Bagging a Billy
Count yourself lucky if you ever see a Rocky Mountain Goat in the wild, let alone hunt one. This high-altitude hunt is not for the faint of heart.
Jake.Wallace
Squirrel Tamales
Following my last article about squirrel hunting, I received several requests for a recipe for cooking up these tasty little tree dwellers. So, I have decided to post one of the tried-and-true favorites in my house, Squirrel Tamales.
Pigeon Hunting – Hunt Year Round
If you are willing to expand your definition of the word “game” there is one critter that will allow you to keep your wing shooting on point and keep your dog retrieving during this drought, the Rock Dove or more commonly known as the street pigeon.
The Colorado Bighorn Sheep Hunt of a Lifetime!
One of the most iconic big game in North America is the Bighorn sheep. If you draw one of these tags, get ready for one of the greatest hunts in the West.
Snipe Hunting is No Joke!
It just so happens that the same wetlands that are frequented by ducks are also inhabited by another small, but fun water-bound species, the Snipe.
New Hunters – Advice for Jump Starting Someone Into Hunting
Many potential new hunters are becoming interested in hunting due to the food aspect, and as hunter numbers continue to decline it is more important than ever to help new hunters get into the field and enjoy the traditions that we love.
Turkeys: Public Land Diplomacy
We have all looked in the rear-view mirror while driving at 3:30 in the morning on the way to the local parking lot, only to get that sinking feeling in your gut when you see headlights. This is when you know that the race is on and your day just went from exciting and hopeful to competitive and rushed.
Shed Hunting – Tips For Success
As the hunting season comes to an end in late January, many hunters plan for the long drought of game and wait for the time when they can apply for next year’s tag draws or plant food plots. For many, the only oasis in this time period is turkey season. However, there is another way that we can pass the time “hunting” that serves a few purposes. I can promise that it will get you out into the woods before turkey season and it will help you see if the bucks and bulls, which you chased through the season, made it. An exciting and productive pastime that has become very popular for many outdoorsmen and women is shed hunting.
Turkey Scouting: Key To Success!
With a few quick scouting trips to a potential new turkey spot using these three simple signs, you can greatly increase your chances of taking a tom.
January Is a Great Time to Hunt Squirrels
This time of year offers a great opportunity for one of my absolute favorite small game species: Squirrels. The leaves are off the trees, but these crafty little survivors can be quite difficult to get on the ground this late in the season.
Late Season Still Hunting Elk
It was great to take such a unique bull in conditions that do not provide many opportunities for success, using a technique that is so high risk. So many times, hunters are restricted by weather and are helpless. In this situation, I was able to draw on experience and a little luck and make something out of nothing.
Late Season Mule Deer – Ultimate Predator Decoy Review
I drew a premium deer tag in Colorado this year, which just so happened to coincide with the mule deer rut. I had seen many advertisements for the Ultimate Predator decoy on television and social media and believed that this tag would be the perfect opportunity to see if the product was all that it was cracked up to be.
The Worst Antelope Hunt Ever
I was recently on a public land antelope hunt in Colorado. Like most Colorado tags, I had waited several years to draw this tag; five to be exact. I was very excited and enthusiastic about getting out and chasing around some speed goats.
Frog Cleaning
I have processed many different types of game and fish from bluegill to bull elk and everything in between. I will say that cleaning frogs is by far one of the most challenging for me to this day.
Frog Gigging
Frog gigging is a great way to spend some hot summer nights. Although they task delicate and refined, the act of gathering them is just about as far from that as possible.
Onx Maps App
Since we are so limited on the amount of time that we get in the field each year, it is crucial that we get to know an area as well as we can to maximize our chances of being successful. The OnX App can greatly help with that.
Squirrel Hunting – How to Do It
Most small game hunters start chasing squirrels only when the leaves fall off the trees and they are easier to locate in the canopy. I too love to chase these fuzzy tailed critters in the winter months, but if you want a challenge and some early season fun, I would suggest you get into the woods when the leaves are still on.
Pandemic Scouting
With all the free time we seem to have, some in-home scouting can provide optimal preparation for the next time we can get out and do what we love. While we are confined to our homes, there are a few great resources that you can take advantage of to plan for the fall season.
Turkey Gear For Success
As we emerge from winter and look forward to spring, there is only one thing on the mind of most hunters; turkeys!
Eastern Turkey Hunt
I had an opportunity to go back East this spring and chase the larger and more popular Eastern Turkey. I found myself on an Indiana family farm in late April. The Indiana turkey season opens up much later than most midwestern states.
Hunting the River for Ducks
The take away from this hunt was to always be flexible. I had my mind set on taking a nice deer with my muzzleloader, but because we took advantage of an opportunity that does not always get offered, I was able to have a new and unique experience that still put a lot of meat in the freezer and made for some awesome wing shooting.
Late Season Does
If you struck out during the regular early season hunts, these late season antlerless hunts can be a great way to get outdoors and add some meat security till you get another opportunity to hunt the more sought after antlered game. If you start to get nervous when you can see the bottom of your freezer like I do, then this season can be a great safety blanket heading into the spring and summer months, and with the low cost of tags, the risk versus rewards are low.
Early Season Goose
Hunting the early season for any animal is always exciting. You can often take advantage of animals that have not been hunted since last fall and this can lead them to make mistakes that they are not known to do as the season wears on. On this hunt, I was able to exploit the behavior of early-season geese.
5 Dove Hunting Tips
I think, without a doubt, almost all American hunters would agree that dove season is the unofficial start of fall and the official start to the fall hunting season. I don’t care which state you live in or what coast your closest to, all hunters are excited for the start of dove season.
Summer Scouting
It might seem that hunting season is too far away to start thinking about, but I can tell you that summer can be one of the most critical times to get busy and prepare for the upcoming season. I have three simple summer scouting tips that will help you feel confident and be more successful during your season.
Leftover Tags Are A Great Opportunity
When it comes to leftover tags, a little research can go a long way. I have a few tips that can help you wade through the bad units and come up with some potential great second opportunities.
Summertime Starlings – Hone Your Hunting On An Invasive Species
It can be hard to find hunting opportunities during the dog days of summer. The typical game animals are off limits due to the season structure that we have in the US, but with a little research, some opportunities are out there.
Elk Draw – Tips For Success
When the early spring rolls around, there’s one thing I can’t get off my mind; applying for upcoming big game draws. In today’s draw systems, there are two prevailing ideas for the distribution of tags, opportunity, and trophy. Opportunity places emphasis on getting hunters in the field and trophy places emphasis on developing a larger and older age class of animals.
Spring Turkey Hunting Is Coming and It’s a Great DIY Hunt Opportunity
We are fortunate enough to be living in the golden age of turkey hunting. There are more turkeys in the United States now than there ever have been before and to reflect this, more states than ever have turkey seasons. Turkeys are one of the most exhilarating animals to hunt because of their loud gobbles and their strutting action that they display to gain a mate.
Late Season Ringnecks
As the New Year rings in every Dec 31, most hunters believe that they will have to wait until September to get the opportunity to chase fur and feathers again, as most of the big game seasons have closed and for the most part the only season open is waterfowl. Although waterfowl hunting is a great pursuit, the barriers to entry can be steep with the cost of decoys and equipment. But luckily for most Americans, there is a large game bird that offers quite the challenge, the ringneck pheasant.
The Razor-Lite by Outdoor Edge
A Outdoor Edge Razor Lite knife broke at an unfortunate moment, but with the customer service and replacement knife received, don’t count Outdoor Edge out just yet.
The Last Minute Buck: Late Archery Season Success
Sometimes a hunt comes down to luck. My hunt was about to end early with a broken bowstring until I found a buck at the last moment.
Shotgun Patterning – How to do it
Need an intro to patterning? It refers to where you’d like to break a target, using the height of the shotgun’s comb to change where the gun shoots.
The Most Versatile Gun in the World
But, why I really love shotguns is because they are so versatile. Seriously, if you can find me any other gun that you can shoot a quail with at 15 yards and also shoot a whitetail with at 150, I will be very impressed. Not to mention all the different gauges, styles and brands.