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winchester.com IN 1866, Oliver F. Winchester introduced a legendary brand to the world. For over 150 years since, generations upon generations across the globe have experienced life with Winchester. WINCHESTER AMMUNITION. BORN IN THE USA. Winchester is the largest small caliber ammunition enterprise in the world and the leader in delivering innovative ammunition products to hunters, sport shooters, law enforcement and the U.S. Warfi ghter. WINCHESTER AMMUNITION. BUILT IN THE USA. WHERE CAN I BUY WINCHESTER AMMUNITION? Visit Winchester.com to fi nd a dealer near you!44 THIS IS RICH Being half of Big & Rich is just a fraction of what John Rich does. by jim hannaford 50 PACKED The West’s wolf dilemma. by kris millgate 56 IDITAROD The last great race on earth. Mushing 1,000 miles across Alaska. by lew freedman TABLE OF CONTENTS JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2022VOLUME FIVE, ISSUE ONE WISDOM The great outdoors. THE GUN SHOW EDITOR’S PICK The heated core IconX pant and vest. THE BUILD Building the ultimate AR-15 pig rig. 06 08 FULLY LOADED Behold, the P320 XCarry Spectre from Sig Sauer. HOW TO 10+1—ammunition to win your own gun-rights debate. 34 38 33 26 EDITOR’S NOTE 04 13 16 18 23 HAPPY HOUR The weird but true story of the sourtoe cocktail. GOOD GRUB Labskovs—the Scandinavian comfort food you are missing out on. JAMMING OUT Country music star Chase Rice relishes time in the great outdoors. THE WILD LIFE Lena Miculek: Big impacts on and off the range. 62 TROPHY ROOM Jennifer Irene, competition shooter and trainer at Taran Tactical. 64 LAST LAUGH Inheriting guns. CAN YOU SPOT THE HOOK & BARREL CRITTER? Each issue, the Critter is hiding somewhere in the table of contents picture. Happy hunting!HOOKANDBARREL.COM | @HOOKANDBARRELMAG 03 IDITAROD The last great race on earth. Mushing 1,000 miles across Alaska. by lew freedman EDITOR’S PICK The heated core IconX pant and vest. THE BUILD Building the ultimate AR-15 pig rig. FULLY LOADED Behold, the P320 XCarry Spectre from Sig Sauer. HOW TO 10+1—ammunition to win your own gun-rights debate. TROPHY ROOM Jennifer Irene, competition shooter and trainer at Taran Tactical. LAST LAUGH Inheriting guns. DEER UNCLE TED ell good on you Mike! You are exactly the kind of American that makes America great every day! There is a plethora of damn fine holsters out there both for concealed and open carry, but when handgun hunting, I prefer the chest rig as manufactured by the Anderson family at NWretention.com and by Mike Barrett and team at Diamond D Custom Leather out of Wasilla, Alaska. The design and positioning of these rigs make for ultimate ergonomic and tactical access while retaining the weapon close to the body, both inside and outside the jacket. And remember too that currently the government of the United States is violating their oath to the U.S. Constitution by infringing on our God-given individual right as guaranteed by the Constitution to keep and bear arms. Like all other self-evident truths and American rights, no paperwork, permits, or licenses are required to exercise our God-given rights. Let us fight harder than ever to get our 2nd Amendment back as it was written. Good hunting, aim small miss small. Ted & family W I joined the NRA and GOA due to all your raising hell on hundreds of media interviews over the years and have really come to realize now more than ever how critical it is to stand up for the 2nd Amendment. I also started handgun hunting with my S&W Model 29 .44 magnum using Remington 240grain soft-points like you wrote about long ago. In Illinois, I can carry my pistol exposed while hunting, but with a concealed weapons permit I can also carry concealed. What is your favorite rig for carrying in the field? Good hunting, MIKE T. ELGIN, ILLINOIS To ask Ted Nugent your question, simply email him at UncleTed@hookandbarrel.com. Maybe you’ll see his response in a future issue! Ted Nugent is an award-winning musician and writer, with numerous best-selling books including Ted, White and Blue: The Nugent Manifesto, God, Guns and Rock ‘n Roll, and Kill It and Grill It. Also, his popular television show, Spirit of the Wild, has aired over 500 episodes. All material is strictly copyright protected and all rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the copyright holder. All prices and data are correct at the time of publication. The views and opinions expressed in Hook & Barrel are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the advertisers. Any images supplied are at the owner’s risk and are the property of the Hook & Barrel Magazine. All content is owned in full by Hook & Barrel Magazine. Proudly Printed in America Hook & Barrel is a proud partner in the PrintReleaf program. PrintReleaf guarantees every sheet of paper we consume in the production of our magazine will be reforested. New trees are planted on our behalf in PrintReleaf Certified Reforestation Projects across the globe. John Rich—one half of the multi-platinum duo Big & Rich, owner of Redneck Riviera brands, and host of TV’s The Pursuit with John Rich— continues to grow his portfolio and his commitment to Folds of Honor. Photo Credit: Jason Davis ON THE COVER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF John J. Radzwilla CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Natalie Radzwilla MANAGING EDITOR Lee M. Hurley CREATIVE DIRECTOR Claire Cormany COPY EDITOR Barry Wise Smith OFFICIAL FFL Black-Tie Guns EDITORIAL OFFICE 1012 W. Eldorado Parkway P.O. Box 183 Little Elm, Texas 75068 214.997.1118 hookandbarrel.com CONTACT THE EDITOR editor@hookandbarrel.com FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES advertising@hookandbarrel.com EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Materials to be considered for use in Hook & Barrel Magazine should be emailed to editor@hookandbarrel.com or mailed to editorial office. Not responsible for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, or other materials. Returns only when accompanied by return postage. We do not recommend sending original photography or artwork. SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe or manage your subscription to Hook & Barrel Magazine, visit www.hookandbarrel.com.04 @HOOKANDBARRELMAG | HOOKANDBARREL.COM EDITOR’S NOTE y first draft of this Editor’s Note was riddled with aggressive determination for this new year, but at the cost of heavy handed, “Screw the BS of the last two years” attitude. Well, you know what, that’s not the attitude I wanted to carry into 2022. Maybe, I was just frustrated with all that is going on, the “new (not so) normal” propaganda, politics, the media, and people in general, but that “my give-a-damn broke” attitude most likely won’t get me anywhere anyways (as much as I wish it would). With the Christmas trees coming down and the holiday spirit slowly receding, it’s back to reality. But, that reality seems to be returning somewhat back to normal. We are seeing trade shows reopen, big events popping up again, and the mainstream media moving on to its next over-exaggerated, hyped-up story. One of the events I am most excited about is finally returning to Vegas, the annual SHOT show, the world’s largest industry gun show. This year they are boasting a floorplan bigger than any other year in history (800,000 square feet!). The optimist in me is delighted, but the pessimist in me tends to believe there is a hidden reason—which most likely is the case. I am betting there is some sort of directional walking mandate, and given the show floor is typically set up like a Pac Man map, this ought to be interesting. Regardless, I am excited to see all the new goodies that the firearms industry has to offer, reunite with industry friends and partners, and beyond anything, report back to you about what we discover. For a quick preview, check out the “Gun Show” in this issue. These are some of the latest models from our favorite manufacturers (page 8). Another article to give a good read is our cover story. There’s a lot to like, but John Rich’s mantra of “Work Hard, Play Hard” really rings loud in my mind (page 44). Over the last two years we have worked our butts off, but this year, when it comes to playing hard, I am resolving to fully do so. Here at H&B, we have been solely focused on business, and why not, nothing was going on anyway! But, this year, with hope nearing on the horizon, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Kind of like Chase Rice (page 18) taking up new hobbies other than non-stop country music tours. This year I hope to take advantage of my time and find opportunities for my hobbies and maybe even pick up some new ones. (Though I can guarantee it will not be buffalo ranching like Chase Rice). Who knows, maybe I’ll take up dogsledding like the athletes of the Iditarod (page 56)? Just kidding—that won’t be happening either. I hate being cold, hence my Editor’s Pick on page 33. I think that reflecting on the last two years though, some of us have found ourselves in a depressed state, and all of us found ourselves in a world full of conflicting opinions. This year, I resolve to move on, accept what I must accept as “normal,” and go about living the life I have been blessed to live. I am all for standing up for what is right, but some- times you have to choose what battles to concede in order to win the war. If your give-a-damn is broken (like mine is), let it still function in a positive way as much as possible this year. I am glad I took a deep breath and chose to re-write my note, because the truth is, no matter how hard we try, we have always shared and will continue to share this planet with morons—just now they are in-the-car-by-themselves- with-the-window-down-and-a-mask-on-still-texting-and- driving, morons. Cheers to the new year, John J. Radzwilla editor-in-chief Welcome to 2022. M Take a deep breath, be understanding, and savor the new year.Hit the Apex of Hunting with Ravin’s X Factor Silent Draw The R26X takes the compact R26 platform and adds the highly-desired silent cocking feature to give you a whisper quiet draw every single time. The blazing speed and slim frame that makes this bow such a killer stay the same, but the color is new—all black. SILENT CRANK 400 FPS SPEED (400 GR.) 26” 5.75” The R26X. This allows the cams to rotate an in- credible 340 degrees, while both cams remain perfectly level when drawing and shooting the crossbow. POWERED BY06 @HOOKANDBARRELMAG | HOOKANDBARREL.COM THE BEAUTY OF WINTER In January and February, early morning frosts leave pearls of ice sparkling like diamonds. Last year’s leaves lie frosted on the ground, and fields burst forth in the beauty of frost flowers. Icicles add beauty to a forested bluff. Trees stand starkly in fields and woodlands and have a particular beauty in their bare form. Woods are quiet, except for the twittering of occasional flocks of small birds moving through and the clattering of bare branches in the wind. Winter birds are different from the summer ones. Many species have migrated southwards. Waterfowl that stayed around are a special attraction as are other wildlife that can now be seen as they travel. Winter lakes and wetlands take on a particular character with mists over the water and the chill in the air. Take some time to get out and enjoy the beauty of winter. WHY WE NEED TO CONTROL COYOTES Coyotes are predators that have little or no competition, and their population is exploding. They are the most adaptable animals in the world and can now be found throughout the entire United States including urban America. Each coyote needs two to three pounds of food per day. They will eat trash, cat and dog food, your cat and dog, rabbits, new born calves, other livestock, and even full- grown deer. In some places they are responsible for up to 96 percent of deer fawn mortality. They will travel up to 100 miles to find their next meal. A female coyote can birth four to 12 coyotes in a litter. The average lifespan of a wild coyote is 10 years, and they are ready to mate at 20 months. That means, a female coyote can potentially give birth to more than 120 coyotes in its lifetime. Their only natural predators are bears, mountain lions, and wolves, which do little to control them. It is a serious problem that needs to be helped by hunters and even trappers. DID YOU KNOW? Did you know the shooting sports can be good for your personal well-being? Target shooting is not only a great sport for keeping you active, it also builds self-esteem, confidence, and is an excellent way to spend your downtime as well as develop lasting friendships. It is also proven to have measurable health benefits both physical and mental. You have a choice how you use your time this year. You can spend your time worrying about the economy, politicians, pandemics, or the mess this crazy world is in, or you can spend your time teaching others how to enjoy our great outdoors. Why not learn how to do something new in the outdoors? You can spend your time in front of the TV watching what is supposed to be funny but isn’t, listen to negative news that depresses by larry whiteley The great outdoors. WISDOM WELCOME TO 2022 you, or you can spend time camping with your family watching the stars or a beautiful sunset reflecting in the water as you reel in a fish. You can spend your time texting, on Instagram, Facebook, and all the other ways you can communicate through social media. Or, you can be out hiking or hunting with friends communicating face-to-face about the mountain vistas or the wildlife you see. What 2022 brings in your personal life is up to you. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT “Each New Year, we have before us a brand-new book containing 365 blank pages. Let us fill them with all the forgotten things from last year—the words we forgot to say, the love we forgot to show, and the charity we forgot to offer.” PEGGY TONEY HORTONGulfShores.com OrangeBeach.com 877-341-2400 ...like watching your kids building sandcastles, spotting a dolphin pop out of the water, or enjoying a delicious waterfront dinner after a day packed with activities. Rediscover fun, food, and family on Alabama’s beaches. IT’S THE THINGS... simp le 7058_2022 Hook & Barrel, Jan/Feb.indd 111/19/21 4:49 PMNext >