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How to Improve the Reliability of AR’s Chambered in 7.62×39

an impressive round that too often gets written off as being only good for magdumps and plinking. I use it on hogs and whitetail with excellent results and it’s ballistically comparable to 30-30. I love this round chambered in the familiar AR platform because it gives you a bit more power in a lighter package.

Go Lightweight Out West

Elk are great movers, and during the rut, bulls will cover massive amounts of terrain in search of love. Be ready to traverse terrain and make a quick shot if you want to head home with horns for the wall and backstraps for the grill.

Optics Matter!

When it comes to hunting gear, there are certain items you can skimp on — look for a deal — take the low-end route. Optics aren’t one of these items. Few gear pieces will make or break your success, especially when hunting the west, like quality optics.

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.

Moose Logistics of Alaska

As our air speed drained and the plane descended, a gust of wind came over the top of the ridge and hit the airplane on top of its wings and we dropped into the brush just short of the strip.

Dorsal Caping Your Trophy In the Field

A hunter doesn’t have to be a taxidermist-in-training to cape their own animals; some practice and preparation can give a hunter many more options when they’re in the field staring at that animal of a lifetime, wherever it may be.

Tips For A Better Fitting & Shooting Hunting Rifle

The success of any hunt falls on the shoulders of the shooter and their ability to properly place the bullet with accuracy. As marksmen and hunters, we want to be certain that we have done everything possible to make that first shot count. Having a well-fitted weapon system and good ammunition leaves it only up to the marksman to make it happen.

Tips For A Better Fitting & Shooting Hunting Rifle

The success of any hunt falls on the shoulders of the shooter and their ability to properly place the bullet with accuracy. As marksmen and hunters, we want to be certain that we have done everything possible to make that first shot count. Having a well-fitted weapon system and good ammunition leaves it only up to the marksman to make it happen.

Decoy Spreads with Water Motion

You likely have read about every possible scenario for waterfowl and specifically duck decoy spreads.  The J-hook or “J” spread, the “U” spread, the “L” spread, and finally the “X” spread.  Add to this the “C” spread or total chaos spread and that should about cover the possibilities.  I have used them all and what I have learned over the years is if the ducks want in, they will come in, regardless of the wind direction, exposed hunters, poor sets, or movement. 

Woox Now Making Stocks for Ruger 10/22s

Woox, the rifle stock and outdoor equipment company, is officially announcing that they are making stocks for the hugely popular Ruger 10/22 family of rimfire rifles.

Sitka Kelvin Aerolite 30 Sleeping Bag Review

I had packed the Aerolite for this hunt knowing the propensity for moisture where I’d be hunting. I was eager to see how it lived up to the claims of a durable, lightweight mountain hunting bag that retained its insulation value when wet.

Simple Gourmet: Perfect Wild Game Steak with Garlic Butter

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Our elk and antelope steaks are richer and more satisfying than anything you can buy at a steak house. They’ve simply got more meat in every bite, not to mention all the microminerals we ingest by eating animals that graze on a variety of plants.

AllTerra Arms’ Mountain Shadow Steel: The Lamborghini of Rifles?

AllTerra Arms is a semi-custom rifle manufacturer in my home state of Idaho that used to be known as “Axial Precision.” These guys produce some top-tier hunting rifles with 1/2 and even 1/4 MOA guarantees, and I finally got my hands on one. The Mountain Shadow Steel is one of their steel barreled options, and it happens to be the model that I’m testing.

Lucky 4 Slot Motion Backpack

Recently at a Midwest waterfowl show, I saw the new Lucky Duck 4 Slot Motion Backpack and I was amazed at the attention it drew.  Hardly a single person walked by without handling, exploring, commenting, and eventually buying one of three versions. 

Tips for Selecting and Using Elk Calls

Whether you are a new elk hunter, or you have been elk hunting for years, there is a lot that goes into being effective at calling elk. With so many different calls on the market, it can be a daunting task trying to select an elk call because each one has its own unique design features that create a unique spectrum of sounds and fit within your mouth.

4 Tips To Better Meat Care

If you take the time to care for your meat correctly, you’ll have a happy processor, and it will be some of the best-tasting game you’ve ever prepared.

Mountain Hunting Emergency Preparedness

Hunters by nature have a bit of an independent streak; your average person doesn’t get their kicks from arising in the dark and tromping around Mother Nature with ten to twenty pounds of gear on their back. Not only do we enjoy it, we look forward to and prepare for most of the year to maximize our limited time afield. One category for consideration before the season starts is Emergency Preparednes

Combat Grade Flip Flops?

These combat grade flip flops are ones I can highly recommend. If you prefer partial nudity for your toes but don’t wanna be completely lacking, TEVA is the weapon of choice.

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.

Simple Gourmet: Bear Bombs

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Bear Bombs are a shoo-in crowd pleaser. These hot little packets of flaky dough are a favorite for everyone. Kids will eat anything wrapped in bread, and you can stuff them with a variety of flavors.

The Handgun Hunters Competition – Report

The Handgun Hunter’s Competition is a shooting match that stresses practical handgun hunting scenarios. The match took place in Newcastle, Wyoming. 2021 was the inaugural event, but with the interest it garnered from participants it should be around for many more years.

Frontier Gear of Alaska Pack Review

If you’ve got a trip of a lifetime planned, are considering trying your hand at mountain hunting for the first time, or just in the market for an expedition-type pack the go check out Barney’s for some outstanding hunting packs.

400 Yard Muzzleloader! Taking Long Shots With Bergara and CVA: New Rifles!

On April 29, 2021, Bergara and CVA sponsored The Long Shot Tour, held at the Fossil Pointe Shooting Grounds, outside Decatur, Texas. These two gun makers had some new and newer firearms to show off and invited a dozen writers and editors to try out several Bergara bolt action rifles and a pair of CVA muzzleloaders, plus a CVA bolt action. I was one of those writers.

Meals for the Extended Stay Hunt

How you fuel your body on a mountain hunt can make a tremendous difference in your physical and mental experience. Packing the right food for an extended stay backpack hunt is extremely important to ensure adequate repair, recovery, and necessary energy for the body.

Cyclist Killed in Grizzly Bear Attack

One person was killed in a grizzly bear attack near Ovando, Montana, east of Missoula. Authorities say the person was traveling with a larger group of cyclists, and was camping for the night.

Simple Gourmet: Easiest Pulled Meat

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Life is busy which makes it difficult to take time to eat well. Well, here’s an easy way to prepare game meat that is also easy to love. You can grab frozen meat before work and it’ll be ready to eat when you get home.

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.

Get a Jump on Next Year’s Buck with the Fusion Wireless Trail Cam

At only $200, the Fusion costs less than almost any other cellular camera on the market, and monthly upload plans start at $5 for 650 photos and go up to $20 for unlimited photos. Paired with a Stealth Cam solar battery for $70 and a memory card, you can run a self-sustaining camera anywhere on your hunting ground for less than $300.

Review: Burris Thermal Imagers

Burris has brought 3 different thermal imaging products to the market and considering the price point and what you get, they’ve got a winner.

Savage’s Backcountry Xtreme Series: The 110 High Country

The High Country has some other functional/aesthetic enhancements. The barrel is fluted in a dramatic spiral that runs most of its length. Savage button-rifles their barrels. The .308 High Country’s barrel is 22 inches. The long-action calibers have 24-inch barrels.

Bear Spray! In 500 Linebaugh

Let me be clear, this is NOT about a pepper spray that you might carry for protection against bears. Bear Spray, is the name my gunsmith decided to use for this project.

Summer Project: Make Your Own Waterfowl Layout Boat

Concealment is the key to duck hunting. This is especially true when they get wary and have been dodging shot for a few months. My first introduction to the layout boat idea was many years ago and I still use them today. In my younger days though, money was a little tighter so two other friends and I decided to make three boats one summer in my garage.

How to Hunt Bears from Boats

There are pro’s and con’s to hunting spring bear from a river. You know how bird hunters say the reason they do it is for their dog? The reason I hunt from a river is for the river, not because it’s the more effective way to hunt, because it isn’t. Everywhere you can hike is going to be straight up, and thermals start rising in these river canyons very early in the day and don’t start coming back down until dark.

Leupold BX-5 Santiam HD Binocular

Leupold & Stevens—long famous for their rock-solid riflescopes—have stepped up their game of late, and their BX-5HD binocular offers an incredible value.

Simple Gourmet: Sweet & Sour Mountain Lion

Cougar, mountain lion, puma, catamount, painter — whatever you want to call it, if you get a text from a buddy who guides hunts for Felix concolor that reads, “Do you want a mtn lion backstrap?” you should answer affirmatively, and then beg for the hams, too.

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.

Top 5 Tips for Baiting Bears On Public Land

As a hunter and conservationist, harvesting bears is an important aspect of sound wildlife management practices. Having the ability to construct a bait site on public land- where it is legal, is a great way to hunt bears. Below are my top 5 tips for baiting bears on public land that have worked for me.

Springtime Coyote Strategies

With spring fever running rampant throughout the outdoor community, it’s easy to get caught up in the hoopla of open water and thundering toms. But for those who didn’t get their fill of coyote hunting this winter, spring can provide some fantastic opportunities with some added benefits. Throughout this article, I’ll discuss the ecological benefit of hunting coyotes in the springtime as well as effective strategies for calling coyotes this time of year.

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.