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Simple Gourmet: Smoked Summer Sausage with Bear Meat

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This summer sausage recipe is ideal for all those animals whose steaks are less delicious than you’d hoped. You can make as much as you like and store it in the freezer. It makes excellent sandwiches and terrific low-carb meals with cheese. Serve it at the Super Bowl party with cheese and crackers. And it’s a must-have for all your upcoming hunts this year. These sausages are a terrific way to share game meat with first-timers. It tastes like sausage and doesn’t have any particularly wild flavors. Friends will see that wild meat taste good.

Simple Gourmet: Bear Stroganoff with Wild Mushrooms

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This recipe is seriously hearty and the perfect thing after a long day hunting. Stroganoff is credited as being a Russian dish, and I gotta believe making it with bear meat is more Russian than using beef. Plus, you gotta save the cows to make all the sour cream you’re going to need.

Once In A Lifetime

When you draw a coveted tag you’ve waited a lifetime for, the preparation starts the day you pull the tag.

Finding Grandpa

I watched helplessly as the struggle carried them closer to the trail’s edge and a long drop below.

Burris Thermal Scope Plus a (Not) Boring Rifle = A Great Night Hog Hunting Rig

I dropped down onto the other side of the ranch gate and onto the saturated soil. I was hunting private property south of Longview, Texas, in early April 2021, and it had been raining much of the last 24 hours. It had been raining pretty steady for the last three days of my time here in East Texas, which made the fields and pastures even more inviting to the feral hogs that so love to root up the ground.

It’s Time To Hit The 3-D Trail

One of the best ways to break the routine, sharpen your bow shooting skills, and prepare for a freezer-filling fall is to pen the dotted line and enter a few (as many as you can) 3-D shoots. 

Handgunning Hogs: 357’s & 41’s

This is going to be a 3 part article of calibers suitable for handgun hunting feral hogs and we will deal with those calibers that are typically used in revolvers.  I will attempt to cover each group of calibers sufficiently and provide some good examples and information.

Handgunning Hogs: 357’s & 41’s

This is going to be a 3 part article of calibers suitable for handgun hunting feral hogs and we will deal with those calibers that are typically used in revolvers.  I will attempt to cover each group of calibers sufficiently and provide some good examples and information.

Wader Leaks & How to Repair Them

I recently discussed waders and the many options available for purchasing the right wader.  Once you have a new pair reality sets in that all waders will leak sooner or later.  Aside from warranty to make the repairs, often you are forced to make the repairs yourself after the warranty has expired or to prepare immediately for another hunt.  This is how to make the best effort at repairing those waders. 

Wader Leaks & How to Repair Them

I recently discussed waders and the many options available for purchasing the right wader.  Once you have a new pair reality sets in that all waders will leak sooner or later.  Aside from warranty to make the repairs, often you are forced to make the repairs yourself after the warranty has expired or to prepare immediately for another hunt.  This is how to make the best effort at repairing those waders. 

Darn Tough Socks: Lifetime Means Lifetime

Clay, are you really gonna write a column about socks? Yes. Yes, I am. Socks are an underrated part of your combat chassis unless you happen to be an ex-Grunt. For a Grunt, socks are of the utmost importance. If boots are the equivalent of tires, then socks are the air in those tires. A good sock can make the difference between arriving at your destination ready to fight, and arriving with blisters and boo-boos.

Field Test: Stone Glacier Sky 5900 w/XCurve Frame

I’m a bit of a backpack fanatic and I’ve tested piles of them over the years. One of the things I’ve learned is there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each adventure — from the whitetail woods of the Midwest to the elk-rich Rockies — requires a particular pack.

Wyoming Handgun Antelope

Handgun hunting tends to make every animal a memorable trophy. Although I personally prefer to take my handgun game at more sedate or reasonable distances. Knowing that the XP is capable of making solid hits on game at rifle distances allows me to carry it as a backup for those rare instances where getting closer isn’t possible.

Know Your Duck Calls – How to Clean, Repair, & Rebuild

If you are like me you tend to buy calls, use them, like them, hate them and move on to the next one.  Calls take a ton of abuse and often we pay little or no attention to taking care of them both for maintenance and for adjustments.  I sat down with a good friend and someone that calls as well as anyone I know, to discuss the call components and how anyone can disassemble, adjust, and rebuild just about any call with a few spare parts.

Know Your Duck Calls – How to Clean, Repair, & Rebuild

If you are like me you tend to buy calls, use them, like them, hate them and move on to the next one.  Calls take a ton of abuse and often we pay little or no attention to taking care of them both for maintenance and for adjustments.  I sat down with a good friend and someone that calls as well as anyone I know, to discuss the call components and how anyone can disassemble, adjust, and rebuild just about any call with a few spare parts.

Tag A Pressured Public-Land Longbeard with Archery Tackle

When I show up to a public-land hunt area, even if the location seems to be void of other hunters, I treat the dirt and the birds on it like they’ve been hounded to death. I’ve used what I learned to harvest pressured public-land birds with my stick-and-string. Here’s what you need to know.

Thermal Review: Bering Optics R-35 vs Hogster Stimulus

The Bering Optics Hogster Stimulus is no question fantastic for the dollar, if you are on a very limited budget. At $1599, you would be hard pressed to find something that will hang with it as far as capabilities go. But what if you have a little more in the tank? To answer that question, we took a look at the Stimulus side by side with Hogster R-35.

The Classic Jungle Boot

As I have returned to the Malaria swamp we call the Southeastern United States, I have also resurrected a classic boot to fuel adventures. It may be old, it may be far from stylish, but it should be on your radar if you live anywhere water is a way of life. I am talking about the classic green jungle boot. Tried and true, it still can’t be beaten for certain environments.

Michigan Rabbit Hunter’s Dog Bit by Wolf

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, is reporting an incident where a wolf belonging to a known wolf pack attacked a dog in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Hands-On with the Primos Gen 3 Trigger Sticks

I don’t shoot hogs from a blind here in Texas so I often find myself shooting from strange angles or on uneven terrain. Last year I did a review of the BogPod DeathGrip carbon fiber tripod and while it provided excellent stability…. its 7.5 pound weight made it cumbersome to pack up and carry across different pastures thru the night. I wanted to explore how much of a tradeoff I’m willing to make between stability and maneuverability.

An Optics-Ready Hunter: The Devil Dog Arms 5 Tactical 1911 in 10MM AUTO

Earlier this year, Devil Dog Arms (DDA) announced that its 1911’s were available in optics-ready versions, and I immediately asked for their 5 Tactical model in 10MM, specifically cut for the Trijicon SRO optic. I’d used and reviewed DDA’s 1911’s in the past and they were first-rate—accurate, reliable, and solid. But I had yet to use one of their 10MM models.

The Reality of Chronic Wasting Disease

Our limited understanding of the history of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) only goes back to the 1960’s in Colorado where a captive deer at a research facility became the first animal where the disease was detected. Read that sentence again.

Go Bow-Mounted For Turkey

I love a good ground blind set for springtime toms. A semi-brushed-in hub-style blind paired with some realistic turkey fakes will create some solid in-your-face action. However, being cloaked in ninja gear huddled in a blind’s back corner while you work a bird with seductive hen talk isn’t the only way to skewer a spring longbeard.

Simple Gourmet: Peak Refuel Backcountry Meals

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I’m all for making food from scratch, and this column is normally all about crafting tasty meals from the animals you kill. But when you’re planning to add the challenges of backpacking on top of the challenges of hunting, I think you should keep it simple.

Sheep Hunting Prep Ideas Pt. 2

Known for their awe-inspiring and challenging habitat, sheep are becoming increasingly popular to hunt so maximizing one’s opportunity if given the chance to pursue them is key.

Caring for Your Ammo Stockpile

What are the natural enemies of ammunition? Well, politicians, California in general, and as 2020 taught us, metal prices are all at the top of the list. But a not distant fourth is water and its little brother moisture in general.

Cooking in the Blind

One does not have to live through a day of waterfowl hunting on snack cakes, candy bars, apples, and jerky. I know cooking in the blind can be a full course meal as seen in some magazines, but here, we are talking about something good to eat, easy to pack in, easy to clean up and typically gets folks to ask for more. 

Bow Review: The Darton Spectra E

If you’ve never heard of Darton Archery, don’t feel bad. Prior to last year, I hadn’t heard of them either, but I had used them throughout my archery career and you probably have, too– I’ll explain

Waterfowl Waders – Prepare NOW For Fall

It is said a dry duck hunter is a happy duck hunter. For the many that hunt marshes, ponds, lakes, and rivers the need to enter the water is inevitable. Depending on the depth of the water you may opt for knee boots, waist waders, hip waders, or chest waders. 

DeWALT Battery Powered Chainsaw – Review

Yes. Chainsaw. Today we are going to take a look at what I feel is an underrated bit of survival kit, and perhaps the greatest labor saving device in the inventory. Now obviously, this falls way down the line from food, water, medical, and safety. (Safety means guns, stuff to feed them, and preferably friends with them.) But after those needs are met, I absolutely feel this is something you should be considering.

Hogster Stimulus: Best Value in Thermal Optics Today?

Thermal optics have long been the domain of the, uh, not poor. While some people have a job that can justify the upfront cost, it has not been a realistic option for the masses. Granted, prices have gone down. But not down to the point of accessibility to the masses. Until now.

Sheep Hunting Prep Ideas Pt. 1

Sheep hunting. Merely the words conjure up images of loopy-horned rams against a rugged backdrop of mountains carved into valleys by silty glacial runoff or clear mountain streams. Written and dreamt about by generations of outdoor enthusiasts, it’s easy to see why hunters’ love affair with the species only gets stronger over time.

Snow Mobility

If you live in a place with snow, you better be able to navigate it, otherwise your hunts are going to be restricted to places awfully close to home, or worse yet, put on hold until the season changes. er of options available today for methods of efficient travel over snow and I’m going to take you through the pros and cons of each that I’ve experienced.

Affordable Handheld Thermal – InfiRay CBL19 Full Review

The new infiRay Cabin CBL19 thermal monocular is now available to the US market, through a relatively new company, iRayUSA. It features a high-resolution display and a 384×288 sensor core. The result is a crisp, detailed image that’s able to detect heat out to 1,070 yards.

Simple Gourmet: Peanut Butter-Fried Rabbit

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This recipe is good for all kinds of small game that is fairly tender right away. Dove, chukar, pheasant, grouse, and rabbit are all good options. I wouldn’t use it on jackrabbits without tenderizing the meat first — brining would be a good option.

Pulsar Thermion XQ38

For many of you reading this and just jumping into the world of thermal optics, do not fret, it is not as complicated as some may suggest. While Thermal scopes are not cheap, they are an absolute game-changer in the world of night hunting. 5 years ago, I would have never believed how powerful of a tool thermal would become in my hunting game.

SIG’s Zulu6 Image-Stabilized Binos Review + Video

Stabilized binoculars are pretty rare on the civilian market, but they have a huge following in military circles. The stabilized part comes from an internal gyroscopic stabilizer, a mechanical device that makes them self steading. It is a weird concept, for sure. But in practice, it is basically magic. It really does work and is a game-changer for binocular work.

Lifetime Decoys FlexFloat Decoys

The innovation of decoys starts with an idea.  We all have ideas and often act on those ideas with designs of our own, but in this instance, Lifetime has moved to an outer orbit with their lineup of FlexFloat decoys. 

Decoy Lines

There are so many possibilities and rigging your decoys should provide you years of service with little or no frustration.  Time should be spent hunting not untangling decoy lines. 

Simple Gourmet: Fast & Tasty Meatballs

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With holiday parties and sports parties in full swing, you need this quick and simple recipe in your quiver. These meatballs are delicious on their own or simmering in sweet ‘n’ sour sauce as appetizers. Your kids will love them with spaghetti.

Simple Gourmet: Fast & Tasty Meatballs

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With holiday parties and sports parties in full swing, you need this quick and simple recipe in your quiver. These meatballs are delicious on their own or simmering in sweet ‘n’ sour sauce as appetizers. Your kids will love them with spaghetti.

Take the Shot? A Mature Kudu Bull Offers A High-Speed Opportunity

Lunging for my rifle where it leaned against a bush, I slammed a cartridge home in the chamber. A big broken-horned kudu bull broke from the brush, racing full speed from right to left. Swinging with him, I watched my crosshairs catch up, swing through, and pass his vitals. My finger closed on the trigger

Dakota’s Packable Mallard Decoys

Dakota Decoys are a product of the Midwest and Missouri River Valley.  Bill Willroth, the owner of Dakota Decoys and an avid hunter and media personality orchestrates their design and development.  His show The Grind is a great way to learn and enjoy waterfowl hunting. 

Going Green – Acebeam L17 Hunting Flashlight

Gearing up for a successful nighttime hunt doesn’t have to be expensive. A powerful flashlight paired with your existing optic can be used effectively out to 200 hundred yards or more for under $110. However, white LEDs aren’t ideal for predator/varmint hunting.