Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

In this gear review, Todd Helms takes an in-depth look at the Browning X-Bolt 2 Pro McMillan Carbon Fiber rifle. Built for precision shooters and serious hunters, this lightweight, carbon-fiber platform is designed to deliver accuracy, durability, and performance in the toughest conditions. Todd breaks down the rifle’s features, from the McMillan stock to the carbon-fiber barrel, and shares his thoughts on how it performs in the field.

The post Browning X-Bolt 2 Pro Mcmillan Carbon Fiber Rifle Review appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Photo Courtesy of WildMediaSK_Envato

Hunting in bear country is always an adventure and each year I hear more horror stories. Here in northwest Wyoming we are in the heart of grizzly bear habitat and this year is already shaping up to be a dangerous one. A recent mauling of a hiker in Yellowstone National Park along with numerous other close shaves related to me by local hunters point to a tense rifle season for our area as folks take to the mountains chasing elk and deer in the coming weeks. 

But it’s not all about the grizzlies! I spent a week in a “no grizz” elk unit chasing bugling bulls with my bow and saw a pile of black bear sign and two separate camps that bears had destroyed, scattering cooler and truck bed contents across the landscape because folks were sloppy in keeping a clean camp and bear attractants out of reach of what are often considered, “just black bears”. 

Well, I’ve got news for you – black bears vastly outnumber grizzlies across our continent and it’s highly likely that when hunting the West you’re closer than you think to a sketchy encounter. I never hunt without a handgun for protection and when in grizz territory I carry bear spray too. More important than what I carry on my person is how I keep my camp.

There are clear rules for camping in grizzly country but in places like Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains, where black bears are numerous and grizzlies just a rumor, the rules for keeping your camp are fast and loose. This leads folks to be complacent and yes, there are issues with black bears in that area. Not as prevalent as just 50 or so miles further west, but it does happen. 

My point? Always keep a clean camp with food and attractants locked up and/or stored in a hardsided camper or vehicle and whenever possible in bear-proof containers like a robust YETI cooler or storage boxes. Also, have the means to deter an aggressive bear on your person! If you aren’t proficient with a handgun then bear spray is a good choice. Whenever possible I opt for a long gun though, with my .45-70 lever gun loaded with 430 grain hardcast +P loads being my first choice. 

Photo Courtesy Marlon Holden

As we practice, plan, and anticipate our hunts each season, it is hard to slow down our minds at times to truly think beyond our first aid kits. In so many ways, the gauze, bandages, and tape are kind of a nice little failsafe for the small unanticipated injuries but what about the truly life course altering tragedies? Are there any ways in which we might be able to alter the trajectories of our own lives in the wilds? If so, what might those decisions and circumstances look like?

Often, I have sat back and analyzed my choices in the mountains over the years and I can genuinely pull from a handful of instances each year where I realistically had no business doing what I was attempting. As the years pile on, I realize that I need to make better choices as the sum of our success in health ultimately depends upon it.  With the recent tragic losses, we have seen within our community out in the back country, I thought that I would talk a little about my experiences, as I am certain that my experiences most likely mirror some of your own. Especially since many of us are hunting in similar terrain, that is rugged, remote, and raw.

First off, I would like to add that there is no way to prevent acts of God. I am a believer that when he wants us, he is taking us no matter what we want. For everything else, there is this voice that resonates within us all and we must listen to it.

The mountains provide freedom, resonance, and peace to all of us.  Whether we are chasing an animal that we have pursued for years or simply for the sustenance and purpose of filling our freezers. We can mostly all agree that we all desire the wide-open vistas, the big mountains, endless ridges, and big sky of open Western public lands! It is no surprise that with all of the testosterone flowing these days, that bravado can sometimes get the better part of good judgement and my intent is simply to add in a bit of reasoning to go along with it.

Photo Courtesy of Eastmans Multi Media, LLC

With the proliferation and advancement of technology in the hunting world states across the West have attempted to reign in tech they feel violates the spirit of fair chase hunting. Agree or disagree there are a lot of new laws on the books that could make your hunting equipment (optics, cameras, sights) illegal and put you in the crosshairs of a pending game violation. It is our responsibility to know and understand all the game laws where we are hunting or planning to hunt and what follows is a small example of some laws aimed at limiting technology used in the pursuit of western game. 

This IS NOT a comprehensive list of laws as there are too many to include in a blog such as this. The purpose of the following information is to get you thinking about whether or not your equipment is legal to use in the state or states you hunt this fall. Please visit the state game and fish agency websites of states you will be hunting in and educate yourself beforehand so you are in compliance with all state wildlife laws. 

Ignorance is NO EXCUSE! 

Photo Courtesy of Wirestock_Envato

Outfitter Timothy Rawlings is going to federal prison for his violations of the Lacey Act. He’s also been ordered to pay $45,800 in restitution after his prison sentence has been served and will endure three years of supervised release. 

It’s about time a judge dropped the hammer on poachers and all around scumbags like this. The list of Rawlings offenses is long and atrocious and quite honestly sickens me. Folks like him give all honest hunters and outfitters a black eye. 

This is also another reason to only use vetted outfitters when looking for guided hunts. Eastmans’ has an outfitter finder service that can reached at [email protected]

Shoot us a message and we will make sure you get lined up with a reputable outfitter for the hunt of your life.

Photo Courtesy of Eastmans Multi Media, LLC

There’s been a lot of media chatter lately surrounding the possible reworking of the “Roadless Rule”. Many are claiming that the Trump administration is seeking to dismantle it completely, gutting protections for 44.7 million acres of public land. Others, myself included, have witnessed the weaponization of the Roadless Rule to shut down or limit public access to vast swathes of formerly accessible public land. 

This is just my opinion but at its core the Roadless Rule protections were a good thing; an attempt to safeguard habitat and important natural resources. However, like the Endangered Species Act I feel they’ve gone too far and need to be revisited and reworked. 

I’ve seen a lot of hunting opportunities lost due to the Roadless Rule thanks to making access all but impossible for folks without horses or the ability to walk long distances (older hunters and kids). 

Do I think we throw the baby out with the bathwater and completely eliminate the Roadless Rule? No. Do I think there is room for improvement and revamping? Absolutely! 

Join Jordan Breshears as he puts the Christensen Arms Evoke rifle, chambered in 6.5 PRC, to the test in the field. From first impressions to real-world performance in a hunting scenario, Jordan breaks down the rifle’s design, features and accuracy. Whether you’re looking for a lightweight, precision rifle for the backcountry or a reliable long-range hunter, this review will help you decide if it’s the right fit for your hunts.

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/ChristensenArms-Eastmans

In this video, Jordan Breshears breaks down how he uses onX Maps as one of his go-to-tools for pre-season scouting and hunt prep. From e-scouting potential areas, marking access points, and tracking terrain features, Jordan shows how onX helps him build confidence before ever setting foot in the field.

Start your free trial at: https://bit.ly/onXHunt-Eastmans

The post FREE TRIAL!│OnX Hunt Review appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Hunt public land elk on this father-son DIY adventure. Eastmans’ Brandon Mason and his son Hunter team up to battle full moon conditions, access issues and limited time in the field to notch a tag. This episode of Eastmans’ Hunting TV begins in bow seasons and finishes with a bang in October.

Eastmans’ Hunting TV Sponsors:

The post DIY Father & Son Elk Adventure | Eastmans’ Hunting TV appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

In this gear review, Todd Helms from Eastmans’ Hunting Journals reviews Barnes Ammunition’s Harvest Collection. Designed for ethical, one-shot kills, this ammo delivers the accuracy and stopping power hunters demand in the field. See why the Harvest Collection is a trusted choice for deer, elk and more.

Learn more at: https://bit.ly/BarnesBullets-Eastmans

The post Barnes Ammunition Harvest Collection: Full Breakdown appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Collared gray wolf activity recorded by CPW from July 22 – August 16, 2025

The August 2025 Collared Gray Wolf Activity Map is now available and displays the wolves’ movements throughout the state during this month. For a watershed to indicate wolf activity, at least one GPS point from at least one wolf collar was recorded within the watershed’s boundaries within the last 30 days.

Wolf Movement Updates:

Photo Courtesy of Wirestock_Envato

What Wyoming’s New Bill Really Means for Hunters

Editor’s Note: Eastmans’ Hunting Journals is not a legal authority, we aim to provide information about current topics in the western hunting sphere. Be sure to know what is and is not legal in the state/s you are hunting. Ignorance is no excuse and your fate rests upon the decisions you make.  

For years, corner crossing has been the most debated move a hunter could make in Wyoming. Do you step over that invisible line where two pieces of public land touch at a corner, or do you stay put to avoid a trip to court?

Photo Courtesy of Eastmans Multi Media, LLC

With the mild winter of 2024-2025, Idaho elk and deer herds are looking up.  It’s always tricky when you are talking about winters.  On one hand, you want a good snowpack so there is water as you get later into the summer.  But on the other hand, you want a mild winter to allow the fawns and calves to make it through.  

The 2024-2025 winter was particularly good for the elk.  Out of all the calves collared statewide, 82% of them survived.  Those are really good numbers.  The mule deer fawns did not fair as well as the elk calves.  Collared mule deer fawns had a 58% survival rate, which is above the long-term average of 57%.  The winter was kind to the does, showing a 91% survival rate among those collared.  

Everyone is aware of the harsh winter that the southeast region had in 2022.  Well since then the herds have started to bounce back.  That region had some of the highest survival rates in the state.  For one of the more popular units to hunt in the state (unit 39), the numbers were not so good.  Unit 39 had a 31% survival rate.  Biologists have noticed lighter fawns as they go into the winter recently.  This could be attributed to the herd reaching the carrying capacity of their habitat.  Summer ranges might be suffering with the mild winters.  

Elk numbers in Idaho continue to do well.  As I wrote about previously, IDFG opened up more opportunities for elk in 2025 (See Idaho: Booming Elk Population = More Tags? – Eastmans’ Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans’ Hunting Journals).  While those units don’t represent every zone in Idaho, it is a good sign for the population as a whole.   

Photo Courtesy of Jaden Bales

A handful of years ago, a goofy horned pronghorn stepped out of the sage draw at 300 yards walking across the hillside in front of me. I dropped my pack, scanned for a shooting position, and quickly realized there wasn’t one above the sage-brush. All of the vegetation was knee-high or better and the slope uneven. Time was ticking as he knew I was there, but he wasn’t bolting – yet. 

So I did what I’ve learned to do after years of trial and error: I threw my rifle into my tripod and went to work.

That buck is one of my coolest euros of a pronghorn today because of it.

Most hunters think of a tripod as nothing more than a place to mount their glass, though the competitive shooting scene has used tripods for stability for ages now (it seems).  

Photo Courtesy of edb3_16_Envato

How to Handle Wildfires Ahead of Your Hunt

If you’ve been watching the fire maps this August, you know the reality: the West is burning again, and just as archery hunters are waxing strings and sharpening broadheads, Colorado’s Lee Fire is chewing up country in GMU 22. In Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin, smoke columns rise over multiple blazes near Worland and Thermopolis. Montana’s western half is seeing new fires start as hot, dry weather lingers, and in northern Nevada, the Cottonwood Peak Fire has already blackened more than 100,000 acres.

For western hunters, wildfire isn’t just a background headline that makes you feel for the communities they’re affecting. Fire can (and often does) shut down access, displace animals, and in some cases, cancel the hunt you’ve waited years to draw.

So what happens if the unit you planned your season around is suddenly behind fire lines? Let’s walk through how core Western states folks travel to handle tag returns, refunds, and deferrals. This is what you need to know before the smoke hits your hunt.

Colorado: Refunds or Points Back, Sometimes Last Minute

Colorado Parks & Wildlife usually requires tag returns 30 days before the opener to get either a refund or your preference points back. But when fires torch units late in the summer, CPW has shown flexibility. During past closures, they’ve allowed hunters to return tags up to the day before the season if access was completely cut off.

Photo Courtesy of kjekol_envato

Propaganda

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has confirmed three depredation events caused by an uncollared wolf in Rio Blanco County on July 20, 22, and August 2, 2025.  Supposedly there weren’t any (uncollared/native) wolves in Colorado before the re-introduction began.  

Opinion: It looks like that propaganda was wrong, as we already knew.

Depredation  

The post Update: Fires Scorching the Kaibab Plateau appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Photo Courtesy of Eastmans Multi Media

If you’ve been to the grocery store lately, you’ve seen the sticker shock. Ground beef is pushing $6.12 a pound on average in the U.S. That’s more than a 15% jump (depending on the source) from just a couple of years ago—and a big ol’ red flag for families trying to stock the freezer without blowing up the grocery budget.

Interestingly, these higher beef prices can be attributed in part to the widespread drought that plagued good grass growth from 2020 to 2022. Those droughts not only knocked back deer and pronghorn populations around the west, but also caused producers to downsize cattle herds. Doing that reduces supply, and makes prices go up, which encourages fewer producers to keep cows around, and the cycle continues. 

For those of us who hunt, this price hike isn’t just a news blip—it’s a kick in the pants. The reality is, wild game meat has never been more valuable. That cow elk tag you’ve got tucked in your pocket for this fall that you did not think you would get time to hunt? It might just be the most financially sound investment you’ve made all year.

Let’s break it down. 

Photo Courtesy of wirestock_envato

Well folks, the attacks on science-based wildlife management just keep coming. U.S. House Resolution 4422 “Don’t Feed The Bears Act of 2025”, has been introduced to the House Natural Resources Committee and seeks to ban using bait for hunting black bears in Wyoming and seven other states where the tactic is a proven and effective tool for managing black bear populations. This “Act” has been brought to the HNRC by a coalition of animal rights groups and is a thinly veiled ploy to end black bear hunting, promote apex predators as wildlife managers and ultimately end all hunting. 

Conspiracy Theory

My last sentence may seem like a conspiracy theory. I used to think that animal rights group’s predator worship, lawfare and promotion of apex predator reintroduction was just that, a conspiracy theory with the end goal to eliminate all hunting. To be blunt, these days the difference between a conspiracy theory and truth turns out to be about six months. That may seem cynical and the actual timeline for transition from conspiracy theory to reality may be 12 to 24 months but I honestly believe these whackos are playing the long game and want only one thing… the end of ALL hunting! 

Baiting Isn’t Ethical

Photo Courtesy of freedomnaruk_Envato

Two fires burning on the Kaibab Plateau are threatening upcoming mule deer hunts.

The Dragon Bravo fire, which was lightning caused and recently burned most of the facilities at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, is burning at the South end of the Plateau within Grand Canyon National Park. The fire is currently 11,000 acres and 0% contained.

The white sage fire is burning at the opposite end of the Plateau near the town of Fredonia. The fire was also lightning caused and began in the sage flats of the Arizona strip North of the Kaibab Plateau. The fire quickly grew as it climbed into the juniper and pine forests and now sits at 59,000 acres and 17% containment.

The combination of fires burning on both ends of the famed mule deer country have caused authorities to close both Grand Canyon National Park and the Kaibab National Forest until September 30 or until conditions change.