s right. A lot of people had

asked me why I don’t have my own show but I just wasn’t real comfortable with that. Well, now we’ve created a DVD series called Tag’D Out and the response has been great.

“It’s just kind of snowballed into this big deal. Now we’ve got a full team of prostaffers and editors and video guys. It’s kind of crazy really.”

While Beatty may be known for killing the Beatty Buck and as the creator of the Tag’D Out DVD series, the bottom line is that he’s just a hard-working union member from Ohio.

“That’s really what I am. I’m no one special. I’m proud to be a Union member. I’m proud to work hard every day,” Mike said. “I got involved with the union because I wanted to fight for our member’s rights. People laugh at me because I always

put things in hunting terms but, to me, I see the union as a way to ensure that bargaining is done under fair chase terms. That’s what a union does. They ensure fair chase.”

Beatty said he’ll be hunting hard this fall in between shifts with the phone company. He also said he plans to spend plenty of time in the woods with his family and a few quiet moments thinking about the state of the nation.

“Everyone is worried about our country right now. I won’t say that I’m not but I will say that America always bounces back,” Mike said. “This is one vicious cycle. It goes up and it goes down. We’ll rebound. We’ll come back. That’s what we do.” USA

Mike Beatty: By Tony Hansen

I still get excited and shaky when a good buck walks in. That’s just passion for the sport.

”Tips From The Pros

RANK YOUR ARROWSWhen you practice with your bowhunting equipment, you’ll notice that some arrows seem to fly better than the others. Small nuances in shaft spine, vane placement, etc. can have an effect on flight. So next time you practice, pick the best flyers and put a little mark on them with a magic marker. Then, when you’re in the stand, nock one of those arrows and you’ll have confidence knowing that the arrow you have on the string is perfect.

Babe Winkelman, TV Host

A World Record And Still A Union Man

Page 4: USA Newspaper - Fall 2009

Page 4 The Union Sportsmen’s Journal

>Organizing the USA

The Atlantic Flyway is setting records. New York is the top-ranked state for

USA members, thanks to the efforts of Joe Proscia and IBEW Local 3 Business Manager Chris Erikson.

In October, I fished with Joe in an IBEW Local 3 striper fishing tournament as Team Union Sportsmen’s Alliance. Also, Local 3 sponsored the First USA Wild Game Dinner on Oct. 28.

Pennsylvania is not far behind New York in USA memberships.

Thanks to the efforts of SMWIA Local 12 Business Rep. Dave Bernett, every shooter in the local’s 17th Annual Sporting Clays Shoot will receive a USA membership. I encourage any local or union group to do the same. USA

B y N a t e W h i t e m a N ,N a t i o N a l m e m B e r s h i p C o o r d i N a t o r

Years ago, I learned if I wanted to spend more time in the duck blind

without shirking on “daddy duty,” I had to pack up the kids and take them with me. To my surprise, I had more fun killing less ducks but spending more time with my kids in the outdoors. Don’t get me wrong, we shot plenty of ducks, but we had to build to that stage.

When your child has had enough of the elements, it’s time to pack up and go home. A cold, wet, hungry and bored child will get you home quicker than a call from your wife. Coincidently, if the kids are with you, the phone only rings for real emergencies, instead of “when are you going to be home?” emergencies.

When it comes to gear, buy what you would buy for yourself. Warm and waterproof aren’t cheap, but ebay is a great place to unload youth hunting clothes that have only been worn a few

times; kids grow like weeds. Snacks and hot chocolate go a long way too. To conquer boredom, I found that you can take the sound mechanism out of most handheld video games. This will definitely buy you more time in the blind. Don’t forget extra batteries.

It won’t be long before you and your kids are shooting doubles of woodies and mallards, as they grow less cold, less bored and want to be in the blind with you every minute. Don’t miss out on that opportunity; you won’t get it back.

Busy Summer For USA’s Regional Coordinators

The Mississippi flyway was packed with events this summer. In Michigan, we took

part in the Ironworkers Festival in Mackinaw City and the USW District 2 staff meeting at Crystal Mountain Resort.

We visited union sportsmen throughout Ohio at the NFL Alumni Golf Tournament in Columbus and IBEW Local 306 Hog Roast in Akron and met with members of IBEW Lo-cal 972, UAW Local 211, USW District 1 and IBEW Local 575. Farther south, we attended

the IBEW Local 141 picnic in West Virginia and the IBB Industrial Council in Indiana.

The inaugural USA Great Lakes Pheas-ant Hunt & Feed was a sellout with 64 union sportsmen taking to the fields on Oct. 10 at Elkhorn Lake Hunt Club in Bucyrus, OH. Sponsoring teams included IBEW Locals 8, 71, 306, 575 and 683; UA Locals120 and 669; Roofers Local 44; and USW District 1. This will be a must-attend USA event for years to come. USA

Mississippi Flyway

After his exhibition in the 35-foot column climb at the Ironworker Festi-val, 77-year-old Bernie Nobel of Ironworkers Local 340 joined the USA.

Pacific Flyway

Our fall recruitment efforts started and will end with a bang. In Wisconsin, we

held a USA pheasant/chukar hunt on Sept. 26 sponsored by Doug Sackett, IAFF/ USA member and owner of Cedar Hill Game Farm. Sackett is an avid outdoorsman who wants to continue to offer great hunts to fellow USA/union members.

The Western WI AFL-CIO sponsored the USA at its Labor Day celebration in La Crosse and gave away a Remington 770 to Ted Lucksted,

retired UAW member. We thank Terry Hicks and the Western WI AFL-CIO for helping grow the USA by 178 members this year.

In the Northwest, we’re gearing up for a USA sporting clays shoot on Nov. 12 in Puyallup, WA. This event is hosted by the IAM District 751, and the USA encourages all unions of the Puget Sound area to participate.

Contact me for more information or to hold an event in your area. USA

Central Flyway

In the Central Flyway, IBEW Local 702 is setting a great example of the USA

Partner Program in action. To get their USA recruitment efforts rolling and have some fun at the same time, Assistant Business Manager Steve Hughart and Outside Organizer Josh Holmes organized a sporting clays shoot at a local range. As Steve put it, many Local 702 members spend their off-time hunting and

fishing, so joining the USA and busting some targets was pretty natural.

All 98 Union members who registered to shoot became USA members, and Local 702 used one of its USA Partner Program guns as a top prize drawing at the event.

Many of the participants represented two or three generations, with grandfathers, dads and grandsons shooting together. USA

Atlantic Flyway Nate Whiteman [email protected] 440-867-2732

Jim Klatt [email protected] 952-221-9787

Tim Bindl [email protected] 608-397-1023

Don Coburn [email protected] 614-787-1354

IBEW Local 702 members participate in the sporting clays shoot.

Make Time For Kids In The Blind This YearOutdoors Advice From USA Coordinators

Page 5: USA Newspaper - Fall 2009

You Are Union. You Are Sportsman. You Belong. Online: www.unionsportsmen.org Page 5

The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance is a hunting and fishing club by union members and for union

members. Now, you can help build the USA

in your community through the new USA Partner Program, which invites union locals, districts, training centers and other union groups to make a commitment to recruit USA members at the community level. HOW IT WORKS

USA Partners pay an annual fee of $500-$1,500 to the USA, based on the number of union members they represent. They also appoint a union member to work with the USA Regional Coordinator in their area

USA Partner Program

USA PARTNER BENEFITSUSA Partner plaque, entry for all Partner members who join USA into a special Gun

Raffle Giveaway (1-3 firearms), recognition on the USA website and in the Union Sports-men’s Journal and a USA presentation at a Union meeting.

CONTRIBUTION LEVELS500 or fewer members: $500 (1 firearm for raffle)501-5,000 members: $1,000 (2 firearms for raffle)5,001 or more members: $1,500 (3 firearms for raffle)

For more information on becoming a USA Partner, contact Nate Whiteman at (440) 867-8229 or [email protected] or your Regional Coordinator.

Welcome NewUSA Partners

BAC Local 1IBEW Local 55

AFSCME Council 40IUOE Local 19

OP&CMIA Local 31Nebraska State AFL-CIO

SMWIA Local 565IUEC Local 19

to promote the USA and distribute information and applications to their members. In addition, they allow the USA to make a presentation at a union meeting and/or hold a Sportsmen’s Night. USA

Making Your Own ‘Luck’ On The WaterB y R a n d y R a m s e y ,m e R c u R y P R o s t a f f

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Mention Ad For 5% Discount

Did you ever notice that it seems like the same people have all the luck? I mean every year

they shoot a big buck or catch big fish. It seems impossible yet they do it. Many years of watching this happen have proven to me it isn’t all luck. Luck has little to do with it.

Understanding what makes creatures tick, that’s what creates “luck.”

Whenever I catch a big limit of bass or shoot a mature buck, I like to analyze what happened to see if I can make it happen again.

There are three things to know when figuring out wildlife habits: Food, reproduction and avoiding danger determine most wild creatures’ movements. When it comes to catching bass looking for their favorite food is the key except during the spawn.

These rules apply doubly in the fall.Bass have a tendency to school with

like-sized allies and fishing for the big ones means doing things differently. On inland lakes, my experiences have been that the smallest bass are eating bugs, minnows and anything else that is about one third of their length. They aren’t picky and are aggressive. The 12- to 16-inch bass often eat crawfish and small baitfish. The biggest bass prefer larger baitfish and will follow schools of them and wait until the time is right to attack.

It’s important to point out that not all big bass will be doing this. You can catch big ones with tiny lures too, but on any given day, you’ll find the majority of them looking for the one-gulp-only option to filling their bellies. A commitment to fishing for big bass on an inland lake in the Midwest means finding the schools of panfish, and for largemouth it’s typically bluegills. In southern reservoirs, shad are the key

and you’ll find them in the creek arms.When I fish a tournament and get

my “you know what” handed to me, it’s because the winners figured out where the bass were eating that day under those conditions. I recently was too stubborn to think that the bigger bass would be shallow since it was mid-August. Typically, this time of year larger bass and panfish are at or just off the break. I caught some decent fish on what I thought was a tough day. A cooler summer, mixed with several days of below normal temperatures moved the bluegills shallow. Combine this with clouds and wind and you have the recipe for a strong shallow-water fishing day. My 10 pounds of deeper bass was a joke compared to the 15-pound shallow sack that won.

The key is the baitfish. On calm days they often can be found schooling near the surface feeding on bugs. If you watch closely, it looks like an area of ripples.

If there is some wind, the bait will likely be suspended in “balls” that you can see on your locator. This is a good time for crankbaits. Look for places where the balls of bait are close to some kind of cover.

Not nearly enough emphasis is placed on letting the conditions tell you where you should fish and what you should throw.

Lure selection is important, but the best lure won’t catch a fish if there isn’t one around.

Knowing what food bigger bass prefer at the lake you are fishing and finding that food source under the conditions you are faced with will put you in the right place at the right time.

Good “luck” next time you’re on the water. USA

Page 6: USA Newspaper - Fall 2009

Page 6 The Union Sportsmen’s Journal

Mike Brooks loves this country.Loves it enough, in fact, that he’s will-

ing to do what many companies in the fishing industry are not.

“Can I take my products overseas and increase my bottom line? Abso-lutely,” he said. “But I can’t do that and sleep at night. The American sportsman is very sensitive to what’s going on in this country. Given the state of the Ameri-can economy, I think the right thing to do is create U.S. jobs, U.S. products that are price-competitive and perfor-mance-competitive. We, as a country, sacrificed that benefit to the American sportsman years ago. At Ardent, we in-tend to do our part to bring that back.”

Ardent is a different kind of fishing company. The company manufactures some of the best reels and fishing gear maintenance products in the world – and they make them all right here in the United States. That’s not something that happened by accident. It’s the mission of the company.

“We wanted to produce a product that was very competitive in the market in both price and performance. But we ab-solutely insisted that those products be made and assembled in the U.S.A.,” said Brooks. “We just felt like we could do something that we feel is a responsibility to our country and that’s to allow sports-men the opportunity to buy a U.S.-made product that’s truly competitive in price and performance.”

The vast majority of fishing rods and reels are manufactured in China and Ja-pan where labor is cheap. The markup on such products is impressive, the bot-tom line lucrative.

When Brooks set out to create Ardent in 2003, to say his business plan raised a few eyebrows would be an understate-ment.

“Everybody said we were crazy. People felt that we wouldn’t be able to engineer, design and manufacture a performance-competitive product. Everyone told us that the Chinese and Japanese make the best reels. They said that even if we could design a competitive product, we couldn’t match the pricing,” Brooks said. “We felt incredibly motivated to prove those people wrong.”

And prove them wrong they did. Ar-dent reels are now revered as some of the very best products on the water. In fact, professional angler Alton Jones won the 2008 BASSMaster Classic using Ardent Reels – and he was not on the Ardent

ProStaff.“We really just set out to do things

we’ve done as a country for centuries – and that’s make some of the finest prod-ucts in the world,” Brooks said. “We can not competitively produce those $100 reels that are coming in from Japan and China. We focus on products tailored for the ardent angler -- high-end, top-qual-ity products that aren’t just made in the U.S.A. but are the very finest equipment you can buy.”

That commitment to the U.S. is what attracted Brooks to the Union Sports-men’s Alliance. He is proud to offer union members who share Ardent’s be-lief in U.S.-made products and passion for the outdoors with a special holiday offer. USA members who purchase se-lect Ardent reels before Dec. 31 will re-ceive their choice of a SmartCull, Reel Kleen Cleaning Kit or Professional Parts Cleaning System along with a free Ar-dent hat.

“The partnership between Ardent and the USA just makes perfect sense,” said Brooks. “We just wanted to do some-thing to show the American worker that we appreciate them.”

Ardent manufactures reels for fresh-water fishing. They have a range of bait-casting and spinning models. The com-pany also makes a line of maintenance lubricants and cleaners that are second to none. They also happen to be another story of true American ingenuity.

“We back our reels with a 3-year war-ranty. That’s unheard of in the fishing industry. We do it because we believe in our products,” Brooks said. “We devel-oped our line of maintenance lubricants and cleaners out of necessity. We needed something that was designed specifically for fishing applications to use on new reels and there was nothing that satisfied us. Well, if you think about it, the things we were experiencing are the same that the consumer faces. So we developed the line of products so that the Ameri-can sportsman would have tremendous products for cleaning and lubricating their reels.”

The fishing industry is certainly not immune to the economic downturn facing our country. But Ardent has ex-perienced tremendous growth in sales. A fact that is proof positive that Ameri-can anglers respond to the Made in the U.S.A. label.

“This is not just BS to me. This is what we believe in,” Brooks said. “I don’t know what the percentage of American sports-men is that care about their products be-ing made in the U.S.A. but it’s significant. Our sales and feedback from customers and dealers proves that. We’re not trying to do anything special here. We’re just doing what we think is the right thing to do for our country. “ USA

+

ARDENT HOLIDAY OFFER FOR USA MEMBERS.

Purchase an Ardent XS1000 or XS600 reel and receive a free SmartCull ($3999 value).Purchase reel prior to 12/31/09 at participating Ardent dealers, and get your choice of a SMARTCULL, a REEL KLEEN® CLEANING KIT or a PROFESSIONAL PARTS CLEANING SYSTEM. Promotion and mail-in offer are available at the participating dealers below. Include a copy of your Union Membership Card and you’ll also receive a free Ardent baseball hat.

Client /Ad# /Title /

Media /Size /

Pubs /

Ardent6462-B2“Holiday Offer” – USA4-Color Magazine4.8" x 8.5"

Union Sportsman Alliance

Pre

pare

d b

y

©2009.

All

rig

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rese

rved.

314

.436.9

960 Prod. Manager /

Traffic /Digital Artist /Art Director /Copywriter /

Acct Manager /Date Prepared /

Cheryl SparksSherri WaltonEvan WillnowTom HudderTom HudderChris Rarick10/12/2009

Ardent Reels: An American Company DefinedB y t o n y H a n s e n

Mike Brooks Ardent CEO

Alton Jones, above, won the BassMaster Classic using Ardent reels -- and not because he was paid to -- but because he liked the performance and what the company stood for. He has since joined the Ardent ProStaff.

Page 7: USA Newspaper - Fall 2009

You Are Union. You Are Sportsman. You Belong. Online: www.unionsportsmen.org Page 7

Union Flight Attendant Wins Trip To Africa

The first leg of the flight was like any other for Karen Carrolan, a Southwest Airlines flight attendant and member of

Transport Workers Local 556. But the return trip from Long Island to Chicago was anything but ordinary when her fellow crew member, Jason, suggested she speak to a man seated in his section.

Carrolan loves to talk about hunting and makes it a point to speak to passengers wearing camouflage or reading hunting magazines. So she made her way to the man reading an issue of Petersen’s Hunting.

“If you’re done with that magazine by the time you get off the plane, you can leave it in the seat back pocket, and I’ll read it,” Carrolan said.

After she told the man about her interest in deer hunting, he told her he was heading to Africa for a hunt, but his partner had backed out. “Want to come?” he asked, taking off his sunglasses.

That’s when Carrolan recognized Tom Ackerman, host of Escape to the Wild, and realized she won the Africa trip she applied for on the TV show that takes hardworking union members on once-in-a-lifetime hunting and fishing adventures.

“I was screaming, and Jason got on the PA system and shared the news with everyone...I was shocked.”

When Carrolan was a child, her family moved to Africa, so her father could use his carpentry skills to help the Nigerian people. Sadly, she had to return rather quickly to the U.S., where her mother lost her life to a hidden illness. Carrolan always hoped to get back to the Dark Continent one day, though she never dreamed it would be to hunt.

“The first time I went whitetail hunting, I saw a deer and froze,” Carrolan said. “I was afraid I was going to be so in awe of the Africa plains game that I would be unable to focus.”

But when Carrolan, Ackerman, the cameraman and their guide came across a Red Hartebeest on day two, it was clear she had overcome her “buck fever.”

“The shot went off, and I’m asking where it went. They were telling me

“I’m proud to be a union member, and I think it’s great the USA looks out for our outdoor interests. It certainly prompted me to become a USA member and help someone down the road experience what I did.”

—Karen Carrolan

>An Escape to the Wild

Karen Carrolan, right, and Escape Host Tom Ackerman with the Red Hartebeest she took while on the safari she won. The show will air on Versus Country this winter.

Karen Carrolan gets adventure of alifetime thanks to TRCP TV showB y K a t e c y w i n s K i

Escape to the WildSeason 4 Airs Sundays

at 9:30 a.m. EST onVERSUS Country

beginning in January

I dropped it, and I’m like ‘no way.’ Sure enough, it went straight down—unbelievable when you see this animal. I think the guys were thinking ‘okay, sort of lucky,’” Carrolan said.

Later that day, the group set up on an old warthog with nice tusks. “We got into position and waited for it to come from behind some bushes. Boom! Right to the ground,” Carrolan said. “I realized I had the hand of God on me because I’m not gun savvy. I’m not a professional. I’ve only been doing this six years, and these shots were so perfect.”

For Carrolan, Africa was far more than hunting. She was blown away by the sunsets atop the craggily mountains, the way every smell and sound seemed in place, and the friendships she made. But when she thinks of Africa, she instantly thinks of zebras, so harvesting a Hartmann’s mountain zebra would fulfill her wildest dream. And it all came down to the last day.

“We were scooting on our butts through a rocky riverbed to get to a little group of zebra. I spent a half hour on the tripod watching a zebra sleep,” Carrolan said. “When he finally turned, our guide said I couldn’t shoot him because he was a stallion, and they only take mares.”

Before hunting in Africa, Carrolan had never taken a shot beyond 130 yards. But her shots had been dead-on the past few days, so when they finally came to a second group of zebras that included a nice mare, Carrolan took the farthest shot in her hunting history.

Does Carrolan end her trip with a zebra? Tune in to Versus Country for a new season of Escape to the Wild beginning in January to find out. USA

Page 8: USA Newspaper - Fall 2009

Page 8 The Union Sportsmen’s Journal

>Take Your Best ShotThe USA Photo Contest Has Gone Weekly! Now you have 52 chances to win a #110 Buck knife engraved with the USA logo when you share your best shots with your brothers and sisters of the USA. Check out the USA member photo gallery at www.UnionSporstmen.org andsubmit your own photos to [email protected].

FIRST HARVEST

A $70 Value!

Jack Lee, Business Manager of Roofers Local 210 in Erie, PA, harvested this fine bird on the last day of the season in NY State. It had a 10” beard and 1.5” spurs.

After hours of practicing with his youth-model Remington .243, Jared Hall (age 7) took this 10-point buck during the Texas youth weekend gun season with a single shot at 93 yards. His proud dad, Fire Fighters Local 58 member Jason Hall, now has a photo of Jared and his buck hanging on his locker at the fire station.

Help the USA honor youths who have taken their first game animal or caught their first fish. To request a USA First Harvest certificate, email [email protected].

CongratulationsJared!

Anthony O’Neill, a member of Elevator Constructors Local 1 from Warwick, NY, and his 5-year-old daughter Angelina show off two nice turkeys.

Bill Fuller, a member of Ironworkers Local 21 from Mondamin, IA, with a hefty sturgeon.

Dan Biely, a member of Operating Engineers Local 266 from Manitowoc, WI, holds the antlers of the moose he harvested near Webbwood, Ontario.

Doug Stewart, a member of IBEW Local 683 from Whitehall, OH, with the steelhead he caught in a creek in northeast Ohio.

Win A Buck Knife!

Greg Vincelet, Training Coordinator for Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 442 out of Modesto, CA., caught this 31 ½” yellow eye out of Seward, Alaska.

Mitch Berreth, a journeyman with Electrical Workers Local 483 from Lakewood, WA, took his first big game animal, this 350 lb. black bear, in Washington.

Jim Fernandez (left), retired chairman for BRC/TCU/IAM Lodge 6811, and Bob Long (right), chairman of BRC/TCU/IAM Lodge 6743, with the 200 lb. bear Bob shot opening day of the Minnesota season.

David Haggerty, a member of Boilermakers Local 45 from Hopewell, VA, with the 55 lb. cobia he caught in Chesapeake Bay.

Mark Goetz, a member of Auto Workers Local 1853 from Spring Hill, TN, harvested this bull with 63” antlers in Farewell, Alaska, in September 2008.

Nick Tamburo, a member of Sheet Metal Works Local 10 from Maplewood, MN, at his brother’s bachelor party - an adrenaline pumping Florida pig hunt.

Steven Demenge, a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local 55 from Ephrata, WA, shows off his 8 lb. largemouth—the best birthday present ever.

Page 9: USA Newspaper - Fall 2009

You Are Union. You Are Sportsman. You Belong. Online: www.unionsportsmen.org Page 9

I love hunting Montana’s Middle Yellowstone River Valley, an area I’ll define as beginning near Big Timber

and extending eastward for more than 200 miles to Miles City. The area has been a dream hunting and fishing destination for generations of Americans. Over the past 20 years, I’ve hunted a number of locations along this corridor, which offers great opportunities for a variety of species including whitetail, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, sharptail grouse, Hungarian partridge, sage grouse, pheasant and waterfowl. Elk hunting is an option in limited areas, where licenses are available through specially drawn permits.

Most of the Yellowstone River bottom and valley floor is privately owned, but a number of landowners allow free, public access (primarily in the fall) to their properties through Montana’s Block Management program. With a bit of research and a few phone calls, finding a place to hunt isn’t that difficult. The further you move north or south from the valley floor, the more Bureau of Land Management and state-managed public lands you’ll find, along with additional Block Management land. Many of the ranches enrolled in the “Block program”

(as Montanans call it) cover thousands if not tens of thousands of acres and afford more hunting opportunities than you can shake a stick at. State and BLM lands are usually found in square mile sections. State sections often exist in isolation and are surrounded by private land, while BLM sections often are

The Middle Yellowstone River Valley: A Great Place To Find Hunting ActionB y K e n B a R R e t t

More about how you to can access and hunt the Middle

Yellowstone River Valley:• For information on hunting

licenses, seasons and Montana’s Block Management program, visit www.fwp.mt.gov or call 406-444-2535. Staff at Montana FWP regional offices in Mile City, MT. Call them at 406-234-0900.

• For information about BLM landsand maps identifying state and private lands, visit www.blm.gov.

• Get a copy of Montana AtlasGazetteer published by Delorme. Maps in the atlas show public lands and small roads in detail.

Ken Barrett heading out for a hunt in the Middle Yellowstone River Valley

Energy development threatens 10 of America’s most important fish and wildlife public land

habitats. During the past decade, an

unprecedented energy boom has transformed huge tracts of the West’s cherished public lands. Much of this development has happened in irreplaceable wildlife habitat – special places where families have hunted and fished for generations like the Montana’s Middle Yellowstone River Valley. Unfortunately, because some development is poorly planned, America’s outdoor legacy is at risk.

Between 2000 and 2008, the number of permits to develop oil and gas tripled, and an estimated 126,000 new wells are planned for the next 20 years. Another 26 million acres – an area larger than Ohio – are already leased for development.

Sportsmen appreciate how important energy is to our country.

But oil and gas drilling that pays little regard to fish, wildlife and water resources is unacceptable. Fortunately, many of the worst impacts of energy development can be

avoided with careful planning. That’s why hunters and anglers created the Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development coalition and why we’re highlighting 10 irreplaceable fish and wildlife habitats at risk from irresponsible drilling in a report, which can be accessed online at www.Sportsmen4ResponsibleEnergy.org. The report will be used to promote responsible, science-based public lands energy development that follows a multiple-use approach and considers the needs of fish and wildlife as well as hunters and anglers.

This report explains what makes the 10 habitats, including New Mexico’s San Juan Mountains and Colorado’s Roan Plateau, special and how they’re at risk. The report also recommends ways to develop energy without losing recreational opportunities or the $7 billion that hunting and fishing contribute to the Western economy annually. USA

Tips From The pros

What breed makes thebest hunting companion?

The best way to answer this question is to list your goals before you start the search process. While there is

no guarantee of a perfect match, answering the following questions will go a long way in ensuring the success of your hunt for the perfect pup. •Will you be hunting upland birds,

waterfowl or both?• Doyouwantyourdogtoliveinthehouse

or a kennel?• Whatsizeisidealforyourneeds?• Do youneed a dog thatworks close or

ranges to cover a lot of ground?• Ishaircolororlengthimportant?• Aretherebreedclubsororganizationsin

the area to support your training efforts?• Aretherehealthissueswithcertainbreeds

you should try to avoid?• Doyouplantoparticipateintestortrials

with this new canine companion?Visit www.UnionSportsmen.org for additional dog training tips.

>This Land is Your Land

>Conservation Focus

found in contiguous parcels, sometimes totaling thousands of acres.

The best scenario for a hunter is finding a piece of land that includes BLM, state and Block Management lands bordering one other. I’ve hunted one such area north of Miles City that totals

more than 40,000 acres. I remember one outing when I took a rifle and a shotgun along and returned home with a bag that included pheasants, sharptails, Huns, sage grouse, ducks and a pronghorn.

Best of all, I didn’t pay a dime for access to any of them! USA

Thirst For Energy Puts Wildlife At Risk

—Steve Ries of Top GunKennels & Native Dog Food(www.nativedogfood.com)

Page 10: USA Newspaper - Fall 2009

Page 10 The Union Sportsmen’s Journal

Let’s face it. Deer hunting is a popular passion for hundreds of thousands of people.

The days of finding a little solitude in the woods are largely gone for most of us. Dealing with deer that have faced intense hunting pressure is the norm.

That makes the task of targeting a mature whitetail very difficult indeed. Here in my home state of Michigan, finding an area to hunt -- unless you own the land -- that doesn’t have someone else hunting it is almost impossible. Believe me, I know all about hunting in areas with heavy pressure.

To say it can be frustrating would be a Booner-sized understatement.

But what are the options? You can choose not to hunt. That, of course, is not a serious option for those of us who love to hunt.

Or you can choose to hunt smarter than everyone else. Notice I did not say hunt “harder.” Yes, you must hunt hard. But there are guys who will spend an inordinate amount of time in the woods this fall and still never even lay eyes on a mature buck let alone tag one.

The key to beating the pressure is to use it to your advantage. As I write this, the Michigan archery season is in full swing. The weather is cool and people

are cranked about hunting. They are in the woods every morning and every evening. I’m not. See, it’s mid-October. By their very nature, mature whitetails are creatures of the night at this time of year. They prefer to move under the cover of darkness most of the time. Throw in a little hunting pressure and those deer will move exclusively at night.

The key is to understand that by placing high levels of hunting pressure on those deer right now, you are seriously impacting your ability to kill those deer when they actually will move during daylight -- which happens during the prerut and rut period.

To make the most of a difficult situation, I find myself spending a lot of time thinking about where bucks would go and how they will behave in relation to intense hunting pressure.

I’ll gladly sacrifice a beautiful mid-October morning of hunting in favor of a morning of long-range scouting.

I’m not really looking for deer. I’m looking for hunters.

I want to know how many hunters are out and how they’re accessing the areas that they hunt.

With that knowledge, I can then refer to an aerial photo and determine what routes the deer are likely using to avoid

those hunters.Most hunters simply aren’t very quiet

and they don’t pay as close attention to wind direction as they should.

If you know the route the other hunters use to access their stands, and the general area those stands are in, you’re ahead of the game.

Now, it’s a fairly simple matter of identifying travel areas of thick cover. That’s where the mature deer will be moving through.

When the rut starts to kick in, you can catch those bucks on their feet at three key time periods: First light, last light and, most importantly, midday.

I was fortunate to tag a mature 10-point last season with a droptine. I killed that buck in early November at 1:30 in the afternoon. The buck was completely relaxed as he scent-checked a thick bottom in search of does.

I am completely convinced that buck had never encountered a hunter during the midday period before. And it probably hadn’t.

Few hunters have the willpower to sit all day. But that can be a very productive tactic to employ in heavily-pressured areas during the right time of the year. This is a rut tactic only. I have never seen midday movement during other periods

of the year.Sitting on stand all day long is not

easy. You must be mentally prepared for the outing.

Taking along plenty of food and water not only keeps you warm and satisfied, it can also provide a little relief from the monotony of the day.

Hunting areas that receive heavy hunting pressure can be an exercise in futility. But sometimes that’s the only option you have. Hunt smarter than everyone else and you’ll fill your tag on bucks the “others” have never even seen. USA

Stay On Stand All Day For Mature BucksBy tony Hansen

>USA Member Story

When I was 13, my uncle invited me on a camping trip along Wisconsin’s Kickapoo

River. Our only means of transportation would be our legs and my uncle’s canoe, so we packed only the bare necessities.

It was a beautiful morning in central Wisconsin. I was in the front of the canoe; my uncle was in the rear. We were in a difficult section of the river with downed trees and shallow water full of jagged rocks, so it was my responsibility to pay close attention and direct my uncle away from obstacles.

“Uncle Ross!” I screamed. “Look, is that someone’s head?”

I was petrified, but the expression on my uncle’s face suggested he had seen this sort of thing a million times.

“You’re letting your mind play tricks on you. Let’s take a look,” he said

We paddled toward the object bobbing helplessly 20 yards downstream. We were within a few feet of it when my uncle froze, face white as a ghost. There was a severed head face down in the water. It

appeared to be of an older, balding male with a comb-over haircut.

“Don’t touch anything!” my uncle demanded. “I need to alert authorities immediately. I’m going to find the nearest road, and get a ride into town to use a phone. You need to stay here to watch our things.”

“What in the cornbread hell are you talking about? I’m not gonna sit here by this head waiting for its owner to wash up on shore. What if the murderer comes back and finds me? Then there will be two heads bobbing in the river,” I said, now crying.

“Brandon, don’t be silly. This thing has been here for a long time. If somebody wanted it back, they would have gotten it by now. This is not an option; we cannot leave our things here for somebody to steal, and I need to alert the authorities. Sit here on shore; I’ll be back as soon as I can make the call.”

Twenty years ago, we didn’t have cell phones. A quick phone call meant hiking two miles to the nearest country

road, waiting for a car, riding into town, and locating a phone. I sat alone (other than the dead guy) in the middle of the woods thinking that every sound I heard was sure to be my last, for roughly four hours—the longest four hours of my life. Finally, in the distance, I saw an entourage of vehicles with flashing lights and sirens. This is the only time in my life I’ve been relieved to see what appeared to be every cop in Wisconsin heading in my direction. And not just cops, there were media, firefighters, the coroner and, like some Marvel comics superhero, my uncle Ross leading the pack.

The media set up, the coroner prepared the body bag and the detectives readied their cameras. A raft was inflated and four men, including my uncle, piled in to retrieve the head. The scene would have done even the best crime show writers proud. The detectives began taking pictures of the face-down head and the surrounding area, talking to the group on shore about every detail.

Everything onshore and in the river that seemed out of place was photographed and documented. Once satisfied that all the critical information was gathered, the coroner reached into the water and pulled out…a duck.

The severed head turned out to be nothing more than a dead duck. It had obviously been there awhile, bloated and perfectly round.

Its flesh was completely pale, and most of its feathers were gone, all except those of a perfectly formed ring of soft down that possessed an uncanny resemblance to a balding man’s hairline.

It was the scariest and funniest day of my life. The experience taught me that no matter how well you think you know the great outdoors, it can and will always surprise you, which is exactly what keeps me coming back for more.

Share your best outdoor story with fellow USA members. Send it to us at [email protected]. USA

The Tale of the Kickapoo River ‘Bobber’By BRandon Romann, usa and iBew 292 memBeR

>In The Field

Page 11: USA Newspaper - Fall 2009

You Are Union. You Are Sportsman. You Belong. Online: www.unionsportsmen.org Page 11

There was a time when being limited to shotgun-only hunting for whitetails was a big disadvantage. Not anymore. Savage’s new 220 Shotgun is a bolt-action 20-guage that’s built like a Savage rifle. It features Savage’s renowned AccuTrigger and is built on the Savage 110 rifle frame.www.SavageArms.com

Savage Arms 220 ShotgunPlano’s All-Weather Series has been

improved.The weakest link on any case --

particularly those looking to seal out the elements -- are the hinges. The All-Weather Series now feature all-new 2-stage latching system with either standard or lockable designs. Each of the Pistol/Accessory cases (108020 & 108030) employs two standard latches and two keyed, lockable latches. Utiliz-ing six latches the 108190 Double Gun case will include four standard latches and two keyed, lockable latches. www.Plano.com

Grunt calls, bleats, rattling antlers -- all are very effective calls during the rut for whitetails. But what about those times when deer have food on their minds? Well, enter The Kruncher from Hunter’s Specialties. This call mimics the sound of deer munching and crunching on acorns.

Acorns are sought-after by deer in all parts of the country and the call not only can attract deer, it can also put deer already in the area at ease as they think there are other deer around feeding.www.HunterSpec.com

U.S. Made: Outdoor Gear For You.

Plano All-Weather Series

Hunter’sSpecialtiesThe KruncherThompson Center ICON Family

For years, Thompson/Center was known for its top-notch muzzleloaders. Now it’s making some of the best bolt-action rifles in the business.

The ICON family utilizes T/C’s “Foundation for Accuracy” and delivers certified MOA accuracy before it leaves the factory, which means you are buying a rifle that already delivers three shots in an inch at 100 yards.

Right now, T/C is offering a $150 rebate on all ICON rifles.www.TCarms.com

>Camo Calamaties

Getting HookedMy son and I were fishing near the end

of the day. We were going to try one last spot, so I replaced our lures. My son’s dog saw my lure as it swung out, and thinking it was something to play with, jumped at it. I saw it hit her in the eye, so I pushed her down on the floor of the boat. When she felt the tug of the hook in the corner of her eye, she freaked and scooted backwards, planting the barbs of two of the hooks in my ankle. I pushed it through, and my son cut off the barbs. Because of my knee replacements, I had to go on antibiotics, but the dog is just fine with no more than a little pinched skin.

Michael ParkerIAMAW Local 1833

Spring Lake Park, MN

Blunder BusI once lit myself on fire as I was refuel-

ing a Colman lantern while still holding the open can of white fuel in the other hand. I was riding the “BLUNDER BUS” that day, but boy did I learn from it.

Clayton BoltonIAMAW Local Lodge 946

Lincoln, CA

Trigger TroubleWhen I was much younger, I had a 10

gauge side by side with double triggers. I was kneeling down in 12 inches of wa-ter behind some cover hunting geese at a local refuge. When a flock came over, I raised the gun up with a finger on each trigger and managed to pull both of them at the same time. I watched both wads flying into space as I lay on my back with my waders filling up with very cold wa-ter, while my buddies laughed their asses off. And no—I didn’t hit a damn thing!

Brett GrahamIAMAW Local 839

Wichita, KS

Ever made a big blunder in the woods or on the water or enjoyed a good laughat another sportsman’s

mistake? We want to

hear about it. Send your calamity story to

[email protected].

Page 12: USA Newspaper - Fall 2009

Page 12 The Union Sportsmen’s Journal

You Are Union. You Are Sportsman.

You Belong.

Join the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance Today!Benefits of your $25 Membership:

• USA-logo Buck knife (for NEW members only)• 12 Chances to win in a Gun-a-Month giveaway• 1-Year subscription to a top outdoor magazine• $25 Gift certificate for Beretta field gear• Subscription to the USA newspaper• Free MyTopo.com online mapping subscription• Money-saving deals and discounts• And much more

www.UnionSportsmen.org • 1-877-872-2211

A $115 Value for just $25!

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