Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

Becoming a crack shot inside 40 yards takes a tremendous amount of practice. (Howard Communications/)

Imagine spending hard-earned money on shotguns, shells, clothing, a pointer or retriever with champion bloodlines, plus the rest of the gear we “need” to pursue wild birds each fall…and then not being able to kill one because you haven’t put the time in practicing. All that financial investment, and you didn’t make time for shooting clays at the range over the summer? A lot of hunters make this mistake—I certainly did—and it stops us from fully enjoying the hunt.

If you’re tired of embarrassing yourself (and getting frustrated) in front of your heckling buddies, it’s time to do something about it. Namely, practice. The first and most important thing you need to understand before starting down the long road to becoming a good shot is that your effectiveness with a shotgun is going to fall off markedly beyond 40 yards. There’s a bevy of reasons for that, the main one being that leading a bird properly at longer distances is damn tough. But also, the effectiveness of most shotshells starts to decline beyond 40 yards.

So, once you understand your effective range, the real work begins. Here’s what you need to do in order to become a crack shot inside 40 yards…and shut those hunting buddies up for good.

1. Take the Bead Off Your Barrel

Any new shotgun you purchase is either going to have a fiber-optic sight or front bead on the end of the barrel, and the first thing you need to do is get a pair of pliers, unscrew it, and remove it. Don’t throw it away—you may want it for turkey season or other pursuits. But in wingshooting, a front bead isn’t necessary, and it actually draws your eye to the end of the shotgun barrel and away from the bird you’re trying to hit. If you remove the front bead, your entire focus is on the target, and nothing else.

Even when hunting big, open country like this caribou tundra, an effective hunter can usually stalk close enough to make high B.C. bullets irrelevant. But if they are constructed for good terminal performance, using them provides a nice fudge factor against wind deflection and poor range estimation. (Ron Spomer/)

“What’s your B.C?”

The B.C. (Ballistic Coefficient) question seems to have displaced “what caliber are you shooting” as the most common if inconsequential question a hunter could ask. The “caliber” question should really be “what cartridge are you shooting?” And the B.C. question hardly matters over the distances at which most North American big game animals are shot.

Fifty years ago, when hunters argued over which cartridge was best, they focused on muzzle velocity. The .30-06 Springfield was better than the .30-30 because it spit the same .308-inch bullets 400 to 500 fps (feet per second) faster. And the .300 Win. Mag. was better than the .30-06 because it bested that venerable round by another 300 fps. It was the era of muzzle velocity and may the biggest magnum win.

And then shooters got smart. Somewhere along the line someone figured out that if a race car could go faster when built low and slim and slippery, so could a bullet. And sure enough, just as the military had discovered in the late 1800s that an elongated bullet shot flatter than a round ball at the same MV (muzzle velocity), late 20th century shooters tumbled to the reality of long, slim, sharply tipped and boat-tailed bullets also shot flatter. Much flatter. With much less wind deflection and much more retained energy. And it works like this…

Bullet Savvy

Fried bass nuggets taste as good as they look, as long as you prepare them properly. (Hank Shaw/)

Green carp. Ditch pickles. Largemouths. Black bass. No matter what you call this fish, it ain’t good eats. Or is it?

The cultural taboo against eating largemouth bass is not wholly a matter of tradition, but bass can make fine table fare with a few specific considerations.

Native to the Eastern and Central parts of the United States, and introduced pretty much everywhere else, the largemouth is hardy and full of fight, an icon of pro fishing in America. And as such, catch-and-release is the rule.

But no one ever told me that.

I did not grow up with largemouth bass. I grew up with striped bass. I am a born-and-bred saltwater angler. I didn’t even catch my first freshwater fish until I was in my 20s.

There are plenty of reasons to hunt. Best of all? It's fun. (Dustin Lutt / Rockhouse Motion/)

There are plenty of reasons to learn to hunt. The most ancient and trendiest modern reason for hunting are actually the same: it’s a great way to secure lean, free-range meat for yourself and your family. Wild game meat reduces your reliance on the commercial food chain and helps you know exactly what you’re eating in our age of processed foods. Hunting is also a great way to learn more about the natural world, and to support wildlife habitat and conservation in the U.S. Best of all? Hunting is fun.

But getting started isn’t always easy. Hunting is a commitment that takes time, interest, specialized gear, and lots of leg work. But it’s worth it. That’s why we pulled together this step-by-step guide to help you navigate all the essential stages and skills of becoming a hunter, from signing up for a hunter safety course to cooking your hard-earned venison, and everything in between.

Let’s get started.

Navigating this Post

Because there’s a lot to hunting, there’s a lot to this article. Here’s a handy list to help you find the information you’re looking for more quickly. Read straight through, or click on a chapter to jump right to it.

Zakk Royce with his state-record blue catfish. (Zakk Royce/)

Zakk Royce, 29, lives on Lake Gaston in Gasburg, Virginia. He held consecutive North Carolina blue catfish state records for catching a 91-pound blue cat on December 20, 2015 and broke his own record the next day with a 105-pound blue cat. He owns and operates Blues Brothers Catfish Guide Service, LLC, on Lake Gaston and Kerr Lake.

1. Outdoor Life: Many of the biggest blue catfish are caught in winter. However, what’s the best way to catch them in summer?

Zakk Royce: The summer can actually be an excellent time to catch trophy blue cats, as they come off the spawn and are very aggressive. In a lot of bodies of water, a thermocline also shows up as the water temperature rises. This concentrates the bait and fish to whatever depth the thermocline forms. The best way to target the blues during this time is to fish around the thermocline, either over deep water using floats and planer boards to suspend baits, or by fishing areas where the thermocline meets the bottom, or shallower. With the warmer water temperatures, drift fishing or trolling is effective. Although I still try to stay around 0.5 mph in the summer just like other times of year, I have caught them in the summer trolling as fast as 3 mph.

2. OL: What’s the best bait to use—live or dead?

ZR: Both live and cut bait work great for blue cats. The advantage with cut bait, especially when drift fishing or trolling, is it puts off a constant scent trail that the blue cats can really key in on. However, in the summer months I usually do have a live bait out in the mix as well.

For when it's hot. (Amazon/)

Carrying a defensive handgun is a major responsibility, but frequently lost in the discussions over the best guns, calibers, and training is this reality: concealing a firearm every day is uncomfortable, and especially so in hot weather. We can’t stop the sweat or control the forecast, but we can help you make it more manageable with these items.

The Clip Draw is one of the easiest ways to carry in hot weather. It’s an add-on clip that allows you to secure your firearm to a pocket or inside your waistband, just like a modern folding knife. It is a permanent fixture on your gun, and you don’t get the security of a holster—but the clip works quite well, especially with small autoloaders (though it’s available for most popular handgun models).

This is one of the safest—and least expensive—ways to carry in summer. The holster protects your gun from sweat and pocket lint, keeps the trigger covered, and secures the weapon for an easy draw. There’s no need to overthink this one. The classic, soft Nylon model is available in four sizes to fit most carry pieces, it does everything you need it to do, and it doesn’t cost much money.

Statistics show that most defensive encounters happen in low light—meaning that if you’re going to carry a gun, you need to be able to see, too. A weapon-mounted light makes sense for home defense, but it creates a package that’s too bulky to conceal in the usual summertime attire. For that, you need something small enough to fit in the pocket, bright, and reliable, like this flashlight.

Many autoloader malfunctions can be traced to the magazines. Dropping your reload into a pocket means that debris and sweat will eventually find its way onto springs and followers, and that’s no good. Keep your mags clean and hidden with these IWB carriers. Sold two per pack, they’ll work fine with most popular single-stack autoloaders.

For the die-hard waterfowler, there is no off-season. Sure you can only hunt for a precious few months, but the rest of the year still revolves around ducks and geese. Here’s a selection of projects to keep you busy until the 4 a.m. wake-ups start again.

1. Waterfowl Foot Hat Rack

Hanging your hat on a rack made from waterfowl feet is a unique way to show off your passion. I’ve always been fascinated by the different kinds of feet I find on every species of waterfowl I hunt, so this season I decided to take some to display. Coot have some really cool feet, so I wanted to make them the centerpiece. I flanked them with a foot off a Canada goose and one from a snow, which are sized right for larger hats.

There are a few different ways to go about this, but here is the quick and dirty method. This project takes several months to complete but most of that is waiting. Over time, the feet will likely fade, especially if they are in direct sunlight. If you want taxidermy grade, you need to inject the feet with Master’s Blend or a similar preservative.

Once you have a few examples of your favorite species in-hand, cut the feet off at the knee. Bend the leg and cut between the joint; once you get through the tendon it should separate easily. Position the feet as you’d like them to appear later on a piece of cardboard and pin them in place. Use rubber bands or bits of string to angle the leg as you want. Then bury them all in Borax, and wait. Borax is a desiccant and will draw all the moisture out and preserve the feet eventually.

Spinnerbaits get slot No. 1 in any beginner’s tackle box. (Major League Fishing/)

A graduate of Clemson University with a degree in engineering, Andy Montgomery is one of the most proficient anglers in Major League Fishing history in the “every scorable bass counts” format. He has two tour-level wins and 35 top 10s in his professional career. We caught up with him recently to get his take on how to catch great bass in tough conditions.

1. Outdoor Life: What are your best tips for fishing small ponds?

Andy Montgomery: I grew up fishing small ponds; it’s some of the most fun I’ve ever had fishing. It’s best to head out at daybreak or an hour before dark with a buzzbait and only one rod. (Using just one rod forces you to throw it and keep throwing.) If you do that at daybreak or an hour before sunset for a solid hour, you have a high, high percentage that you’re going to catch some fish…some good fish.

2. OL: What would you put in a beginner’s tackle box?

AM: The number one thing for a beginner’s tackle box is a spinnerbait. They can throw and wind and they don’t have to set the hook real hard to catch a fish. That makes the fishing more fun for beginners and helps them naturally learn how to set the hook. Then I would add a small squarebill crankbait. The third thing would be a buzzbait. Again all things that are simple “chuck and wind” type lures.

The author’s son with a spruce grouse. (Tyler Freel/)

At one point or another, every hunter or shooter who has kids ponders the question of how and when to begin teaching their children to shoot. Each person and situation is unique, so there’s no one right answer. If there is a universal truth, it’s this: If we want new shooters—especially kids—to stick with it and develop their skills, they need to see some success. And it needs to be fun. That’s why I used a red-dot scope to teach my son how to shoot his first rifle. Many traditionalists think learning to shoot iron sights is the best way to get started, but that’s not my preference.

Before you start teaching, the most important factor to consider for young shooters is recoil. For any new shooter, discomfort or pain (or the apprehension of either) will almost certainly deter them, or encourage flinching if it doesn’t. For a kid, recoil can easily create a negative memory that can take years to overcome. So you should pick out a gun that is easy on the shoulder.

Simplicity is another ally when teaching a kid to handle and shoot a rifle safely. There are plenty of options out there, from air guns to .22s, but single-shot rifles are always a smart choice. The action type itself is trivial, but a single-shot will give your new shooter plenty of practice at manipulating the action and safety practices, and you’ll both only need to worry about one live round at a time.

As with any discipline, there’s an “older way of thinking” that applies to teaching youngsters how to shoot. A traditionalist may think new shooters should always learn to use iron sights before progressing to optics. Learning to properly use iron sights promotes better positioning and other fundamental shooting skills, and is something every shooter should eventually learn. I don’t buy, however, that it’s always the best way to start. It’s not necessarily wrong, but a new shooter isn’t going to enjoy the immediate success he or she will with a red dot. And by success I mean hitting what they’re aiming at—consistently. Though to begin with, they may not be accurate. And that’s okay. Patience is key for both of you.

When I could no longer resist the urge to buy a .22 for my 3-year-old last fall, I was confronted with this very issue. One look at the iron sights on the little Savage Rascal, and I knew he would be frustrated despite his desire to shoot. With a youngster, you’re going to be dealing with someone who doesn’t understand sight picture, alignment, or head position. You can bet all three of those are going to add up to wobbly at best. They just want to hit what they’re shooting. So I asked myself: What sight will work, and be accurate, regardless of sloppy alignment with unlimited eye relief?

Erin Hutchison with her first mule deer. (Danner/LaCrosse/)

Erin Hutchison didn’t spend much time in the woods growing up. She was a competitive tennis player that loved the game so much, she woke up early each morning and hit the courts in suburban Portland, Oregon, before school. Deer hunting was the furthest pursuit from her mind. But after college, Hutchison took a job in media relations at footwear company Danner and LaCrosse and that opened the gates to the outdoors.

“The first day, I was sitting at my desk, and the sales guys came up to me,” she said. “They asked if I liked to hunt. I said that I would try anything once. Here I am years later and it’s completely changed my life.”

In 2017, Hutchison met photographer Nicole Belke at a deer camp in Kansas. It was the first time she had hunted with another woman. Belke had all kinds of advice and tips for her, and it was more comfortable having another female in camp to share the experience with. Hutchison arrowed her first whitetail days later. The following fall, a friend canceled on her last minute for a morning cow elk hunt, but she decided to go alone. With her experience level, Hutchison figured it would be a nature hike, but it turned into her first solo spot-and-stalk. She killed an elk and her friends returned to help her pack the meat out.

Hutchison has since traveled the world on duck hunts in Argentina and axis deer in Hawaii, with plans for an Alaskan drop camp caribou hunt. She is still learning, and also trying to help others who want to learn to hunt. Whether you’re a traditional hunter or newbie, you should listen to what she has to say. Her insights will only help bring more hunters to the table.

Outdoor Life: Why did you decide to start hunting?

Catch as many as you can. (John Sekutowski via Unsplash/)

Right now in farm ponds, oxbows, and shallow lakes everywhere, it’s bluegill season. And when you get on a fast-and-furious panfish bed, the last thing you want to do is to spend time fumbling around your tackle box looking for just the right rig or counting fish in the bottom of your cooler. Wasting time like that means your buddy will out-fish you for sure.

Serious bream anglers come prepared, and they know the most overlooked gear can also be the most important. That’s why, if you see a bream fisherman on the water without these things, you’ll at least know this: He’s not all that serious.

Sometimes panfish demand a little more of your presentation than just a wire hook and a cricket. A tiny feather jig tipped with a wax worm, meal worm, or maggot can be suspended under a float or “dipped” around shallow stumps and cover, where it looks like something small and tasty and alive. There’s not a bluegill that swims that can pass up such a thing—and you’ll probably catch more than a few bonus crappies this way, too.

Yeah, the round, red-and-white bobbers of your youth will still work, but a sensitive balsa-wood float is the better way to go for light-biting fish. You can almost detect a bluegill’s bad intentions with a bobber like this. Most bream fishing is done in less than 4 feet of water and for that, a clip-on spring bobber like this one is easy to cast and fast to rig up.

If you don’t have an aerated livewell handy, a fish basket is the best way to keep your catch lively and fresh. It’s way faster than a stringer, and will keep marauding turtles from robbing you blind, too. This classic fish basket has a one-way, spring-operated lid that also helps keep the basket afloat. Unhook, drop a fish in, and fire off another cast within seconds.

Be prepared. (Carlos Hevia via Unsplash/)

Anytime you leave the house for the woods, you should have a first aid kit. It’s the best way to know you’ll be safe even if accident strikes. Most should have some of the basics—bandages, painkillers, antibiotic ointment. But after that, what you need may well vary depending on what you do. We’ve got you covered with a kit for nearly anything.

Rarely will you find something that could save your life in the woods and weighs less than a pound. The Medical Adventure Kit is one of those. It’s water resistant and organizes everything by injury in clearly-labeled pockets. It’s made to solve many of the basic wilderness injuries for one-to- two people for up to four days. Hopefully you won’t need it, but if you do, you’ll be thankful to have it along.

If you need an all-around medical kit for sports activities or car camping, consider this one. It includes everything basic you’ll need from burn cream and alcohol prep pads to sting relief prep pads, antiseptic pads, and antibiotic ointment. It also has gauze, finger splints, scissors, and an instant cold pack. Lastly, it has a bilingual first aid guide.

You may not think you need disposable gloves or an emergency blanket until you do. That’s why this is the best medical kit to throw in your car and know you have what you need. In addition to basic supplies, it also contains a CPR mask, trauma shears, Moleskin, and a variety of bandages. The medical kit also contains a mini first-aid pouch if you need supplies to throw in a bag for a day hike.

Throw this first aid kit in your boat and go. The waterproof case has 163 items and is multipurpose for just about any minor disaster. It has a hand-pressing flashlight, safety pins, a whistle, and a complete array of bandages. It also comes with stainless-steel tweezers, saber card, and cotton sticks. Refill when needed.

What to wear on your next fishing trip. (Greysen Johnson via Unsplash/)

Gone are the days of spending 12 hours in a drift boat in a cotton t-shirt. They’re not sun proof. You will get burned. And when you sweat, they cling. Fortunately, options for shirts that protect you from the sun and keep you cool are endless. We found four great options for whatever your fishing needs.

This collared shirt blocks UVA and UBA with UPF 30. It also has two chest pockets with Velcro closures and hidden vents in the shoulders for added breathability. It’s 100 percent nylon, promising a quick dry and breathability. And when you’re on the water all day, and you don’t have time to change before dinner, you’ll look good enough for the lodge table.

This quick-dry shirt is the answer to those days that fluctuate between wet and cold and hot and dry and back again. Secret to the shirt’s success are “hydrophobic” fibers that transport sweat away from your body to keep you warm. It’s flexible and stretches for when you’re reaching over the side to net the big one. It also feels soft and smooth.

It’s easy to forget about the back of your neck when you’re on the water, until you get to the truck and realize your neck is red as an apple and painful to touch. Don’t worry about it again with this long-sleeve, hooded shirt. The fabric blocks UVA and UVB rays to prevent sunburn and the hood fits easily over your head. It’s also lightweight, breathable, comfortable, and wicks moisture away from your skin.

This shirt has it all. The hood protects your ears and neck from the sun. A UPF rating of 50 keeps harmful rays from your skin. Wicking material keeps you warm (or cool) and dry. And it looks good. It’s also treated with an extra shield of water and stain repellency. Nothing beats practical and attractive.

MLF pro Ott DeFoe often customizes his baits on tournament days. (Major League Fishing/)

Tennessee bass pro Ott DeFoe only seems like he’s been a bass pro for decades because of his consistent success: he finished in the top 20 in over half of the B.A.S.S. tournaments he fished in eight years, and finished in the money an astounding 79 percent of the tournaments he has fished. DeFoe has more than 45 career Top 10s and over $2 million in career winnings. He is the winner of the 2020 Bass Pro Tour Stage Three and 2019 Bassmaster Classic.

1. Outdoor Life: How can I catch bigger bass from shore?

Ott DeFoe: Find out-of-the-way places that other bank fishermen won’t go to. Just like it is in boat fishing, you have to be willing to go the extra mile!

2. OL: What’s your approach to fishing a lake you’ve never fished previously?

OD: The short answer is to look at four things: season pattern, type of lake (natural, highland reservoir, river etc.), weather, and finally water levels. Take all these factors and go from there. GPS mapping is a huge part anymore and helps once on the water to develop a pattern of where bites come from.

Always be on point. (Vince Fleming via Unsplash/)

You know you need to practice with your bow. No one should hunt without sufficient time at the range with firearm or archery equipment. But maybe you’re less sure what targets you should be using. Check out this list for the best options in paper, 3D, field points and broadheads so you’re ready for opening day.

Why practice with something other than what you’ll use in the field? If you’re someone who wants to know you’re on every time with the exact equipment you’ll use in the fall, check out this target. It is cube shaped, giving you targets at various angles and heights. It’s lightweight with an easy carrying handle. And most importantly, it has self-healing foam making it tough enough for broadheads, field points and even expandables.

Use this target and don’t plan to need another one anytime soon. The durable bag is made in the USA and can handle thousands of shots from field points. It’s designed for easy arrow removal and has different pictures on all sides to keep you engaged. It’s also approved for high-speed crossbows and compound bows.

Why shoot at a square target when you can practice on a simulation of the real thing? This life-size target has the body of a 250-pound whitetail deer and stands 36 inches high at the shoulder and 60 inches at the top. Arrows are easy to remove and a 4-sided replaceable insert core extends the life of the target. It’s also made in the USA.

When all you really need is a series of circle targets, buy what’s easy. These paper targets come in packs of eight, 20, 50, and even 200. Each page has three circular targets on it in blue, red, and yellow. The 40 cm targets are printed on 7 pt archery paper to limit the hole size and ensure longer-lasting targets.

These make the cut. (Street Donkey via Unsplash/)

Choosing the right chainsaw can be as personal a decision as picking the right boot or sleeping bag. It depends on the job in front of you, how much you’ll use it, and where you’re going to be cutting. So how do you choose? We’re taking away the mystery to selecting the best chainsaw so you can buy it and get back to work.

If you’re the person who volunteers to help friends clear their land after wind storms or tornadoes, or you heat your house with a wood stove, this is probably the chainsaw for you. With high torque over a wide rpm range, it’s ideal for jobs that require more power and a longer bar. It’s also ergonomically designed to be able to handle easily even with the additional power. Expect all the extras from an air-cleaning system that removes large dust and debris to a combined choke and stop control to reduce the risk of engine flooding. The only real risk is letting friends borrow it—you may never get it back.

An 18-inch bar and chain and 2-cycle engine will give you what you need for most basic projects around your yard. And you also get quickstart technology for earlier pull-starts and tool-free access to spark plug and filters. The 5-point vibration system makes it more comfortable than older chainsaws. If you don’t have a week’s salary to drop on a saw, this is a great, budget, lightweight, and efficient option.

Tired of wondering if you’re out of gas, or if the gas in your chainsaw has gone bad? For those household projects like trimming hedges or cutting out dead branches, go with a chainsaw you plug in. This 14.5 amp motor cuts similar to a gas chainsaw without fumes and mess. It has automatic oil lubrication and a built-in oil reservoir with window level indicator. The chain operates at 12 meters per second and the auto tension chain system stays at the right tension for hundreds of uses.

We know, a battery-operated chainsaw doesn’t seem like something that works. But think again. This chainsaw has 6300 RPM and a 14-inch bar and chain. Throw it in your truck or camper for ease cutting firewood at a campsite. Keep it in the garage for those small projects around the house. Expect up to 100 cuts per charge—plenty for any of the more minor jobs—and the chain has a kickback break for added safety.

Brian Bashore with a big post-spawn walleye. (Brian Bashore/)

Brian Bashore, a professional angler and guide in South Dakota, has been educating clients for over 10 years while tuning in his knowledge of walleye all across the Midwest. As a Bass Pro/Cabela’s pro, Bashore has been seen in several retail locations sharing his vast knowledge with eager listeners.

1. When you find fish, how long do you stay with a certain presentation before you change?

“I believe in what my electronics show me. If I see fish, I will fish them for about 15 minutes showing them a variety of presentations. If I can’t get them to bite, I’ll mark the location on the graph and come back later in the day to try again.”

2. How do you set up live-bait rigs for walleyes?

“Live-bait rigging for me usually means bottom bouncers and nothing beats a Slow Death rig here in South Dakota. I prefer to run my rigs on monofilament, allowing the bait to float off the bottom a bit–2 to 4 feet— leaders are usually long enough in the dirty water I fish.”

Cut the ice and drop a line. (Amazon/)

If you’re thinking about getting into ice fishing, or you are dabbling but would like to up your gear, we have you covered. This gear will make sure you’re staying warm and yes, it will even help you find fish. All you will need to do is buy some bait and wait for ice.

You don’t need to break the bank to catch fish through the ice. This Ugly Stik has everything you need and nothing that you don’t. Its aluminum spool is light and stainless steel guides are one piece. It also comes in length and weight options, offering you a variety depending on what you’re targeting. Save money on a rod and reel to invest in your auger.

If you’ve never ice fished before, and you’re not sure you’ll like it, this might be a little pricey. But if you know you’ll be spending plenty of time out on the ice, invest in an auger that won’t let you down. The power head is designed for higher transmission efficiency, and a brushless motor makes the digging process smooth. It’s electric, which means no messing around with gas, oil, and fumes. The best part? It’s only 15 pounds without the auger bit, so you can use your energy hauling big fish.

Sure, if the sun is shining and wind isn’t blowing, sitting outside while ice fishing is pleasant. But when temperatures drop well below zero and a breeze picks up, sitting outside next to a hole may feel like you’re freezing. That’s where this hut comes in. It takes 60 seconds to set up, is fully insulated and squishes down to fit in a duffle on your back. And don’t worry, if it starts to feel musty inside, it has removable window panels to let a little air in.

Why sit by a hole for hours hoping for a bite when you can know for sure if fish are swimming? This Flasher Series will get you there. It has a three-color fiber optic display that marks fish and your lure and shows you the lake bottom. The sonar allows you to hone-in on fish and fine-tune your coverage. Step up your game and catch more fish.

Getting in tight to the roost can be a killer tactic on late-season gobblers. (Alex Robinson/)

Time is running out on turkey season, so now is not the time to be cautious. Last week I hunted with Josh Dahlke, the vice president of content for HuntStand media (and a turkey maniac), on a property in western Wisconsin. In two days of hunting we were able to kill a fired-up gobbler with aggressive tactics.

The property we were on had already been hunted by three groups of guys before us. Most of these hunters preferred to set decoys out in a field and then wait in a blind from morning until afternoon, day after day. Some of those hunters punched their tags, others didn’t. But neither Dahlke nor I have that kind of patience when it comes to turkeys.

Our plan was to locate a gobbler on the roost and then get as close as possible (at least inside 100 yards) and then call him to the gun after he pitched down. The key to all of this is getting close enough to either bump off the tom’s hens (which are usually roosting nearby) or to get between the tom and his hens. To do this, we’d have to scout carefully. Of course this is a risky tactic, because if you get too close, your approach is too loud, or the timber is too open, you can easily spook the gobbler and end your morning setup before it even really starts.

But if you’re willing to take those risks, this is one of the most exciting ways to call in a henned-up gobbler late in the season. Turkeys might not be the most intelligent game species, but they’re not completely mindless either. At this point in the season, if a tom is with a flock of hens, he’ll know where they roost at night and where they will fly down in the morning. If you don’t intervene with their normal pattern, that gobbler will fly down, find his hens, and walk off, probably gobbling back at your calling the whole time, but never coming into range.

This is exactly what happened to Dahlke and I on the first morning of our hunt. We set up close to the gobbler, but he had hens farther down the ridge. He gobbled back to Dahlke’s calling, but we never actually saw him after he flew down. After awhile, he gathered up his hens and moseyed away in the opposite direction (we didn’t actually know this for certain because we never saw or heard the hens, but we had a pretty good idea).

Room for everyone. (Amazon/)

Maybe you have five kids. Maybe you have a few kids and dogs that the kids insist the dogs sleep in the tent. Maybe you like camping with friends but not everyone has a tent. Whatever your situation, don’t let a small budget keep you from the campout your sanity requires. We’ve narrowed the selection down to four tents for any need including one with separate rooms if you really want some space. From now on, don’t cram your family of five into a three-man tent.

This Coleman car-camping tent may not be the lightest tent on the market, but it doesn’t need to be. What it does need to do is keep the bugs and intermittent rain showers away. And do it on the cheap. You can pack up to eight people in this tent and even cordon off areas if you need a bit of space from one another. Venting allows you to adjust airflow in case any of the eight skipped their showers.

This 16-by-16-foot tent is meant for large groups, or even smaller groups who need areas to expand into. It has three rooms that can fit three queen airbeds. If you don’t need to sleep 12 people, use one of the rooms for playing cards when the weather turns. It sets up in under 2 minutes and has seven windows that can be opened and fully closed. Bonus for hot summer nights: the oversized ground vent fits an air conditioner, should you have one on hand.

Don’t cancel your plans just because the forecast calls for rain. You just need the right gear. This tent will keep 9 to 10 people warm and dry in the worst storms. It has a full-coverage rainfly, but also includes covered vents so the inside doesn’t become too musty. An anti-fungus floor protects your tent in humid areas, and the bathtub-style construction means puddles won’t form overnight. As another bonus, it’s more than 6 feet tall, so most of your party can stand inside.

Camping in bug country? Have kids who attract mosquitos, or dogs that are magnets for flies? This tent is the perfect solution to offer a refuge from biting insects while still being outdoors. Drink a cup of coffee on the porch while the rest of your family sleeps. Or let your kids stare at stars and feel the night’s breeze in the screened-in section. The affordable tent sleeps eight and sets up quick.