Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

If you’ve been shooting or hunting for any significant period of time, you probably have regrets over parting with a gun or two that you shouldn’t have. Equally disappointing are those times when a manufacturer stops making a favorite gun, often without warning or announcement.

Sometimes, guns go away because they simply aren’t selling in sufficient numbers to justify continued production. Consumer tastes change over time, and a visit to any major gun retailer will reveal row after row of guns with synthetic stocks but relatively few with richly figured walnut stocks. Sometimes, guns meet their demise because their construction was labor-intensive, requiring a high degree of craftsmanship and hand fitting, and they become too expensive to produce and sell at a price the masses will accept. And sometimes, a manufacturer goes out of business or is sold to owners who are more focused on the bottom line than on top-line quality, and guns are replaced by models that are cheaper to produce but infinitely uglier and devoid of character.

Of course, a great many of today’s guns are lighter, more durable, more weather resistant and far more accurate than their predecessors, but whenever an old favorite goes away, many of us find ourselves wistfully wishing for bygone days when, to hear us tell it, guns were made with wood and men were made of steel.

In compiling a list of guns we wish were still being made, I talked to quite a few fellow outdoor scribes and conducted some informal polling of highly knowledgeable shooters. There were a few surprises along the way. Some guns we thought were discontinued have been resurrected, albeit in altered form in some cases, so those didn’t make the list. Some of the guns we chose have been relegated to the dustbin of history, while others command high prices as collectors have driven their value up. You may agree or disagree with our choices — and perhaps be surprised by one or two — but since we get to do the picking, here are 10 guns we wish were still being made.

1. Savage Model 99

Hamburger Helper and venison. Classic. (Jamie Carlson/)

Let me tell you a secret: You can cook wild game with no motivation whatsoever other than dinner. You don’t have to post it to Instagram, or even take a picture of it.

In fact, if the only person impressed with your dish is your 5-year-old, that’s okay. Sometimes, it’s just a Wednesday night, and what that kid would like is one of Dad’s Sloppy Doe sandwiches: ground venison cooked in bacon grease with a can of Manwich and diced sweet pickles. He wants it on a bun with a slice of Velveeta and a bag of chips, and he wants it right now because there’s an hour of daylight left and a toad outside that needs catching before dark.

This is what wild-game eating actually looks like in a whole lot of hunting households across America. Does the Manwich or Hamburger Helper “mask” the taste of the venison? I guess it does. But if the boy’s gut is full and he’s happy, who cares? Eating game is a practice not because it’s hip, but because the freezer is full of it, and it tastes pretty good. We can tell people that and not feel embarrassed by it.

But that’s not always the impression I get when I look at the locavore movement, which is perhaps the most energized hunter-recruitment initiative happening right now. Unlike many efforts that focus on young hunters, this one targets an adult, often urban audience that didn’t grow up around hunting. But these folks have the disposable income to buy licenses and gear, and an interest in natural, locally sourced food. Going hunting seems to be a logical fit.

If a wild-game meal—or even a piece of deer jerky—sparks an interest in hunting for someone who didn’t have it before, then sign me up to help. But if I’m going to invest the time it takes to mentor, I need to know my efforts will do more than simply win a nonhunter’s approval. I want that person to actually go on to buy another license and hunt on his or her own. Right now, I think this effort is doing a good job of putting hunting in a positive light and getting quite a few people to try it. But I’m not convinced it’s converting people into long-term hunters in numbers that matter.

One advantage of an external frame is you can remove the pack and use the frame alone, which you can't do with an internal frame pack. (ALPS Outdoorz/)

Internal-frame packs have dominated the backpacking market for decades. But when it comes to packing out game, there is still a case to be made for external-frame packs. In addition to serving as a standard backpack, an external-frame pack can be stripped of its bag and used exclusively as a pack frame. As long as it has a load shelf and tie-out points, an external-frame pack can effectively haul anything you can carry. Here are a few other reasons you should own one.

Full Pack

An external frame pack has the added advantage of being able to haul heavy items like meat from a hunt. (ALPS Outdoorz/)

Use a full external-frame pack while hunting or hiking just like any contemporary internal-frame pack. When it's time to get an elk or moose out of the woods, just collapse the bag or strip it from the frame to avoid carrying any unnecessary weight. This is especially useful when making return trips for meat. Look for a quick-release system for detaching the pack, and an adjustable pouch for carrying your rifle when in hiking mode.

Frame Only

It’s not a bad idea to own a backup pack frame in case your favorite breaks or a friend offers to help you shoulder a load. (Eberlestock/)

If you just want a meat-hauler, or maybe a second frame for a buddy willing to help retrieve game, consider investing in a frame only. They're easy to keep in the truck or cabin and give you the option to equip a second set of shoulders for the heavy lifting.

Mallards flush out of a marsh. (USFWS/)

September's long-anticipated repeal of the 2015 "Waters of the U.S." (WOTUS) rule may prove to be a preamble compared to the legal and regulatory battle set to erupt this fall and reverberate into 2020 and beyond.

The Trump administration is expected to complete step two in its WOTUS repeal by finalizing its replacement for the Obama Era rule by the end of the year.

Likely to be revised in the new rule are the definitions of:

What, exactly, constitutes a body of water?What, exactly, qualifies a body of water for regulatory scrutiny?What, exactly, is the role of federal regulation in managing bodies of water?

Since initiating the WOTUS repeal and replacement in 2017, President Donald Trump has directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers "to create a new policy to redefine bodies of water and narrow the scope of waterways that previously fell under federal protection during the Obama administration."

Until a new rule replaces the repealed WOTUS, pre-existing rules, some dating back to the 1980 amendments to the Clean Water Act (CWA), are in vogue. Pre-2015 rules were already in effect in 27 states that successfully blocked WOTUS implementation.

A ramp will help an aging dog reach places it no longer has the strength or energy to jump into. (Pet Gear/)

When a dog is in its prime, we tend to think of our best friend as ageless. They load up in the truck like a rocket and hit the field with abandon. When they get older, joint pain and age slows them down to the point that some may not even be able to make it over the edge of the tailgate, even though their desire to hunt remains strong. If you want to give your best friend a little boost, here are some products that will do the trick.

Traction

A ramp with a textured surface will help prevent a dog from slipping. (Pet Gear/)

As dogs loose strength in their hips and forelegs, they can encounter problems on slick surfaces such as wood floors or an unlined truck bed. For older animals, look for a ramp with a textured surface to give Fido the necessary grip to climb in and out of the vehicle without his feet going out from under him.

Portability

Telescoping ramps are slightly heavier than folding ramps, but you can adjust the length to bridge any gap. (PetSafe/)

Most pet ramps work the same way; they either fold out as two panels or telescope from one. If space is an issue, consider a telescoping ramp. They are a little heavier than folding plastic models, but sleek and compact enough to take up less room while still giving your buddy the assist he needs.

Deep frying food is simple, inexpensive, and an easy way to crank out a simple meal in little time. (Pixabay/)

Fried foods may not be part of the heart-healthiest diet, but let’s face it, frying is one of the best ways to bring out flavor and lock in moisture. Moving that time-honored style of cooking outdoors means increased volume for family feeds and other large gatherings, and a safer environment for dealing with hot oil and an open flame. If you are thinking about kicking up your fry game, here are a few things to look for in dedicated outdoor fryers.

Self-Contained

A self-contained unit cooks food fast without creating a huge mess. (Bayou Classic/)

If you are serious about outdoor frying, it's hard to beat a dedicated, self-contained unit. A hinged lid reduces splatters, helps bring oil up to temperature, and keeps debris out of the cook space while you are whipping up those onion rings or fried shrimp.

Dual Burners

Dual burners mean you can cook twice as much food in the same amount of time. (King Kooker/)

Certain types of outdoor cooking mean two different foods going at the same time. Frying fish and hush puppies simultaneously is a perfect example. Having two burners allows you to keep flavors separate and control each item at its own temperature depending upon what you are cooking and when you dropped it in.

A large stockpot is one of the best ways to hold a lot of ingredients that will eventually feed a lot of hungry people. (Home Chef/)

A stock pot does the heavy lifting in any kitchen. Whether you are building a five-alarm chili, boiling game bones for stock, or deep frying your world-famous hush puppies or onions rings, you’re going to need large-capacity cookware capable of getting the job done. Here are three features you’ll want to consider before buying what might be the largest pot in your kitchen.

Volume

Think about how many mouths you’ll have to feed before settling on the pot size that’s right for you. (Cook N Home/)

Stock pots come in a range of sizes. On the low end, a 5-quart stock pot is suitable for making soups and chili, but for actually making stock you want something in the 12-quart or larger range. Above that and you are wandering into the turkey-fryer aisle, which is a different department altogether in terms of size and accessory components.

Stainless Steel

Don’t settle for a less-expensive pot if it’s made with materials that might be harmful to your health. (Homichef/)

Pay careful attention to the substance from which your stockpot is made. Nickel-free stainless steel is preferable, as small amounts of nickel can leech out of inferior materials in the long cook times associated with making stock.

A portable oven or stove can open up all sorts of cooking possibilities. (Camp Chef/)

Most folks think outdoor cooking is limited to grills, fire pits, and smokers. But there are a host of other options available to expand the repertoire of every backyard or fireside chef. From compact outdoor pizza ovens to baking with sunlight, any camp cook should be intrigued by these innovative options.

Outdoor Pizza Ovens

A small, gas-fueled pizza oven can cook a delicious meal while you’re sitting near a campfire. (Napoli/)

A full-size wood-burning oven is a major commitment of both money and space just to cook a pizza on the patio. A smaller, gas-fired outdoor pizza oven will do the job just fine. If you must have that true smoky flavor of your local pizzeria, look for a multi-fuel model, which will burn wood, charcoal, or pellets.

Solar Cookers

A solar oven can heat up to 400 degrees using nothing but the power of the sun. (Sun Ovens International/)

Solar cookers open a whole new horizon in off-grid cooking. They aren't going to produce the same even heating as your kitchen oven, but the fuel is free (on sunny days, anyway), and they'll handle any meal that can be prepared in a temperature range from 350 to 400 degrees. Great for baking bread or a casserole on a lazy afternoon at the off-grid cabin, camp, or boat.

As we loaded our gear into the bush planes, Bruce Werba offered one last piece of advice. “Be sure to use all 44 stakes. It’ll get windy up there—I guarantee it.”

I’d spent enough time in the Alaskan backcountry over the years that he wasn’t going to get an argument from me.

Our squadron consisted of three Super Cubs with tundra tires. I folded myself into the cramped space behind the pilot where the rest of my gear was stored, my shoulders touching both sides of the fuselage. We lifted off the gravel runway that’s the primary connection between the 160 souls who call Holy Cross, Alaska, home and the rest of the world, and banked over the wide and muddy Yukon River before my pilot, Matt, put us on a westerly bearing.

We were in the air for nearly an hour, heading into the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, a massive region that borders the Bering Sea and is bigger than the state of Maine. I took mental note of the terrain we flew over, a mix of pine-­covered mountains, tundra, vast patches of willows, and countless bogs, ponds, and rivers. It occurred to me that if, for whatever reason, we had to trek out on foot, we’d probably never make it back.

One of the Super Cubs with a cargo of camp supplies. (Tom Fowlks/)

Over the roar of the engine, Matt shouted that we were approaching our landing zone. He made a large circle over an exposed flat that was surrounded by mountains on three sides to make sure he could put us down safely.

Whether you’re a hunter, angler, shoot, camper, or just someone who enjoys spending time away from the trailhead, your gear can make or break a trip. We know you want to buy the best gear you can afford, which is why we created Bargain Hunter. Our team is working directly with some of the best outdoor brands in the business to bring you good deals and discount promotions—including some exclusive offers you won’t find anywhere else. We hope this helps you get the gear you want without breaking the bank.

Bookmark this page in your browser and check back every week to see a new list of discounted gear. Here are the deals for the week of October 6 through October 13, 2019.

Cabela's

Save $90 on Cabela's Alaskan Guide Model Geodesic 6-person tents. (price: $360; reg: $450) (Cabela’s/)

Survival Frog—An Outdoor Life Exclusive

Enter code FROG40 at checkout and receive 40% off Survival Frog Tact Bivvy 2.0 Emergency Sleeping Bags. (Survival Frog/)

Survival Frog—An Outdoor Life Exclusive

The best way to contain the boil ingredients is inside a basket that slides inside a large steamer pot. (Sidney Pearce/Unsplash/)

If you want to feed a pile of family or friends in the quickest and most delicious way possible, it’s hard to beat a Lowcountry boil. This culinary hallmark of the Coastal South is a fast, no-holds-barred feast that anyone can prepare. All it takes is some fresh shrimp or crabs, potatoes, onions, corn on the cob, Old Bay seasoning, Kielbasa sausage, and maybe a touch of vinegar. If you can boil water, the rest is pretty simple. Add roughly cut vegetables, seasoning, a few cloves of garlic, and some lemon wedges. Toss in sausage chunks after about five minutes, then add shrimp at the last minute. Drain completely and spread across a well-lined tabletop to gorge family-style on the goodness of the sea. Here’s what you need for this classic meal.

Proper Cookware

You can boil a pot on a stove but using a separate burner outside is better. (King Kooker/)

There is nothing delicate about five pounds of shrimp and a sack of potatoes. That means you need a large-capacity pot and strainer, along with a way to get your boil going. A stovetop will work fine, but a set of cookware made specifically for boiling, steaming, and frying atop its own gas burner is better for this style of cooking, which is best prepared outdoors.

Shrimp or Crabs

Don’t be afraid to veer from the common recipe and use other seafood like crab in addition to shrimp. (Concord Cookware/)

Though the classic Lowcountry boil is with shrimp, blue crabs are also a great addition, especially if you have been setting a few pots off the dock during a family vacation. Just remember the crabs will take longer to cook than the shrimp, normally about 10 to 15 minutes. Followed up with shrimp for the final three to five minutes.

Small refrigerators have come a long way since you packed one full of beer in college. (Phiestina/)

There is no limit to the places and spaces where a cold beverage might make for a refreshing break or nice cap to the day. Whether you are looking to equip a guest suite, a camp clubhouse, dorm room, workshop, or just want cold storage in your man cave, a compact refrigerator will do the job anywhere full-size refrigeration isn’t needed. Here’s what to look for.

Single or Dual Zone

If you need to keep some items colder than others, consider a dual-zone refrigerator. (Phiestina/)

Dual-zone mini fridges may have one side for beverages and another for wine. They feature separate thermostats to regulate each chamber. Others may have a main cooler with a small freezer shelf like the standard hotel mini fridge. Single-zone refrigerators are just that: one space limited to chilling drinks and perishables.

Volume

If you don’t have a lot of space for a large refrigerator, consider a mini model. (RCA/)

A standard mini-fridge is usually 20- to 30-inches tall with a capacity of 3- to 4-cubic feet. That's enough to hold about 80 to 120 beverage cans. But if space is limited, a smaller version that will fit on a shelf or under a desk or table may be all you need to keep your groceries cool on a day-to-day basis.

There’s no replacement for conditioning, but a brace can reinforce injured ankles. (Ultra Ankle/)

Our feet and ankles are literally the foundation of any outdoor adventure. But sometimes we need a little extra support to mitigate the effects of age or injury. Common ankle and foot conditions such as plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and tendon sprains can all be helped to one degree or another with an ankle brace. While no device is a replacement for proper treatment and conditioning, here three types of ankle braces to consider in order of increasing support.

Compression Supports

Ankle compression sleeves reduce swelling from injuries. (Crucial Compression/)

A compression sock or sleeve reduces swelling associated with injury, arthritis, or other types of inflammation. They don't offer much physical rigidity, but they do alleviate pain so you can continue training or take a hike that otherwise might be too uncomfortable to bear.

Lace-Up Braces

A lace-up brace is slim enough to wear under a boot. (Z Athletics/)

A lace-up brace offers increased support and allows you to adjust pressure right where you need it most. It's slim enough to wear under a hunting boot, although the lacing system can tend to pinch and bite after long miles. Be mindful of any developing hot spots so you don't aggravate an already sensitive condition with blisters.

Make the most out of your new property by planning out how you’re going to utilize your trail cams. (Alex Gyllstrom/)

Learning a new property is easily one of my favorite aspects of hunting. Diving into an unknown piece of dirt, exploring the deer it holds, and how they're using it, always ends with valuable experiences and a bunch of learning opportunities. However, being patient and processing information over time is the key. You’re not going to completely figure out a new property in the first year. Heck, it's likely to take at least a few years depending on the size, habitat, and features. But, everyone has to start somewhere so, here’s a five-step strategy for running trail cameras on a new property.

Step 1: Look at the Big Picture

Everyone wants to know how many cameras they need based on the number of acres they have. Looking at the acres-to-camera ratio holds value for determining certain things about the deer herd, specifically like buck to doe ratios and herd size. In fact, the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) strategically uses and instructs this method to conduct buck population surveys. However, when it comes to gaining an initial understanding of how deer are using the property, the focus needs to be more on the topographical features of the land itself and less on the deer. Therefore, the number of cameras for this purpose matters less, as long as you are covering the primary activity areas for movement.

Apps like onX Hunt will help you get a better idea of how deer are using your property. (onX/)

It’s important to understand how a property fits into the surrounding landscape. I’ve found an aerial map to be extremely helpful. Look at the map and identify where the primary food sources are as well as the likely bedding areas. Then reference the location of your property with these areas.

Maybe primary food sources are located on or near your property, in which case most of the peak activity is generally around sunset, through the night and sunrise. If bedding or security cover is on or near your property, expect the peak activity to be more frequent throughout the day. If the property is big enough, you may be hunting an area featuring all primary activity locations.

This equipment is wearing Multisorb. (Brugieregarde Industrial Services/MBDA/)

Military camouflage, you may think, is easy: you just slap weird shapes in tones of green, beige, blue, or gray on hardware or clothes. But camouflage today is much more sophisticated than that because equipment and people must be hidden not only from the enemy's eyes, but also from their infrared cameras and radars. Of course the ultimate—and for the moment unattainable—objective is invisibility, but Harry Potter's cloak remains the stuff of fiction and CGI.

Militaries and defense companies use, and are working on, two completely separate camouflage technologies: static, such as paint or textile that doesn't change once applied, and dynamic, which adapts in real-time to its environment. While the former is well-established, the latter has yet to be bought by an armed force.

“The primary goal is to merge the object with its background,” Mike Stewart, director of research and innovation at QinetiQ, a British defense technology group, told Popular Science at an arms show in London in September.

To do so, “you need to hide shape, shine and shadow,” explained Peter Somerville, business development manager for Lockheed Martin. And because “nothing in nature is flat,” as he said, camouflage textiles are full of holes or little flaps that stick up every which way. Sometimes it's the actual shape of these holes in the netting that give it its anti-radar characteristics by absorbing and diffusing those radar beams.

Multisorb up close. (Brugieregarde Industrial Services/MBDA/)

Haute couture camouflage

Leave No Trace: An empty cartridge marks a go-to hunting spot. (John Hafner/)

I have no doubt that the first caveman to have another hunter show up at his hunting grounds five minutes before spearing light, shared the same disdain that modern hunters hold for the competition today.

And while there are plenty of reasons to share a hunting spot (we want to recruit more hunters, and hunting is usually more fun with a buddy), there are also some good reasons to keep certain spots secret. It can take years to build up a good portfolio of good hunting spots. It takes only one day to burn one.

Types of Hunting Spots

New hunters often don’t comprehend or appreciate the ethical complexities of the hunting spot subject (it is, after all, an ethically murky one) and those folks are more likely to commit one of many potential blunders. Experienced hunters are prone to these same violations, but when they’re guilty, it’s often out of greed, not ignorance.

So, I’ll do my best to break down both the hierarchy of hunting spots according to their respective levels of secrecy, as well as provide some examples of gross misconduct around hunting spot edict. Keep in mind that these guidelines vary by region and species, so proceed accordingly. First, let’s consider the hierarchy of hunting spots. By this, I mean that every hunter has a list of spots that rank according to the perceived quality of said spot, as well as the difficulty they endured to secure each spot. I’ll start with the least protected first and move up to the most guarded.

The QuietKat Warrior 1000 Electric Bike can run for 20 miles unassisted (no pedaling) at a speed of 19 mph. (Amazon/)

Hunters and anglers need access. If we cannot step into a trout stream or set foot in habitat, our sports will not survive.

So that's what makes the emerging technology of e-bikes (essentially souped-up mountain bikes with electric motors) so tantalizing. They are wonderful tools that can get you where you want to go – and maybe even give you an edge on the other guy trying to get there.

So what’s the fuss? The Department of Interior just opened up more trails to e-bikes. This has led some hunters and anglers to ask, is this too much of a good thing?

Access is a double-edged sword. Too much access and even the best habitat will soon lose its effectiveness for hosting fish and game. After all, one thing all wildlife requires from its habitat is security from predators. And today, those predators include people.

First, let’s praise the e-bike. It’s quiet. It’s efficient. It’s light and highly mobile. It doesn’t produce fumes like an internal combustion engine. It’s less expensive and more intuitive than a standard dirt-bike or ATV.

With a little sweat equity, you can keep your truck bed looking like new for a fraction of what you’d pay a body shop to do it. (Bedrug/)

A bed liner is the easiest way to protect the most abused part of any pick-up truck. Both factory and aftermarket liners are expensive, but fortunately there is another way to shield your truck’s cargo space from the inevitable dings and scratches. DIY bed liners are available in a variety of systems, all within the abilities and budget of any do-it-yourselfer. Here are a few approaches to consider.

Spray Liners

Spray-on liners can look and perform fantastic if you properly prep the surface of the bed. (U-Pol/)

With a little patience, a spray-on product can give you a factory finish for a fraction of the cost. Just remember the prep work of cleaning and sanding is critical to a good bond, and you must wear protective clothing, eyewear, and a respirator when handling these products. Several light coats are better than one heavy coat.

Roll-On Liners

You can apply a roll-on liner to almost any clean surface. (Herculiner/)

A roll-on bed liner is a little easier to control than the spray variety and can be applied to almost any surface. So, one advantage of having it in a gallon can rather than as a pressurized delivery system is the long shelf life of a product you can use down the road for other projects.

Truck storage boxes are available in dozens of configurations and sizes. (Undercover/)

If you are looking for a way to organize everything from hunting boots to camping equipment, tools, fishing gear, and more, you can hardly go wrong with a standard truck toolbox. Tradesmen know them as the carry-all box that keeps their tools handy when they need them and secure when they don’t. They’ll do the same thing for sportsmen. Here are a few types to consider.

Side-Swing Boxes

A side-mounted box is ideal if you don’t want to sacrifice bed space. (Undercover/)

If you only need a bit of storage space and don't want to sacrifice bed length, a side-mounted, lockable tool chest is the perfect solution. They swing forward on a hinge for access and then fold securely out of the way when not in use. They do, however, require tapping into your truck bed for mounting, so be sure this style is right for you before breaking out the drill.

Saddle Boxes

If you need a large storage area, a saddle box might be for you, but be prepared to lose some space in the truck bed. (Weather Guard/)

A traditional saddle box offers the most convenience and room of just about any truck box configuration. The downsides are that you will be giving up a bit of bed space, as well as the ability to mount a topper shell on the bed. But if you want a roomy and sturdy option, this is probably the most popular box style available.

The author with a solid muley buck he took with a Mossberg Patriot chambered in 7mm Rem. (Ron Spomer/)

Let’s admit this: you can kill the biggest mule deer buck with any rifle cartridge, even a .22 Short. But mule deer hunters don’t want to hunt with a .22 rimfire. They’re looking for the most effective mule deer cartridge on the market. It’s obviously not the .22 Short, but what is it?

Stir the fire at a western deer camp and you’re liable to spark votes for everything from the .300 Weatherby Magnum to the .22-250 Remington. But if I had to lay money next to the coals, I’d risk it all on three cartridges: .270 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, and .300 Winchester Magnum.

(From left) .270 Win, 7mm Rem. Mag., and .300 Win. Mag. (Ron Spomer/)

Why these three instead of, say, .280 Remington, .28 Nosler, and .300 Remington Ultra Magnum? Popularity and longevity. Certainly many newer cartridges can scribe a better ballistic profile than each of these three, but this triumvirate has been consistently putting meat on poles and antlers on barn doors for a combined 205 years. Let’s investigate each and see if we can figure out why.

.270 Winchester

This zippy little round didn’t set the world on fire when it hit the fields in 1925, but within a few years it was scorching game fields around the world. It’s nothing more elaborate than the .30-06 Springfield case necked down to hold a .277-inch diameter bullet. Ah, but what a difference a little necking makes.