Trump and Officials Move to Expand Hunting and Fishing, Face Lawsuits
The Department of the Interior under Donald Trump is working to open 138 national wildlife refuges and 9 national fish hatcheries to hunters and anglers.
Oregon Bowhunter Gored by Bull Elk in Neck and Killed
A bow hunter in northwestern Oregon died on Saturday after being gored in the neck by a wounded bull elk.
Four Mississippi Men Charged with Federal Wildlife Crimes
Four Mississippi men are facing a slew of charges following a grand jury hearing for allegedly poaching turkey among other violations.
French Instagram Model Reportedly Receives Death Threats for Her Hunting Advocacy
A French Instagram model and hunting advocate has reportedly had to change her last name after receiving death threats for her work supporting outdoor and shooting sports.
Michigan Bald Eagle Comeback Is Win For Hunters
A 30-year Michigan study is confirming news that hunters and recreational target shooters are enabling wildlife to thrive.
True Grit: Hunter’s 2019 Pronghorn
The does turned and resumed their march in our direction. The buck stopped broadside at 223 yards and the rifle thundered. The wallop of the bullet exploding the heart was clear, and after taking a few steps the giant tumbled to the ground.
Newest Hot Rod on the Strip: Nosler Model 48 Long Range Carbon Chambered In 27 Nosler – Reviewed
When choosing a hunting rifle, caliber is an important criteria. Hunting in the west, I want something that can take down deer, elk, black bear, moose, and anything else that I may go out after. Because of the terrain, I also need a caliber that will retain energy to take game at distances beyond 500 yards.
Meet the Rat Hunters of New York City
New York City has a big rat problem. Thankfully, there is R.A.T.S. – a canine -led rat hunting outfit dedicated to the destruction of those unsightly little pests.
Texas Buddies Take Monster 460-Pound Feral Hog with a Knife
Two friends, Colton Roberts, 20, and Nathan Wright, 17, were hunting hogs for a local farmer in Proctor, Texas, when the pair landed a major catch.
Mountain Dew Will Help Cover Your Hunting or Fishing License in 2020
For 2020, the company is reopening the Mountain Dew Outdoor Stimulus, which will pay you if you hold a hunting or fishing license.
PETA Goes After Lion Hunter in Bid to Ban Trophy Imports to California
A lion hunter who killed an elephant in Africa seven months ago has become the center of a campaign by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to pass an anti-trophy-hunting bill in California.
Assembling an Alaskan Hunting Rifle: Part One
Once I had picked up the rifle from a local sporting goods store, it was time to add a scope and the various accouterments to turn it into a legitimate all-weather hunting rifle, capable of holding its own no matter what Mother Nature throws at it.
Poacher Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Killing Silverback Gorilla
A Uganda man was sentenced to 11 years in prison for killing a silverback gorilla.
Lesson Learned the Hard Way
Hunting in the West is full of unique challenges that need to be prepared for. Here are a few lessons I had to learn the hard way.
Archers: Beat Target Panic!
Are you tired of not being able to go to the range with your buddies? How about being sick of missing and wounding game? If you want to rid yourself of target panic and have the most successful fall of your life when it comes to making clean, ethical kills, read on.
Gear Review: Kestrel Monopod, A Must-Have Glassing Tool
The real genius of the Kestrel is its floating carriage. The frame your binos mount to is suspended on the shock cord that runs through the poles. That means that you can freely slide the binos up and down the pole. The shock cord takes all the weight off the binos so that they feel weightless in your hands.
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.
A Flatlander Preps for Western Hunts
These are the things I do as a flatlander, it helps make the summer doldrums go by faster and keeps me eagerly awaiting the first hint of fall.
Best Big Game Cartridge: Big and Hard-Hitting, or Small and Sweet Shooting?
Smaller calibers and cartridges kick less. They tend to be accurate and are certainly easier to shoot well. Loaded with a premium bullet they penetrate deeply and create a devastating wound channel. They do everything a big, hard-kicking caliber can do, right?
Benchmade 496 Vector – Field Tested
Benchmade does make a great knife. The 496 Vector is no exception. This knife is reliable and dependable each time you reach for it. It is comforting to have something that won’t fail in your pocket in a world full of uncertainty around us.
Maine Expanding Crossbow Hunting Rules for Three Years
Hunters in Maine are training to use crossbows this year thanks to a new rule expanding the tools people can use during bow season.
Simple Gourmet: Bear Kabobs
Kabobs are a terrific way to share meat. They’re fun to eat, everyone likes them and you can make them on the grill, over the fire, or in the toaster oven.
Budget Rifle Showdown: Savage vs. Mossberg vs. Howa vs. CVA
A team of shooters with varying experience went through, shot, and evaluated four, mid-range priced rifles from Mossberg, Savage, Howa, and CVA to see just what kind of bang for your buck you get in a mid-priced rifle.
Colorado Parks Commission Now Requires License for Hiking on Park Land
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission now requires that everyone using State Wildlife Areas or leased State Trust Land possess a hunting or fishing license first.
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.
Missouri Issues Five Elk Permits for Fall of 2020
In the state’s first elk season in a long time, the Missouri Department of Conservation, or MDC, is issuing five permits to hunters for this fall of 2020.
How to Assemble the Ultimate Western Big Game Rifle
There are as many differing opinions on what makes a great western hunting rifle, as there are western hunters.
Review: Alps Outdoorz Commander Pack+
Highly recommend this pack for any outdoorsman in need of a tough, well-made pack from a respected manufacturer.
Women Among Most Successful Python Hunters in Florida’s Everglades
The Burmese python problem in Florida’s Everglades has attracted all sorts of hunters looking for an adrenaline rush and a chance to help restore the area’s biodiversity.
Stopping A Bear Attack: Bear Defense is More Difficult Than You Think
Whether it is wild dogs, coyotes, mountain lions, bears or even a viscous domestic dog, get some training in stopping animal attacks and stay aware in order to stay alive.
Taking Hogs: Exit Wounds
Even though they’re pigs, they still deserve a humane death, besides, the less time you spend looking for a hit pig is more time spent looking for more pigs!
Study: Trophy Hunting Ban Would Exacerbate Biodiversity Loss in South Africa
A new study published last month found that a trophy hunting ban in South Africa could significantly exacerbate biodiversity loss in the country.
Field Test: QAD Integrate MX
When my new-for-2019 Mathews Vertix arrived with a QAD rest attached to the face of the riser and not mounted to the bow’s Berger hole, my mind was truly blown.
Danner Thorofare Boot Review
You wouldn’t buy a sports car then outfit it with discount tires, the same should go for your feet; footwear is literally where the rubber meets the rocks. Enter the Danner Thorofare.
Waterfowl – All Those Batteries
If you are like me, you have a myriad of batteries that run most of what you use throughout the waterfowl season. I have 6-volt, 12-volt maintenance-free sealed lead acid batteries. In addition, I have Lithium Polymer and Lithium Ion in multiples of 3.7-volt cells. Each has attributes worth knowing for use, safety, and storage.
Big Horn Armory Revamps their AR500 Monster Pistol
Big Horn Armory is back in the 500 Auto Max pistol business! The company has redesigned and improved its AR500 Pistol for 2020 and is now taking orders for this very big-bore AR-pattern handgun.
1,000 Yards from a $500 Rifle – Ruger’s American Predator
When I unboxed the Predator, I found a skinny little tapered barrel, a light composite stock, and a surprisingly smooth action. I say surprising because there was really nothing remarkable about the rifle other than the action. Admittedly, I did not have high expectations for the predator. It is a deceptively modest gun. Can a rifle that retails for less than $500 makes hits at 1,000 yards?
Knife From A Champion: The WR Fighter From Wolf River Forge Reviewed
As a gun nut, one of the things I take for granted is the value of a good blade. Because I am also an avid hunter, I am reminded yearly of this very thing. I have spent years of my life testing various blades, and most of them have left me wanting more from a knife. My current opinion is that a person needs many for a variety of applications, outfits, and events. You know, for specific tasks and fashion demands.
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.
My .410 Experience: Going Small Bore for Big Toms
I ordered a new .410 shotgun and a selection of shells, did some testing and patterning, and then headed afield to see if I could bring down a tom or jake with the little-bitty scattergun.
Field Tested: Rocky Waterproof Snakeproof Boots
If you hunt snake areas, do yourself a favor and consider these classic snake boots. Your life could depend upon it—literally.
2020 Gift Guide For The Father Who Loves To Hunt
Have a special someone in your life that loves to hunt? Father? Husband? Shirttail relative? Here’s a list of items that range from inexpensive to costly, little to big, subtle to showy. All are geared toward the serious hunter. All are awesome. Listed in no particular order.
Simple Gourmet: Smoked Bear Ham
All this meat can be served hot or chilled. If you have a food slicer, it’ll make terrific sandwich meat. Smoking is a good way to prepare a lot of meat for use later.
How I Killed A Bear With A BB Gun
I felt sore and disappointed and all kinds of things. I worked with hounds and horses, the same way humans have always done. It all leads up to the two-tenths of a second it takes a bullet to fly straight into my next meal.
Ohio Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker Cleared in Hunting Investigation
Ohio Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker was cleared of all charges in the case of taking one turkey according to anonymous reports.
BROWNING AMMO TSS TUNGSTEN TURKEY AMMO REVIEW
Now, a dead turkey is a dead turkey, and no kind of shotshell can make a turkey even deader. What they can do, though, is kill them faster, and from a greater distance.
Pennsylvania Teen, Stepson of Police Chief, Gets ‘Slap on the Wrist’ for Cruelty to Deer
A Pennsylvania teen has received two years of probation and a 15-year revocation of his hunting license after he and another juvenile were seen on video abusing a still-alive whitetail buck.
Fact Check: Is the Trump Administration Allowing Alaska Hunters to Kill Baby Bears?
The reports are technically true, but they leave out critical pieces of context.
Field Test: SEVR 2.1 Titanium Broadhead
I’m always a bit skeptical when a new broadhead arrives on my doorstep for testing. Though I loved the packaging — these heads had a lot to prove to live up to the hype surrounding them.
Tennessee Commission Votes ‘No’ to Hunting Coyotes at Night
The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission (TFWC) voted down a proposal Thursday that would have allowed hunters to take coyotes at night.
Missouri Clarifies Hunting Equipment Regulations, Clears AR Pistols, Atlatls
The Missouri Conservation Commission issued a clarification for hunters looking to take game with AR-based pistols outside of rifle season that cements what hunters can use, when.
Long Range Powerhouse: Christensen Arms Ridgeline in 28 Nosler – Review
Today, anything you buy from Christensen Arms has at least a sub-MOA guarantee and many of the models carry a ½ MOA guarantee. That’s an impressive feat for rifles that are extremely lightweight.
Jake Time: A Land Filled With Rio Grande Youngsters
In 20 years of turkey hunting, I’d never heard or seen so many jakes. Or been so fooled by so many of them. Big, brawny jakes, their gobbles loud and booming like mature toms.
Simple Gourmet: Foolproof Mother’s Day Pot Roast
This recipe will help you make a tasty meal of meat from the shoulder, one of the least tender big pieces of meat you brought home. It’s simple food, but it’s delicious.
Bullet Selection For Your Next Big Game Hunt
When looking forward to rifle season there are a few decisions that every hunter needs to make. The first decision is to select an appropriate cartridge.
Archery Field Test: Prime Logic CT3
The Prime Logic CT3 met and surpassed my expectations, and it definitely gets my stamp of approval.
The Worst April Fools Joke Ever
I froze in place and looked right at the fiercest predator in North America and I was sure he was looking straight at me. His yellow eyes were wide and sharp and his ears were forward. I didn’t breathe.
How to Assemble an Awesome Bivy Hunting Setup – Part 3: The Gear and the Gun
In part three let’s take a detailed look at the remaining essential gear, as well as great backcountry rifle setups. Remember; good quality gear lasts longer, works better, and offers the best chance of keeping you alive when the chips are down.
Baits and Lures for Feral Hogs
Pigs are not the dumb animal many think they are, but they are creatures of habit. Find the areas or foods they like and use it to your advantage. Change up the baits you use to lure them in and it can lead to more pork in the freezer.
Serious Punch! 50 Caliber Airforce Airguns’ Texan LSS .50 CF – Reviewed
Airguns are not limited to what they used to be: guns for training children on gun safety. These days, airgun technology is advancing to the point where we can shoot heavier projectiles faster than ever before out of production rifles. Because of this, they are a great option to take out hunting! This Texan LSS .50 CF will produce up to 750 ft./lbs of energy, which is as much as a .357 Mag or 44 Mag in some cases. Yes, this is hard to believe, but not when you are holding a 600 grain slug in your hand.
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.
Quail Creek Plantation, Florida Hunting Resort For Sale: $25 Million
The Quail Creek Plantation is up for sale for $25 million. The hunting and fishing lodge and resort spans 3,150 acres with a 14-acre lake full of largemouth bass.
Wisconsin Judge Facing Charges for Illegal Hunting Practices
A Wisconsin Judge is being charged with shining deer from his cabin, using bait illegally, and being a party to hunting after hours.
NSSF: Interior’s 2.3 Million-Acre Public Access Expansion Boon for Hunters
America’s hunting heart is getting a whole lot more room to roam.
Turkey Hunters, 20 and 7 Years Old, Shot in Accident by ‘Family Acquaintance’
“On a heavily forested ridge mixed with White Oaks and Pines, the acquaintance mistook movement of the boys as a turkey and fired at the brothers,” the West Virginia Natural Resources Police said in a statement on Facebook.
Fearing Food Shortages Amidst Pandemic, More Hunters Take to Woods
License sales are up significantly in many states across the country. Extra pressure could make finding animals more difficult than usual this Fall.
‘Luckiest Man Alive’: Australia Fisherman Survives Crocodile Attack While River Fishing
A man in Australia is counting his lucky stars after surviving a crocodile attack this week while wading in a river in the Northern Territory.
Stoeger M3K Freedom Series 3-Gun Shotgun: A Competition Ready Budget Option
Everyone assumes the best product always has the highest price tag, however, this is not always the truth. I want to point out some features that make the M3K FS 3-Gun Shotgun the best value for your dollar.
Simple Gourmet: Rockfish Lemon Reduction
This lemony sauce has a sweet side and the pears add a pleasant chunk to bite. A little cardamom makes it more sophisticated. It’ll bring some variety to that freezer-full of fish you’ve been whittling away at all winter.
Utah Recommends Cutting Buck Permits by 9,000 for 2020
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is proposing a 9,175 cut to the number of general season buck permits issued in 2020 in 19 hunting units throughout the state.
Man Attacked by Panther while Turkey Hunting in Florida
Hunter Jason Cook was stalking turkeys on a leased plot in Florida when he was attacked by a very rare predator, a panther.
The Rundown On Nikon’s LaserForce 10×42 Rangefinder Binoculars
For the past two months, Nikon’s LaserForce Rangefinder Binoculars have been in my bino harness, and that’s where they will remain come fall.
How to Assemble an Awesome Bivy Hunting Setup – Part 2: Water, Food, and Backcountry Cooking
This is the second article in a three-part series on the gear needed to be a successful wilderness-territory bivy hunter. In it, I’ll detail good gear and techniques for obtaining and purifying water, and carrying and cooking food.
McMillan MC3 Tradition Stock – Perfect Hunting Stock?
The Mc3 stock by Mcmillan should be a top choice for your next weapon build. The Tradition by Mc3 for Remington 700 BDL models is constructed of a glass filled proprietary polymer.
Review: Flambeau King Strutter Decoy
Decoys can be extremely useful but do depend on a number of factors such as the game or predator you’re after, the season, and the quality of said decoy. All that said, if you’re in the market for a high-quality turkey decoy there is one I’ve had repeated success with: the Flambeau King Strutter.
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!
Spring Spot & Stalk Black Bear Hunting
The key to locating a spring black bear is covering miles targeting areas that are rich with succulent new vegetation.
All The Rage: Taurus Hits A Home Run with the Raging Hunter .357 Magnum
The Raging Hunter is a fine revolver. I hope to use it afield this year to find out just how efficient of a hunter it can be, at what ranges and with which ammunition brands. Reports to follow!
NSSF: The COVID-19-Related Changes States Are Making to Hunting Season
Hunting is a perfect opportunity to be outside, alone or in small groups, enjoying nature and perhaps being able to bring home local game meat for yourself or to donate to others.
Trump Admin Taps Former Safari Club Lawyer for Fish and Wildlife Post
The Trump administration has hired a longtime Safari Club International (SCI) lawyer to head the international affairs wing of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
The Affordable Safari; Your African Dream Hunt, Part III
The bottom line is it was an amazing trip. The service, facilities, staff, food, professional hunters, animals, weather, and just the overall welcoming and accommodating attitude of everyone associated with Marupa Safaris was fantastic.
Two Moose Hunters Murdered in Alberta
Maurice Cardinal and Jake Sansom were shot to death on a rural road northeast of Edmonton, Alberta on Friday, March 27th. Their bodies were discovered outside their truck by motorists early the next morning.
Field Hunting and Farmers – Understanding Goes A Long Ways
The idea of hunting opportunity for many hunters is defined by public access. Others have private holdings and the rest access private property for hunts. Gaining permission to hunt on private property always begins with asking.
Premium Optic At A Fair Price: Meopta Optika6 4.5-27×50 Full Review
After using the Optika6 for a few months, I have grown fond of it. I’ve reviewed a handful of mediocre optics as well as incredible ones. I’d categorize the Optika6 4.5-27×50 under the incredible offerings. This optic is feature packed, extremely affordable for what you are getting, the optical quality is fantastic and you get a great warranty from a well-established company that will be here for years to come.
Building A Backyard Range
A few years ago, I began searching for a property that would accommodate constructing my own shooting range. To help get you started in the right direction, below are a few tips from my journey that I hope will help you construct your own backyard range.
206 Elk Killed By Idaho Fish & Game: What’s Going On?
There’s a been a lot of furor about Idaho’s Department of Fish and Game killing 206 elk that were causing trouble for private landowners.
New Jersey Man Sets World Record for Bow-Harvested Black Bear (700 pounds!)
It’s official! There is a new world record for biggest bow-harvested black bear!
Namibian Government Launches Campaign to Combat Trophy Hunting Bans
The Namibian government announced last week a campaign designed to combat the efforts of animal rights activists to ban trophy hunting.
California Man Fined $20,000 for Poaching Trophy Buck
A 70-year-old California man was slapped with a $20,000 fine for poaching a trophy buck.
Wisconsin Shed Hunter Finds What May Be the Biggest Buck in Wisconsin History
A deer and shed hunter in Wisconsin recently found what may be the biggest set of whitetail antlers in Wisconsin history.
The Affordable Safari; Your African Dream Hunt, Part II
This hunt was going to be from the Land Cruiser since there was no cover to even consider a stalk and the springbok was covering hundreds of yards each time we tried to get near it. After what seemed like an hour, Dolf decided it was time for me to use some of that ammunition.
Field Test: Easton Taper T64 Full Metal Jacket Arrows
Few arrows have won the hearts and minds of bowhunters like Easton’s Full Metal Jacket line. Some say it’s the branding. Others note the shaft’s racy look. Not me. I credit Easton innovation.
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.
How to Assemble an Awesome Bivy-Hunting Setup – Part One: Camping & Sleeping Gear
To bivy hunt effectively, you must have the right gear. It’s got to be good stuff, and most importantly of all, it must be super lightweight because more often than not you’ll be carrying it all on your back.
Leupold SX-5 Santiam HD 27-55x80mm Angled Spotting Scope Full Review
When hunting in the western states, the terrain is vast, open and hard to reach. Because of this, optics are an extremely important asset. To be more specific, good optics are important. In order to see bighorn sheep up in the deepest cirques behind the highest peaks, or mule deer feeding out of the dark timber across the canyon, a hunter needs an optic that will provide superior edge to edge clarity, light transmission and resolution to help them claim success in the field. This is where the Leupold SX-5 Santiam HD came into play!
The Ultimate AR for Coyote Hunting
Over the last decade, the AR platform has gained popularity among coyote hunters and it’s easy to see why. Ideal cartridge size, semi-automatic capabilities, and the ability to customize the rifle are just a few of the reasons why black rifles have found a home in the world of coyote hunting.
Simple Gourmet: Turkey Schnitzel
Turkey seasons are kicking off in many states this month. It’s funny that some people see turkey as the last hunt of the season while others consider it the first hunt of the year. Whichever camp you fall into, this simple turkey schnitzel is a good way to eat some of that “thunder chicken” breast.
Field Test: Badlands Vario System
During my treks across the West, I’ve tested more backpacks than Justin Bieber has hair gels. Why? Simple, a good pack can make the difference between an enjoyable hunt and a miserable one, especially once the game is put down.
Sure Shot Game Calls Cowboy Classic Limited Edition – SHOT Show 2020
The Signature Cowboy Classic comes in a wooden display box with a hidden hinge system and magnetic latch. The call itself is made from high grade walnut with a flat finish and features a laser engraved James Fernandez’s signature with call number and Sure Shot logo.