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Minersville Reservoir Early Fishing 2012

May 22, 2012 – Fishing has slowed down a little after the crazy March and April.  Flies and lures are still working and fishing from a boat has still been good, but we haven’t heard any stores of 50+ fish for a while.

April 1, 2012 – Fishing has been fantastic.  We have heard stories of individuals catching 70+ fish in a day.  A few of those 23+ inch keepers.  The pictures have been great to see.  We will try to get some of them online for you.  Fly Fisherman seem to be doing the best.  Either with a fly pole or standard pole using a bobber.  Lures are also seeing success, but not quite as much.

February 29, 2012 – Minersville Reservoir has been having some recent success from boat as the North end of the lake is clear from ice.  We have had a couple sets of individuals come in that showed us photo’s of multiple 18+ fish.

Usually when the ice first clears, the fish are pretty excited to get some food.  Gold and White Jake’s Spin a Lure seem to be doing well behind the boat and Daredevils in the same colors.

Remember – Minersville Reservoir is a Trophy Lake.  There is more information on the Rules and Regulations if you visit the Division of Wildlife Resources website or in the Utah fishing proclomation.

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Big Game Hunt Applications for Utah

Time is running out to apply to hunt Big-Game in Utah.  The Deadline is March 1st for entry.

For many of the hunts in Utah, the number of hunters exceeds the number of tags available.  In General, the Hunt Application process starts in January or February, the draw results are usually posted by May and most of the Hunt’s are September through December.  Because of this, a lot of out of state hunters are too late to apply for the current year hunts and have to wait until the following year.

If you are interested in applying for one of the current hunts, you can visit the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Big Game Application.

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Big Game Hunt Applications for Utah

Time is running out to apply to hunt Big-Game in Utah.  The Deadline is March 1st for entry.

For many of the hunts in Utah, the number of hunters exceeds the number of tags available.  Therefore Most Big Game hunts in Utah are applied for in February, the draw results are usually posted by May and the Hunt’s are September through December.  Because of this, a lot of out of state hunters are too late to apply for the current year hunts and have to wait until the following year. 

If you are interested in applying for one of the current hunts, you can visit the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Big Game Application.

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Utah Hunting Checklist

Hunting in Utah is a great way to enjoy the beautiful outdoors that the state has to offer.  If you are new to hunting in Utah, this guide will assist in getting you prepared.

Most Big-Game hunts and areas are Lottery draw only and you need to read the proclamation for submission, draw and hunt times.

SOUTHERN UTAH BIG GAME HUNTING CHECKLIST

  • Get a proclamation from a local sporting goods store or visit the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and browse the hunts you are interested
  • Once you decide what hunts to apply for, identify the application periods for that specific hunt. Most big game hunts are applied for in January or February. (Even though most hunts don’t start until September or October)
  • Early Spring can be a great time to stock up on warm hunting clothing for your hunt. Look at the proclomation to see what clothing requirements they have for your specific hunt/weapon.  Some hunts require “Hunter-Orange” and others allow for camoflauge.  Most Sporting Goods stores have good sales on winter clothing in the spring.
  • Choose a weapon – It is important to have a weapon that is adequate for the animal you are hunting.  Having too big of a caliber or too small can cause unneccessary tracking and loss of animals. Don’t forget the ammunition. We have heard many stories of hunters getting up to camp and not having their bullets.
  • Knife – It is important to have a good knife to field dress your animal.
  • Rope – Rope is always a valuable resource when out in the field.
  • Medical Kit – I don’t travel too many places without a basic medical kit.  Especially when traveling on ATV’s or Horses, it is important to be prepared.
  • GPS – When tracking or hiking in the mountains of Utah, it is easy to get turned around.  Having a GPS will help in pinpointing the position of your camp or vehicle.
  • Water – One of the things that we learn in wilderness survival is to always have plenty of water.
  • Pack’s/Animal Removal – It is important to have a strategy in removing your game.  I have seen people use a Wheel-barrow, Horse, ATV and even back-packs to get their game out of the woods.
  • Weather Prep – The week or two before your trip, it is important to get an idea of the weather conditions locally for hunting.  Trail access, Clothing and the way you handle field-dressing your animal will all be affected by the weather.  It is good to get some local advice on conditions once you arrive at your destination if you are unfamiliar with the area.
  • Hand Warmer’s – Always a must in my pack – I have had many situations where these came in handy.
  • Walking/Hiking Stick – These have proven worth their value for those of you that are hiking hunters.
  • Flashlight/Tracking Lights – Flashlights have obvious value, but there are some lights that help in identifying blood trails for tracking as well.

There are multiple other things that are important when hunting in Utah, but this covers some of the basics.  Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

 

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Gun News Archive

This is a running archive of Gun related articles – Articles are written by staff of Beaver Sport and Pawn. Information has been collected over 20+ Years of being in operation.

February 8, 2012 – Springfield XD versus XDM – This article dicusses the main differences between two power house pistols.  The XD and XDM are becoming more popular every day!

February 13, 2012 – Hunting Checklist for Utah – What you need to do to get a hunting permit and what to bring with you when you do.

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Springfield XD Pistol versus the XDM

February 8, 2012

Springfield Armory XD versus the XDM

We are going to compare the data from Springfield, personal opinion and opinions of our customers to identify the difference between these fine handguns. This article discusses the differences between the xd and xdm only, not the Tactical versions.

Springfield Armory acquired rights to the US market for the croatian pistol the HS2000.  They introduced it to the US market as the XD-9 in 2002.  They have since added the XDM and multiple sub-models of each.

These guns have 4 different color types, seven models, 3 calibers and 4 barrel lengths.  I won’t go into details on each model and caliber, but give an overview of the main differences.

With these things in mind, we are going to compare the basic differences between the two guns, the XD and the XDM.

BARREL:  The XDM was introduced with a slightly longer barrel at 4.5 inches vs. the 4 inch version that was the XD.  The added length can add a small amount of increased accuracy, but I haven’t heard personally or seen online where the increased accuracy has made that big of a difference.  Either gun seems to be as accurate as most shooters will be.  The XDM also has the Match barrel, but again, the difference in accuracy would be noticed if the guns were placed on a bench, but most individuals won’t notice that much difference.

GRIPS:  The XDM was introduced with an interchangeable backstrap on the grip.  This makes it so that you can adjust the thickness of the grip for comfort.  The texture of the grip is also a little more serrated or pronounced making it a little stickier for gripping.  This can be good for keeping the gun in the hand, but can also cause the hands to gain calluses for more frequent shooters.  I have had both, customers that like the new grip and some that prefer the XD.

SLIDE: The XDM slide was given a more pronounced Serration for firmer gripping.  This feature seems to be less important as I feel the XD was easy to pull back and we didn’t receive or see any complaints about it.  I definitely don’t think that it was a negative addition though.

CAPACITY: The XDM holds more than the XD.  The XD-9 holds 16+1 and the XDM 9mm holds 19+1.  The XDM is slightly wider than the XD. The extra 3 rounds could be exciting for some, but for me was not a big selling point.

SITES: The XDM Sites are slightly different than the XDM.  The XDM site has been moved to the back of the pistol.  I haven’t heard any major complaints or praise for the new position.  I personally don’t see a real difference.

RAIL:  The Picatinney Rail on the bottom of the barrel has 3 positions for the XDM and 2 for the XD.  This extra position allows a little more freedom in using aftermarket accessories with your Pistol.

PRICE:  The XDM has a little higher price tag, but is worth it if the feel of the gun fits you better than the standard XD.  You may like the full size or the Sub-Compact better when you get it in your hand.

The most important part of selecting a pistol is to hold and even test-fire, if possible, the different models to identify what fits you properly and what you have the most confidence in.  Both of these guns have more accuracy and ability than most of us and will not fail you when you need them most.

Author:  Jason Pollard
Writer and Gun Enthusiast
Beaver Sport and Pawn

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Ice Fishing Kent’s Lake – Beaver Utah

February, 4 2012:  Kent’s lake has been accessible accept for a couple of weeks after the most recent snow storm (Late January 2012)

With the ability to drive up to the lake we have seen some great response from individuals ice fishing.  We have heard of multiple 2-3 pound Tiger Trout being caught and some nice rainbows.

Small Jigs, Meal worms and nightcrawlers seem to be the choice of fisherman visiting our store.  Green/Chartreuse and orange are doing very well for jigs.

Jason Pollard
Beaver Sport and Pawn

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News Archive

— Running archive for Sporting News from the small town of Beaver in Southern Utah —

 

 – HUNTING NEWS –

February – 2012

January – 2012

Summer and Fall – 2011

 
 – FISHING NEWS –

January – 2012

Summer and Fall – 2011

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Southern Utah Hunt Units

POSTED — January – 2012:  In 2012, the hunt units for Utah have changed from 5 total units to 30.  For a full map of the divided areas, please see:  DWR MAP PDF

You can also visit the DWR site for a PDF containing the ratios of Bucks to 100 Does.  I found this information interesting. — Buck/Doe Map

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Southern Utah Hunt Application

This year, 2012 the Hunt Application process starts February 1st.  All applications for hunts must be submitted by the end of February.  For applications, please visit the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

We recommend that even if you are not going to be hunting, you should submit yourself for the Preference points for your area. These Bonus points will assist you in the future.