It’s funny, but the meats we buy at the store just aren’t very flavorful. By contrast, wild meats have a huge range of flavors and some folks just aren’t used to that. You may have had the experience of someone saying they don’t like the gamey taste of wild meats, or maybe you’ve got a deer in the freezer that ran a marathon before dying and just has more flavor than you’d like. This simple spiced barbeque sauce is good for those stronger meats.
The last day of my Nebraska 2018 deer hunt, mid-November, and I had yet to see a mature buck. I also had a chest freezer back home less than a quarter full. So, when a group of white-tailed does step into the cut-over cornfield, I decided it was time to stock up on some venison.
As anyone who has spent much time living out of a pack in the mountains can attest, there are several key items that need to be thought of before one ventures away from the trailhead. Food, water, and shelter can make or break a hunt depending on the level of preparation that was put into each.
The right gear is essential for good hunting. Check out these 11 must-haves!
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is warning hunters ahead of the upcoming deer season to be aware of a strain of tuberculosis that can be passed from game animals to humans.
The first deer season under Michigan’s new baiting ban is about to begin, and hunters are far from reaching a consensus about the controversial policy.
In less than two weeks, four hunters have been attacked by grizzly bears in Montana in the same small stretch of wilderness in the Gravelly Mountains.
The son immediate took his father to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. Police are charging the man with “culpable homicide” and have confiscated their rifles.
Strangers quickly become friends in a hunting camp, especially veterans. Stories are traded of service, dates of combat tours are swapped and eventually hunting tales that have grown bigger through the years are retold to fresh ears.
First, the Pack Out Bags are designed to have one bag on the back and one bag on the front, like a mail carrier bag. There is a hole for your head to go through and very wide padded shoulder straps. There are also straps and snap-in buckles that keep everything together.
In the first of three experimental hunting seasons, select Alabama hunters will be chosen at random to hunt sandhill cranes.
Whether you are a seasoned dove hunter or a beginner, these tips can increase your odds of filling limits in the September dove field.
When it comes to setting your ground blind, there’s a lot to consider, and I see lots of ground-blind goers foil their waterhole plans with poor placement.
There it is! An answer! The best thing an archery elk hunter could ask for. It was a reply to my location bugle, deep down in a nasty Idaho backcountry hell hole.
Easy access to space-age technology has allowed hunters in the United States to scout more effectively, stalk more precisely, and bag more legal game.
Upland game seasons are opening in August and September around the country. For those of us in the West who seek punishment and frustration, that means chukar season.
Ruger has decided to enter the light-weight, long-range hunting rifle game with their appropriately named Hawkeye Long-Range Hunter Bolt Action Rifle. This gun is designed to be accurate, lightweight, user adjustable and tough. The light profile, stainless steel barrel contributes most to this rifle’s low weight and comes chambered in the most popular 6.5 calibers.
Both target-panic-stricken bowhunters and those looking to take their in-the-field accuracy to the next level are starting to take advantage of the single-pin system.
Well-regulated trophy hunting operations have had positive population impacts on a variety of species, including rhinos, markhor, argali, bighorn sheep, and many African ungulates, according to the letter.
“We went scouting a couple of weeks ago,” Sterling Walker told WLBT. “We know where some big ones are but we ain’t going to tell nobody.”
With outdoor gear companies churning out excursion-size packs at a fevered pitch, I was anxious to get Sitka’s take on the bread and butter of a backcountry hunter’s gear.
If you’re hunting near or on private land this season, make sure you get permission from the owner(s) before you venture out into the field.
“I’m your Huckleberry!” The phrase conjures up scenes of Doc Holliday facing down bad guys, eyes gleaming and fingers gently toying with the curvaceous grips of an unusual-looking revolver. And yup! This is the gun.
The thrill in many backcountry hunting trips is having the ability to experience some of the most beautiful, wild country on earth. The slow drumming sound of horse hooves striking the trail will take you far away from civilization. If you are booking an outfitted horse hunt the few tips below may help you to pack and prepare for your backcountry experience more efficiently.
Spanning six decades of rigorous use and counting, the Bearcat has carved a name for itself as an All-American rimfire six-shooter.
As technology advances, hunters have to keep up in order to maintain any kind of edge that they may have over their competitors when it comes to shooting the biggest bull elk or mule deer buck. AAC has released the Jaeger 30 suppressor in order to cater to the needs and unique style of use that hunters have. This means that the can is made to be rugged, lightweight, compact, versatile and have little or no first round pop.
The pair of hogs popped out of the South Texas mesquite over 100 yards away and made straight for the deer feeder. I shifted in my seat and got ready for a shot—and for my first hunting experience using the new 350 Legend cartridge from Winchester Ammunition.
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.
You’ve arrived for your hunt and are eager to go check your water sources. This is what to look for.
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.
Elk hunters take to the field each fall with high hopes of notching their tag on a big bull elk (or even a small bull or cow). Often times success slips through their fingers through a comedy of errors. I’ll cover a few big mistakes that can wreck your hunt, that can easily be avoided.
Large guns have a special place in my heart, as they do for most people. The Taurus Raging Hunter in 44 mag is a handgun that put a huge smile on my face the moment I held it in my hand. The Raging Hunter is well constructed. There is extremely little play in any of the moving parts, the cylinder locks positively in place with a dual latch system and the porting on the end of the barrel is not only attractive but reduces recoil effectively; making for a great shooting experience.
Wildlife management implemented a vasectomy program that’s run for three years, however, residents and officials want a better, more effective solution.
The Wildlife Research Center is responding to state bans on the use of scented deer lures in Minnesota, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
The Democrat-controlled state legislature passed the law nearly unanimously. It will allow school districts to opt into the hunter’s ed program.
One area of preparation that needs more forethought, but is just as important, is a hunter’s footwear. It can take months to properly break in a pair of quality hunting boots so starting well before you need them is key. Picking a pair of boots that will not only meet but exceed your expectations is vital.
“Most of the people I work within the wildlife law enforcement field love social media because some people can’t resist bragging,” explained Keith Wintersteen.
Activists use lies to gain support. As hunter’s, we need to find ways to communicate that we’re not a bunch of bloodthirsty hicks.
I am no different than the next hunter in that I always look for something to make my hunt better. My old blind bag was wearing out and I was glad when I got my hands on the new Old School Camo Blind Bag offered by Lifetime Decoys.
The Tuffpak is made from a rotational molded high-density polyethylene. The unique shape of the case allows you to pack up to 3 scoped rifles or 5 shotguns with room for extra gear. I recently had the opportunity to use and travel with the Tuffpak case and afterwards I wish I had known about it sooner- especially when I used to compete.
The Liberator12k is a project that combines common hardware store parts, some steel tubing and 3D-printed parts to build a revolving-cylinder shotgun.
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.
Marmots are among the largest critters in the squirrel family and are are a challenging hunt. They make their homes in rock piles and eat grass. Yup, I’m talking rock chucks.
On May 31, 2019, Texas Governor Greg Abbot signed HB 317 into law. It concerns a language change in the rules for hog hunting in Texas.
Robert Stalley of South Dakota successfully killed a deer and a black bear. But he was labeled a “poacher” when he tried to pass one off as the other and got busted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).
“What I was selling was first access,” Scott said. “It’s the potential that’s there. That’s what brought people. That’s what’s going to bring people by the droves next year.”
A doe in southwest Utah is enjoying an unusually long lifespan due to a rare condition that causes her to grow and shed antlers like her male counterparts.
Deer-related car accidents kill 200 people per year.
I’m not one to rely on a piece of untested equipment on a hunt unless I have a backup for it, therefore I started the fall hunting season with the Havalon Evolve multi-tool and Rebel in my pack, backed up with a couple of other skinning knives I had used previously. I was anxious to see how they held up over the course of several months of hard use, with Alaska’s and Montana’s big game seasons as the trial runs.
After looking the rifle over, I was very impressed with what I saw and felt. The rifle was hefty… and I mean really hefty. The bull barrel that this gun comes with adds a lot to it, but the advantage is that you can shoot all day and not see a change in accuracy. The stock felt good to me out of the box, but with the option to change the cheek riser and length of pull (LOP from here on out) I rearranged the stock so that it fit me perfectly.
The Gunwerks slogan is “1000 yards out of the box”, meaning a savvy shooter should be able to take a new rifle out of the case, chamber a round, dial for any distance out to 1000 yards, and ring steel. That’s an extraordinary claim, and one I was supremely interested in putting to the test.
A hands-on scouting foray for pronghorn isn’t always feasible. The good news: Finding prospective water sources where speed goats are likely to drink is possible via paper and online mapping systems.
I have worked waterfowl shows for many years. Some good some not so good, but I always look forward to the show season. My interest usually starts with a few flyers and catalogs I receive in the mail. I wade through these like a little kid with a new Sears Christmas catalog.
Hunting hogs with handguns is challenging. It adds a layer of interest and skill to a pastime normally undertaken with rifles. If you holster a handgun instead of slapping a magazine into your AR-15, being close isn’t just a fun test of your talent. It’s a necessity.
Familiarizing yourself with your weapon system components and personal marksmanship ability is the best investment that you can make to notch that tag during hunting season.
Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) has introduced a bill that could lead to a near-complete ban on hunting grizzly bears in much of the United States.
The Supreme Court has sided with a member of the Crow Tribe in Wyoming who had been charged and convicted with hunting elk out of season and without a license.
The total damage caused by elephants is also relatively small. Records indicate that over the past nine years 36 people have been killed by elephants, causing about $2 million in compensatory damages.
“I want you to know that in the state of Montana, these game animals are precious,” said Judge Harris. “And one of the very disturbing things to me in this case is that you shot these animals and mostly wasted them.”
There’s a brown paper bag in my freezer right now whose sole purpose is to keep me from seeing the last two pieces of Antelope meat from last fall. If I see them, I’ll want to eat them, but I’m keeping them in reserve so I can compare them side by side with black bear meat. I’m trying to figure out which of the two is my favorite.
Bowhunting takes time, dedication and requires a litany of gear. The better the gear, the better the chance dad will come home with meat for the freezer. Check out these 8 items and give dad something special to add to his stick-and-string arsenal.
Looking to make dad smile this June 16? We have you covered. Peruse the following items and select something special for dear old dad.
California is set to become the first state to ban the use of lead bullets for all hunting activities. The law, originally passed in 2013, will take full effect in less than one month on July 1, 2019, and will apply to all hunters taking any type of game with a firearm on public or private land.
Elk Mountain Tents have created a traditional style wall tent with some very innovative features while solving some of the issues that plague traditional canvas tents.
It seems so far off, that first day of the season. Reality though is those of us fully engaged with the management of a wetland need to start getting ready. I know you field hunters might not care so much, but this article might help you understand all that goes into being prepared.
The Texas sun was just beginning to drop below the trees, when I heard the strange bellow and grunt of an Axis buck from the top of a far hill. Glassing, I caught sight of the buck’s spotted coat moving between the live oak and mesquite, well over 600 yards away.
I had the opportunity to try out some First Lite gear this fall and couldn’t wait to put it through its paces. Until this year, I had only owned one piece of their clothing and had about loved it to death so I was anxious to see what the folks at First Lite had been working on. With several deer, antelope and elk hunts planned for the fall across Montana, I was confident I could put it through the wringer and see how the different pieces performed.
Let’s face it, in the AR-15 world it’s easy to get lost in the vanilla black-rifle weeds. We reached a saturation point of sorts with semi-auto gas-operated systems quite a while ago, especially in terms of plain black rigs offered by “manufacturers” who simply assemble branded components provided by true third-party bulk-producers. Even so, some not-so-vanilla iterations have certainly risen above the others and deserve to be called out. The Brenton USA Ranger Carbon Hunter is one of them.
The first time I hefted Browning’s new Cynergy, it left me feeling pleasantly surprised and excited to take it afield in pursuit of gobblers. The shotgun is lightweight, well balanced, carries pleasantly, and comes to the shoulder nicely.
During hunting season, it can take days or weeks to locate the animal that you are pursuing and you may only have seconds to take a shot. As hunters, we must quickly evaluate how much time we have to build a shooting position, establish the distance to the target, wind speed, and shot angles.
Built on the Browning’s X-Bolt action, the Max Long Range comes ready for long range.
President Jackson was notorious for settling his differences with his fellows via gunfire. Estimates hold Jackson as having participated in between five and one hundred duels over his long and craggly life.
As all good stories begin, it all started when someone threw out a crazy Idea: “Let’s go shoot a mountain goat in Alaska.” said Ben jokingly, yet serious. I don’t think he ever expected Don to agree. From this moment on, these two men were hanging on for a ride that they were just barely prepared for mentally, physically and emotionally.
Folks from across North America gathered in Boise, Idaho last weekend at the annual meeting of the world’s fastest growing conservation group, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.
Bushnell has been all over the map in recent years, in terms of levels of products. They have spent a lot of time solidifying their place at the table on high-end products, like the XRS and HDMR, both contenders in military circles. Then they will turn around and introduce sub $200 scopes, such as the Engage series. It can get a bit, well, confusing. So I am very happy with what seems to be a recent change to the product lines.
Having clearly stated goals will tell you if you need to spend extra time with your dog doing more drills to meet one of those goals, or if you need to add to your goal list.
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.
Minnesota legislators passed a ban on hunting wolves by a single vote in advance of potential federal hunting deregulations.
The only thing better than hunting for yourself is hunting with your kids. When they successfully kill an animal and are excited about eating it, it makes you feel like you’re teaching them right.
In a strange and unexplained course of actions, tech giant Google banned and then reinstated an innocuous ad by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), drawing ire both from Donald Trump, Jr., and from two U.S. Congressmen.
Hunting boots can be a topic of great debate. For warm weather boots, I’ve found a brand that has been impeccable—and made from exotic leather no less.
Staying comfortable while waiting on deer has the fantastic side effect of, well, being able to stick around and wait for deer. Fortunately for me, sitting against trees was cool this year despite my admittedly bad back and it was all thanks to the latest pack from ALPS OutdoorZ: the Enforcer Predator Pack.
Renaissance man Joe Rogan explained the benefits of hunting to vegan actor Russell Brand recently, on his podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
Colt’s Manufacturing is following up on their recently redesigned and relaunched King Cobra with the new Carry model.
Smith & Wesson is rolling out three new Performance Center pistols, expanding the M&P Shield EZ series of easy-to-use .380 ACP pistols.
Keystone Sporting Arms is kicking off a new series of mini rifle replicas of World War I and II rifles starting with a Mosin-Nagant chambered for .22 LR.
One of Remington’s most practical rifles is the Model Seven Threaded, which features a short, threaded barrel, a hydro-dipped synthetic stock, and a one-piece scope base.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is making the move to 9mm Luger and issuing all-new compact and full-size Glock pistols to its personnel.
Rolling your own is cheaper than buying new ammo. You may even get a more accurate and reliable round. The bad news? If you don’t… Read More »Start Reloading the Right Way With Lyman’s 50th Edition Reloading Handbook
Turkey season has arrived which means we are packing up our gear in preparation to hit the field. In addition to our tried and true turkey essentials, it’s not too late to make a few additions of some great new products, just in time for turkey season.
Many people don’t realize it, but Texas is home to tens of thousands of free-ranging aoudads, Axis deer, blackbuck antelope, fallow deer, and nilgai, among others, none of which originated on the North American Continent much less the Republic of Texas.
How can you get your dog to be more attentive to you without getting pushed to your limits when it’s time to enjoy the moment you’ve been waiting for?
The chances are that you don’t hunt enough rabbits, which is really too bad. They are tasty, challenging, and a fun way to get outside.… Read More »You Should Hunt More Rabbits
This stew is like a chicken soup—in fact, if you didn’t tell anyone it was rabbit, they’d assume it was chicken. It’s hearty and doesn’t take a lot of prep.
This may seem like an odd comparison, but I cannot count the number of times I have been in a gun store listening to either the “gun guru” behind the counter, or the “expert sniper” on the other side talking about how the 6.5 Creedmoor is like a 300 Win Mag without the recoil. The 6.5 Creedmoor is also touted as a long range big game caliber like the 300 Win Mag.
Keith Olbermann issued a public apology for comments he made about a turkey hunter, calling on followers to “make sure the rest of his life is a living hell.”
SCOTUS ruled unanimously last week in favor of an Alaska man who wanted to hunt moose using a hovercraft on the Nation River in the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve in northeast Alaska.
Iowa legislators are holding a hearing about a bill, Senate File 521, that would make it legal to hunt geese on some private property.
In what could be a classic case of a solution in search of a problem, the New York state legislature has voted to lower the threshold for hunting while intoxicated from a blood-alcohol level of 0.10 to 0.08.
Legendary Arms Works is back in business and that’s a good thing. They’ve made a great pair of rifles: The Professional and The Big Five.