Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

If you join a discussion on the topic of dependable camp guns, you will get as many differing opinions as there are guns available. Everyone has their favorite, and for various reasons, some of which are obvious, others are not.

What to Look For in a Camp Gun

Camp guns are usually used guns that have already had some miles put on them, but are still in good working order. They’re ideally tough, lightweight guns that can be packed in and left in camp without having to worry about them. Camp guns should also be accurate enough to take care of varmints, do some plinking, put some meat in the pot, or be pressed into service for a day of hunting. Here are a few attributes to stay on the lookout for:

Dependability

Camp guns see heavy use and abuse and dependability is at the top of the heap. Your rifle must work when you need it to work and this is especially true for camp guns.

Ammunition boxes also protect your ammo from outside elements. (MTM/)

While storing firearms in a locked safe is universally accepted as a best practice in gun ownership, some gun owners pay less attention to ammunition storage. However, having dedicated ammo storage is far better than allowing shells or cartridges to rattle around inside the gun safe or, worse, in random boxes after the original packaging has disappeared. The easiest way to get organized is with a hard-sided ammo case. Sure, you can pick up an empty ammo can at the local army surplus store, but those containers are heavier and less configurable than any of the commercial solutions available with specialized features.

Stackable

Ammo boxes that can stack on top of one another make the best use of storage space. (MTM/)

An ammo box that is stackable allows you to start small with an expanding storage system in mind. Look for a box with a water-resistant seal and multiple padlock points.

Compartmentalized

A box with tie-down points ensures a safe ride whenever you transport ammo. (MTM/)

To get even more organized, a stackable system that is also compartmentalized allows you to break down ammunition for different disciplines across multiple calibers. Tie-down spots for mounting to a truck bed or ATV rack ensures safety during transport and helps prevent theft.

Fitness trackers are the size of a wristwatch but can provide endless data to help you remain physically fit. (FitBit/)

Let’s be real: Strapping a piece of electronic jewelry to your wrist won’t make you any more fit or attractive. Simply counting steps isn’t going to increase anyone’s cardio or melt away the love handles. But for those willing to pick up the pace, increase the steps, and do the work that fitness trackers are meant to monitor, these high-tech devices can instill the digital discipline necessary to improve anyone’s health. For sportsmen, that means charting those weekend hikes, morning runs, weeknights at the gym, or whatever it is you do to stay in shape for the great outdoors. No matter whether you are preparing for a Rocky Mountain elk hunt or just want to increase your endurance for long days behind a rangy English setter, here are three ways you can benefit from a fitness tracker.

Activity Awareness

Before you begin working towards your fitness goals, get a baseline measurement of your current health condition. (FitBit/)

The first step toward improved fitness is understanding just how active you currently are. A fitness monitor is the best way to come to grips with how much—or how little—effort your daily routine entails. From there it's a matter of setting fitness goals, then monitoring and sticking to them.

Cardiovascular Health

Monitor your heart rate at rest and while exercising to determine a beat that will help you get healthier. (FitBit/)

A fitness tracker gives you a real time view of how your ticker is reacting at any time of day, whether at rest or under stress. Monitoring heart activity is the easiest way to establish a fitness baseline and then chart gains in cardiovascular endurance as your activity level increases.

E-bikes give provide more access to the backcountry, but they also put more pressure on trails and wildlife. (M2S Bikes/)

The national forests around California’s Lake Tahoe are the latest flashpoint in the debate over how land and wildlife managers treat electric bikes, also called “e-bikes,” on public land.

Historically, e-bikes were considered motorized vehicles and had traditionally not been allowed on non-motorized trails on public lands such as national forests and national parks.

But that boundary has gotten blurry in the last few months. As we reported earlier, the Trump Administration has moved to allow some lower-powered electric motorbikes to be treated like pedal-powered bicycles on Department of Interior lands, particularly national parks and Bureau of Land Management ground.

That move was triggered by a special order of the Secretary of the Interior and did not pertain to the 180 million acres of national forest, because national forests are managed under the Department of Agriculture.

Now, it seems like electric motor-bikes are getting an edge in at least one national forest, as well, the Tahoe National Forest in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The hunt was well-planned, stalk executed to perfection and your shot was right on the money. That feeling of elation that comes with a successful deer hunt is the icing on the cake! But for many new deer hunters, knowing what to do next can be confusing. To add to the dilemma, trying to figure out what tools are necessary to take a carcass lying at the edge of a field all the way to a sizzling steak on a plate with a baked potato and asparagus can also be nearly overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. Here are 10 tools that can help hunters process their deer into tasty, healthy venison for their families.

Game Cart

This Summit game cart can help hunters get their deer back to their vehicle without the work dragging entails. (Walmart/)

Buy Now

If you’ve never dragged a deer across the ground for a long distance, you don’t know how heavy even a small buck can feel after a while. Their natural handles aren’t always comfortable to grasp, the ground is strewn with large rocks and other obstacles, and that hill you walked down going to your stand feels like it got a lot steeper now that you’re dragging your deer up it. It’s tough with a partner to help, but when you’re alone it can be nearly impossible. That’s where a good deer cart comes in. With a comfortable handle, tall wheels and straps for attaching your deer to it securely, a quality, lightweight deer cart can help you get your deer back to your vehicle—even by yourself—without all the extra labor necessary when dragging a deer the old-fashioned way.

Gambrel/Rope

A well-made saltwater rod can help you cast far and land strong fish. (Penn/)

There is hardly a month of the year that isn’t favorable for catching one or more species of game fish from the shoreline of your nearest coast. Whether it’s bull reds on the Outer Banks in the fall or pompano along the Gulf Coast in spring, the best time for surf fishing is truly any time you can get to the beach. To arrive properly equipped, you’ll need tackle intended for long casts and hardy saltwater quarry. Here are a few essential traits of a classic spinning outfit for surf fishing.

Rod Length

Select a rod that’s long enough to cast and fight the game fish you intend to pursue. (Penn/)

A rod designed for surf fishing is typically longer than a rod intended for boat or bank fishing. That extra length increases casting distance and helps keep line above breaking surf when the rod is resting in a sand spike or PVC rod holder. For smaller species such as redfish, trout, whiting, pompano and flounder, look for a rod in the 8- to 10-foot range. For longer casting to species such as bull redfish, jacks, big stripers, and small sharks, a 10- to 13-foot rod is a better choice. Just remember that sometimes the target zone may simply be the first trough in the surf break, which is seldom more than a lob cast away. Match your rod length to the intended species and expected distance from shore. Ten feet is a good all-purpose length.

Casting Action

A fast-action rod is especially stiff to help with fighting fish, whereas a slow-action rod is better for making long casts. (Tica/)

Rod "action" is a designation of where the rod bends in relation to its overall length during casting and fighting. Fast-action rods bend primarily at the tip, and slow-action rods bend more throughout their entire length. Medium action falls in between. In short, a fast-action rod has greater fighting power, whereas the increased flexion of a medium- or slow-action rod produces more leverage for hurling longer casts.

Whether you choose a shooting stick with one, two, or three legs, it’s better than shooting with no stick at all. (BOG/)

The easiest way to improve your accuracy with a rifle is to use some sort of fixed rest rather than shooting off-hand. That can be a shooting bag or lead sled at the range or a simple handhold against a tree trunk in the woods. But for optimal field performance, it’s hard to beat a pair of portable shooting sticks. They’re light enough to carry or pack everywhere you go, can be set up in seconds, and offer that extra level of stability to increase the likelihood of anchoring each shot. Consider these factors when searching for a mobile shooting platform.

Bipods

A reliable set of shooting sticks are strong, lightweight, and easy to use. (BOG/)

A pair of shooting sticks with two legs is the best combination of light weight and stability. Monopods are less stable, and tripods are heavier. For everyday use on common big game species at moderate distances, a telescoping bipod is the all-purpose choice.

Tripods

If weight isn’t a factor when you’re hunting, a tripod offers more stability than a bipod or monopod. (BOG/)

When you need more stability and aren't as concerned about weight or portability, consider a tripod shooting platform. They usually have a few more bells and whistles, such as an articulated head and leveling bubble, making them more suitable on the range, from a blind, or when potting varmints from a fixed position at long distances.

A reliable grill mat makes cleanup after grilling a cinch. (Grillaholics/)

Tired of scraping last week’s barbeque off the grill every time you want to cook something new? Maybe it’s time for a grilling mat. Aside from minimizing clean-up, the uniform surface of a grilling mat enables you to cook everything from streaks to pancakes. They are great for handling delicate foods, such as filets of flaky fish, as well as smaller items like sliced veggies and shrimp that could slip through the grate. Use a grill mat on your backyard barbecue or keep one handy as an extra layer of protection at public campgrounds. A grill mat can also be used on a standard oven rack or trimmed to fit on a baking tray to keep it clean. Here are a few more reasons to own a grilling mat.

Even Heating

A good grill mat should provide even heating across its surface. (Kona/)

The continuous surface of a grilling mat promotes even heating. That means better flavor and moisture. Grill mats come in a variety of thicknesses, and the major difference is that thinner grill mats will leave grill marks on food, while a thicker grilling mat may not.

Less Oil

Because food doesn’t stick to grilling mats, there’s no need to add unhealthy oils. (Grillaholics/)

The non-stick surface of a grilling mat requires less oil in food preparation. That means healthier and more nutritious meals for you and your family.

Having a collection of kitchen cutlery and tableware for camping means you’ll never have to borrow from your home kitchen the next time you plan to overnight outside. (GSI Outdoors/)

Being the camp cook is often a thankless task. But the better one’s skills at the stove or fire pit, the happier the campers. Other than having a proper heat source and cookware, the best way to organize any camp kitchen is with a multi-piece utensil set. A commercial unit that comes in its own carrying case takes the hassle out of cobbling together a random array of spatulas, knives, and tongs in a chuck box or ammo can. When considering an off-the-shelf solution to outdoor kitchen organization, look for these three key features.

Carrying Case

Camp kitchen utensils are much easier to find and keep organized if they come in a custom storage case. (Wealers/)

The best thing about a store-bought camp kit is having a place for everything and everything in its place. Once you've decided which combination of utensils is right for your camping style, look for a rip-stop nylon or Cordura bag with internal mesh pockets to make each item easily accessible. A top strap or loop is handy for hanging everything next to the cook area.

Cutting Tools

A utensil set with extra tools, like shears, can be especially useful around camp. (Life 2 Go/)

A chef's knife is essential, and a pair of kitchen shears is a bonus. The most complete kits will have both. If the kit is also packaged with a paring knife, you will be prepared for any culinary challenge.

Mounting a well-made storage box on the back of your ATV will allow you to carry all sorts of items—like an emergency kit—that you might otherwise be without. (Black Boar/)

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are highly useful in and of themselves. But they become even more versatile with any number of aftermarket accessories. One of the first add-ons to consider is an ATV storage box. From camping gear to spare fuel, clothes, or food, it’s easy to protect your valuables and supplies from the rigors of the trail with a solid-walled cargo box. Here are a few features to look for.

Integrated Backrest

A combo storage box and back rest provides two solutions at once. (Black Boar/)

A combination storage box and back rest is a great way to add not only some extra cargo space, but also room for an additional passenger. Use the compartment as a trunk for gear and equipment while both riders blaze the trail in style.

Mounting Hardware

A storage box that comes with its own mounting hardware is likely going to fit your ATV better. (Can-Am/)

Some ATV boxes are sold with mounting hardware, and others are not. One approach is not necessarily better than another, although a box with its own hardware is likely going to require less improvisation to fit your vehicle.

The cold…the snow…the coyotes. (Ron Spomer/)

If ever a topic begged for alliteration, it’s coyote cartridges and calibers clearly and concisely contrasted and compared. But we won’t stoop to that here. We’ll just outline three of the most popular and effective cartridges employed by serious coyote hunters these past four decades.

But, before we jump into the ballistics of the .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington, and .243 Winchester, we should remember why anyone bothers hunting what is generally considered an inedible critter (even though some meat eaters are now imbibing.) The reasons are several, among which two are most often cited:

1. Valuable pelts—They might fetch anywhere from $10 to $200 depending on the market and quality. This should be celebrated by environmentalists because coyote fur is not only beautiful and warming, but all-natural, biodegradable, organic, free-range, abundant and sustainable. Coyotes are Nature’s own renewable clothing resource. Wearing fur instead of turning up the thermostat reduces your carbon footprint, too. Fight climate change! Wear fur.

2. Balancing the scales—Overly abundant coyotes have been proven to severely deplete populations of prey species including woodchucks, pronghorns, mule deer, and similar-sized game. They are not significant predators on birds, but they have attacked small children.

There are a few more reasons to hunt coyotes. East of the Mississippi, they are truly an invasive species. Even across much of the West, where they are native, they were historically kept in check by large numbers of wolves. By changing habitats, we humans have enabled excessive increases in coyote numbers. It’s our responsibility to correct some of that.

Hunters can get wounded in many different ways during hunting season, but cuts are one of the most common injuries in the field. And whether you accidentally slide a broad head down your forearm or you slice your hand with a skinning knife, the response is the same—you’ll need first aid in the field.

8. Learn the Jargon

The term “cut” is merely a layman’s term. Don’t let the medical terms confuse you, though. Take the time to learn what they mean. (microgen via Deposit Photos/)

Slices and slashes can come in all shapes and sizes, but you don’t have time for a linguistics lesson when someone’s blood is dripping on the ground and your squeamish hunting buddy is turning a mossy shade of green from nausea. Now is a good time to learn what these two terms mean:

Lacerations

These wounds come in all shapes and sizes, from clean and simple straight cuts to jagged wounds in odd shapes. We get the word from the Middle French term, lacération, which means a “breach or rend made by tearing,” and that word is based on the Latin word lacerationem, which means to “tear, rend, or mutilate.”

If your survival kit doesn’t come with the correct type or quantity of supplies, supplement it with whatever you think it needs. (Emergency Zone/)

You don’t have to be scratching out a manifesto on the walls of some underground bunker to understand the value of maintaining at least some rudimentary supplies for disaster scenarios. From floods and fire to civil unrest and rolling power blackouts, we live in a time where emergency preparedness should be a legitimate concern for everyone. But what should a survival kit contain? Whether you are piecing together your own kit or buying one off the shelf, any “bug-out bag” should account for the three pillars of survival: food, shelter, and water. Beyond that, items such as a first-aid kit, lighting, sanitation, fire-making supplies, and a signaling device will increase your chances of surviving in relative comfort and safety. Here's how to break down the basics.

Food

In an emergency situation, food needs to be easy to prepare and loaded with as much nutrients, calories, and protein as possible. (Amazon/)

There really is no sense is provisioning a portable survival kit with any kind of food other than freeze-dried MREs, or meals ready to eat. MRE’s are lightweight, require only heat and water to prepare, and contain all the nutrients and good taste necessary to restore health and vigor in an otherwise uncomfortable situation.

Water

In an emergency situation, water is a critical element, so you should not only have a supply in your pack, but also a way to produce more. (Amazon/)

A complete bug-out bag should have two sources of water. The first is packaged H20 in small portions that can be rationed out as the situation dictates. The second is some sort of ultralight water filter that can produce additional potable water after the packaged water runs out.

A single burner stove makes it easy to boil water or warm meals fast without sacrificing much fuel. (Coleman/)

There are so many types of camp stoves available today that it’s impossible to pick one all-purpose burner. A backpacking stove isn’t much good for park-and-pitch family camping, and you won’t get far lugging that two-burner suitcase contraption into the backcountry. But for everyday use short of wilderness trekking, it’s hard to beat a single-burner butane stove. They’re lightweight, start with the press of a button, and are just as handy in the kitchen or at a backyard barbecue as in camp. Look for these features in a personal butane burner.

Automatic Ignition

The best trait of a good portable stove is simplicity. (Amazon/)

The best trait of single burner stoves is the hassle-free ignition. No pumping or connecting the fuel bottle. Just set up, click the switch, and you have a proper outdoor kitchen almost anywhere.

Dual Fuels

If you want to corral stove heat, especially in the wind or at high altitudes, use a windscreen. (Amazon/)

While butane is usually the primary fuel for a single-burner stove, many come equipped with a fuel-line adapter to attach a standard propane bottle. That’s handy in very cold conditions, as propane has a much lower boiling point than butane. A folding windscreen will also conserve heat and protect meals in gusty conditions.

A reliable ratchet puller can be the saving grace in an otherwise bad situation. (Tekton/)

A ratchet puller, commonly referred to as a “come along,” is the outdoorsman’s second, third, or fourth hand. The force-multiplying effect of this easy-to-use tool allows one person to get far more done than would be humanly possible without it. They are great for pulling stumps, felling trees, tensioning fences, or even pulling your own vehicle out of a ditch when no one else is around. Carry a length of chain to anchor around a stationary object, hook the other end to virtually any object that needs a little persuading, and get things moving!

Weight Capacity

Before you buy, make sure a ratchet puller is rated for the tasks you might be asking it to do. (Amazon/)

Commercially available ratchet pullers generally range from about a one- to five-ton pulling capacity. Anything rated for two tons or more will handle most situations, right up to hauling a full-size pick-up truck back onto the road.

Pull Length

If you’re going to be tugging across long distances, make sure the ratchet puller has enough cable. (Amazon/)

A standard come along usually has only about a 7- to 10-foot pull length. That means your anchor point needs to be relatively close to your towing object, or another length of strap or cable will be necessary. A basic come along with a 30-foot length of braided steel cable stored in the truck is a powerful and versatile combination.

Because emergency blankets are so small and lightweight, you should keep a few in your bug-out-bag in case you need to build an impromptu shelter. (Arcturus/)

An emergency blanket should never be considered the first line of defense against the elements. But as a hedge against worst-case scenarios in the woods or during natural disasters, a basic survival blanket could be the difference between staying alive or perishing. Hypothermia is one of the top killers in the outdoors, and a Mylar or Mylar-coated blanket reflects body warmth back to the individual, dramatically reduces heat loss and increases the chances of survival. In addition to keeping you warm, there are countless uses for an emergency blanket, depending on its weight and construction. Here are but a few.

Rain Shelter

Emergency blankets also make good emergency shelters. (Amazon/)

Most survival blankets are waterproof. While a blanket with grommets can be strung up like a tarp, even a non-grommeted blanket can be wrapped like a shawl or worn as a makeshift poncho to help weather the worst of any storm.

Tent Footprint

The key to any reliable survival blanket is its ability to insulate and reflect body heat. (Amazon/)

A 5x7 heavy duty survival blanket is about the ideal footprint for a two-man tent. It creates a waterproof barrier between the tent floor and the ground, and with the Mylar side up it will reflect body heat away from the ground to keep you warmer at night.

Folding saws are inexpensive, but invaluable when you’re far from the tool shed. (Hooyman/)

A folding saw is one tool that no outdoorsman should be without. Whether you are clearing shooting lanes from a tree stand, processing firewood at camp, or just clearing brush from around the house, a folding saw will handle every cutting task that falls between the capabilities of a pocketknife and a chainsaw. They are compact, portable, and unmatched in whacking through wood up to about 6 inches in diameter. Here are several options to consider when searching for the perfect folding saw.

Lightweight

A good folding saw is lightweight, easy to pack, and built to last. (Amazon/)

On the lighter end of the spectrum, a folding saw of about 8-inches long or less and small enough to pack anywhere you travel, but still musters an amazing amount of cutting power. Look for a brand with replaceable blades, each of which should last for several seasons of hard use before needing to be replaced.

Heavy Duty

A curved blade can bite into a cut better than a straight blade. (Amazon/)

For tougher chores, sacrifice some portability for power. A quality 10- to 15-inch folding saw is wicked efficient. The secret is in the curved blade, which takes a savage bite out of anything from firewood to construction lumber with every stroke.

Not only does a heavy sled-style rifle rest keep your rifle from jumping around after a shot, it saves you from shoulder pain that comes from round after round of shooting (Caldwell/)

The best way to improve your shooting accuracy is to practice, and the best way to practice is with a rest. Whether you are slinging lead downrange at a club, at deer camp, or on the back forty, a commercial rest will limit the variables that affect accuracy. Stabilizing baseline elevation and windage with a rest allows you to focus on the weapon, the round, and the technique you are trying to hone. With a rest, you can confidently and quickly acquire the target, manage your trigger pull, and reduce flinching from repeated recoil. One of these types of rests will cover just about any type of shooting you want to do.

Bench Rests

A heavy, secure shooting rest makes it easier to hold the crosshairs on target during the shot. (Amazon/)

A bench-mounted shooting rest offers the ultimate stability for range practice. Anchor your rifle or shotgun on the first shot, and then walk the muzzle and scope onto the bullseye without worrying about repositioning the rest after every round.

Shooting Bags

Shooting bags are a quick and easy way to create a stable shooting platform just about anywhere. (Amazon/)

Two-piece shooting bags operate on the same principle as the bench rest by stabilizing the fore-end and buttstock, but without moving parts. These multifunctional stabilizers are relatively light, yet solid enough to establish a bench-quality rest anywhere there is a level surface.

A waterproof bag will keep your smartphone dry, and the trapped air inside might also help prevent it from sinking. (Hiearcool/)

Smartphones have become so indispensable that we tend to take them everywhere. That exposes our valuable electronics to all manner of outdoor elements, especially moisture. There are plenty of waterproof cases on the market for every model of smartphone, but they are expensive. If you prefer your everyday designer case yet still need extra protection for the lake, river, or beach, the most affordable option is a universal waterproof pouch or dry bag. In addition to sheltering your phone, a small dry bag is also useful for storing a passport, wallet, cash, or credit cards. Here’s what to look for in a universal smartphone dry bag.

Size Matters

Make sure a waterproof bag is large enough to hold your phone an anything else you plan to keep inside before you buy. (Amazon/)

Despite the fact that most waterproof phone pouches are marketed as universal, many are specific to certain categories or size ranges of phone. Read the product specifications carefully to make sure the bag will accommodate your phone and its everyday case.

Run a Test

Test any waterproof container to make sure it does what it’s supposed to do before you slip your phone inside. (Amazon/)

Before committing your expensive phone to the briny depths or torrential rains, run a waterproofing tested. Seal up some tissue paper or other absorbent material in the case and submerge it for thirty minutes or so to verify that the seal and the case itself are both performing as advertised.

Hit the road and have your best deer hunt of the year. (John Hafner/)

You would think that 10 months of planning and prep work would be more than enough time. And yet here I am, just a few hours away from heading West for a week-long whitetail adventure, and I’m scrambling to get everything packed and loaded. I’d like to say this is abnormal behavior. It’s not. This is how it seems to go each and every fall. And, to be honest, I’m not sure I’d have it any other way.

One special thing about deer season, perhaps the most special thing is the fact that no matter how bad a day is, it will be followed by another sunrise. And that sunrise could bring the best whitetail day of the entire year. A week filled with nothing to do but see what each of those sunrises bring... well, I’m not sure what could be better.

I try to hunt several different states every deer season. Most of those outings are simple weekend, whirlwind affairs. But once a year (twice if I’m particularly lucky), I’ll take a full week-long road trip.

I’ve been taking these out-of-state hunts for about 15 years. These are DIY hunts all the way. I’ll generally hunt public land, but I won’t hesitate to knock on a door or stop by a farmer’s shop to ask permission if an area looks particularly promising. I’ve found some awesome areas and some really crappy ones. I’ve stayed in tents, campers, RVs, cabins, rental houses, and crashed in my truck in Wal-Mart parking lots. Along the way, I’ve ironed out a pretty good system for planning, prepping, and making the most of my time. Here’s how I do it.

1. Map It