Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

The author fishes Montana’s Boulder River, where the banks and bed are open for wading. (Brian Grossenbacher/)

Ice and snow crunch under our tires as we pull up to one of the most popular stretches of river in Wyoming. On any given spring day, this spot on the North Platte is shoulder-to-shoulder combat fishing in front of a small dam that releases water year-round.

On this morning in early January, the temps won’t break freezing and the wind is blowing 25 mph. My husband and I are the only ones fishing the first public portion of the iconic Gray Reef section—the one that draws tens of thousands of anglers to its banks with the promise of 30-fish days. We lob streamers most of the morning without much action. By afternoon, we hit the symbol of fishing in Wyoming—a sign that reads private land: beyond this point fishing by permission only.

Welcome to wade-fishing in Wyoming. Our neighbor to the north, however, doesn’t have those signs—not legal ones anyway. Nearly every stream in Montana, whether on public or private land, is open to wade-fishing up to the high-water mark via public access. Every stream in Wyoming on private land is closed to wade-fishing without the aforementioned permission.

No Fishing, Hunting or Trespassing sign. (Brian Grossenbacher/)

Montanans say their water laws boost the economy and make anglers happy, bringing them back day after day. Wyoming says its private stretches feed a growing economy that’s able to offer exclusive fishing while also keeping the hordes from over-pressuring the resource.

At its core, the issue is as old as the American West itself: Who gets access to its natural resources? For anglers, what matters most is what the rules mean on the water. Can we walk the bank or not? Can we fish around that bend? Can we drop anchor and cast?

Late-season gobblers get spooky, so keeping calls light is the smart approach to lure in an old tom. (Lance Krueger/)

Every turkey hunt is a head trip as much as it’s a pursuit of beard and spur. Your elation lights up the dawn when a wild tom on a distant limb gobbles in reaction to your bogus owl hoot or coyote howl. As long as he keeps responding, your confidence soars like a triple jumper.

It’s natural to keep stoking the feedback loop, provoking that gobble and tickling the pleasure center of your brain. But at some point, you overdo it, and your distant correspondent goes silent. No matter how provocative your howls or how seductive your yelps, the gobbler is nowhere to be heard. As your confidence plummets, you start overthinking things, guessing that your coyote howl was a little too shrill or your owl call a little too hooty. Or that you simply haven’t called enough.

(Sign up for our free turkey calling course here. We teamed up with The Hunting Public on a seven-video tutorial)

You are now on the high sea of indecision, drifting between shutting up entirely and calling just a little more, or maybe a lot more—anything to coax just one more gobble. A response will not only confirm the turkey’s location, but also redeem your sinking self-esteem.

This is when most of us start to apply human motivations to a wild turkey. He must not have liked what he heard, you think. Or you assume the alternative, that turkeys don’t follow any prompt at all. “They’re just turkeys being turkeys,” you say to no one in particular.

A shooter in Arizona prepares to ring steel with an RDS-equipped pistol. (Yamil Sued/)

As we begin a new decade, handgunners are realizing a new normal: Miniature red-dot sights are quickly becoming the primary sighting system on virtually all pistols, whether for hunting, sport shooting, concealed carry, or service. Don’t be left behind. Getting up to speed with the latest technology always comes with a learning curve, but these tips and drills will smooth your journey to red-dot mastery and improve your handgunning skills.

Benefits

A red-dot sight increases accuracy at all ranges but is especially effective beyond 10 yards. This tech also makes shooting on the move and shooting at moving targets significantly easier. The RDS is also a blessing for shooters with aging eyes who have trouble keeping the front sight sharply in focus.

Beyond target shooting, the RDS-equipped pistol enhances situational awareness, allowing the user to observe a threat while maintaining the ability to deliver surgical shots on demand.

Trigger Control

Don't let a drizzle dampen your spirit. (K B via Unsplash/)

Rain is rarely ideal for outdoor exploits, but it’s a reality we all face at some point. Don’t be left out in the cold, or forced to stay inside. These three rain jackets are perfect for any outdoor outing, whether a warm-weather one where you need a light shell or a torrential November downpour. Use these as a guide to keep yourself waterproof, dry, and happy outdoors.

Excellent for fishing. (Amazon/)

Orvis is known for its high-quality fishing gear, and this jacket is no exception. Spend day after day in the pouring rain, and you’ll stay dry. The three-layer shell and waterproof, breathable interior fabric keeps you comfortable. The interior zippered security pocket, fly patch, rear yoke D-ring (for net attachment), and two zippered vertical pockets let you know the jacket is made for fishing. Dolphin Skin Cuff systems prevent water from dribbling up your arm after you reach in the water to grab your catch. The fish don’t care if it’s raining; you shouldn’t either.

Throw it in your pack and go. (Amazon/)

When you’re out on the trail, you don’t need anything fancy to keep you dry. This jacket is one of the lightest on the market, waterproof, and remarkably durable. It has pit zippers for breathability if you’re on the move and an elastic waist for a secure fit. Two zippered side pockets give you space to carry what you need. Consider this your constant hiking pack companion (and you can’t beat the color options).

Stay hidden and stay dry. (Amazon/)

This lightweight, packable, waterproof shell is all you need on a hunt anywhere. Use the shell as your protection from the elements, and layer as needed underneath for warmth. The shell is so small it packs into its own pocket, and the fabric has increased durability with less noise. Other features include compressible sleeves for bow hunting and a 3-point adjustable hood. It’s also machine-washable and the Teflon coating repels water and stains.

Warm hands mean longer days doing what you love. (Bonnie Kittle via Unsplash/)

Too often we make excuses for why we stop working and playing when it gets cold. At the top of the list is numb digits. Our fingers don’t work, we say. Frostbite is a real concern. We don’t have the right gear. Toss those excuses aside and invest in the clothes you need to keep you warm—and that starts with gloves. We found four that will keep you warm and functional through whatever Mother Nature sends your way.

Feel your trigger. (Amazon/)

Look at these gloves as an investment in your hands and in your table fare. A flap covering the fingers keeps your hands toasty while you walk and wait. The fingers are warm enough to keep the chill away but thin enough to allow you to feel confident shooting. GORE Windstopper covering the gloves will save your hands from a biting breeze and leather palms provide a no-slip grip for holding your rifle or shotgun.

Keep warm and stay on the job. (Amazon/)

Anyone who has swung a hammer on a 0-degree day knows the right pair of gloves is the difference between getting the job done and spending hours in pain. That’s why these gloves are well suited to hard, outside work with laminated wind barrier and Thinsulate insulation formulated to trap warm air. They also have ripstop reinforcement to repel water and prevent rips and tears. And don’t worry about taking them off for a phone call, one finger on each glove has a touchscreen-compatible pad.

Stay warm as you reel them in. (Amazon/)

Some of the best fishing can be during cold weather. But the combination of water, wind, and below-freezing temperatures is brutal on fingers and hands, and ordinary gloves just don’t cut it. That’s why these Orvis foldover shells are the perfect solution. Mitts keep your fingers warm when you’re not fiddling with flies or lures. When you need the perfect touch, fold the top back and you have access to your fingertips. For the price, buy two and keep the other stored in your pack.

Worry about your lines, not your hands. (Amazon/)

Nothing beats GORE-TEX for warmth and water resistance in the backcountry. These gloves have that plus extra insulation and a removable liner. They’re abrasion-resistant and have four-way stretch to keep you nimble. The goat-leather palm and palm patch allow you to grip your poles, skis or board and foam padding on the knuckles provides impact protection.

Arguably the best way to cook for a crowd. (Amazon/)

Maybe you eat grilled meat for every meal because you never really figured out how to cook meat indoors. Maybe you save grilling strictly for weekends, when you can pour yourself a drink and linger over coals. Maybe you need something just a bit fancier. Whatever your cooking habits may be, these grills have you covered from the most basic to the more sophisticated.

Cook to eat. (Amazon/)

If you’re a no-fuss chef with a penchant for weekly grilled meat and not a lot of time, this is the grill for you. The three-burner propane grill allows you to adjust for searing and cooking slowly. It has 529 square inches of cooking space and 30,000 BTU per hour. Add in a push-button lighter, hooks for your grilling tools and tables on either side for food going on and coming off the grill, and you’ll be making nightly meals for years to come.

Grill like a king. (Amazon/)

For a proper backyard barbecue, when the smell of charcoal mixes with seared steak, the Weber Original Kettle can’t be surpassed. The classic design guarantees charcoal perfection each time you pile up the coals and douse them with lighter fluid. Easy-to-use vents allow you to control temperature. The porcelain lid and bowl retain heat and won’t rust. The grill holds up to 13 burgers, or any number of other meats and vegetables.

Savor your barbecue. (Amazon/)

Anyone interested in grilling is probably looking for that smokey flavor that draws millions of people to barbecue restaurants each year and fills neighborhoods with delicious aromas. Now you can be the one making everyone’s mouths water. This grill knows what you want and is programmed to make it happen. A digital heat control feeds pellets for you. It will cook between 160 degrees to up over 400, providing everything you need for perfect meat.

Grill dinner on your balcony or boat. (Amazon/)

Don’t let this little grill’s size fool you. The compact grill can fit up to eight burgers, eight steaks, six to ten chicken breasts, or about four pounds of fish. It’s portable, making it perfect for quick campground barbecues or impromptu picnics at the lake. The best part? It’s only 18 inches long and 12 inches wide, weighing less than 14 pounds.

Tents for your next solo trip. (Tim Foster via Unsplash/)

Why pack a 3-man tent when it’s only you? Who wants to carry more weight than necessary into the woods? Sometimes solo expeditions are the best, and when you’re on one, all you need is a small place to keep you safe, warm and dry. These four tents will take care of any need, from the smallest bivy to a roomier traditional tent.

Sleep tight. (Amazon/)

Packed up tight, this bivy is 4 inches high and 7 inches wide. Set up, it’s just big enough for you and your sleeping bag. It’s waterproof and stakes tight to the ground. It weighs just a hair over a pound. It’s all you need when you’re on your own and you want a light, easy place to sleep on your next backcountry outing.

Keep yourself and your bag dry. (Amazon/)

Weighing just 2.5 pounds but containing 20 square feet of floor space, this one-person tent has plenty of room for gear. It has a roomier living space than most in its category and all the bells and whistles including storm flaps on both vestibule zippers, a media pocket for earbud cord routing, and two-tone mesh for privacy while stargazing. The seams are waterproofed and the bottom is ultra-durable. Stay comfortable, wherever you pack yourself into.

Save your money for food. (Amazon /)

This tent has everything you need—a vestibule, waterproof shell, and ventilation window—and nothing you don’t. The tent weighs under 3 pounds and can go with you anywhere.

Stay warm, stay alive. (Amazon/)

This Black Diamond tent is made for four-season adventurers who are just as likely to be sleeping on an ice field than in a campground. Billed as a two-person, this is the right size for one person and gear. It has a single door entry and optional vestibule for more storage. Two internal aluminum poles allow for easy setup.

Cabin fever is real problem. But it's one you can solve. (John Hafner/)

These days there’s enough fear and uncertainty to go around for everyone. Most folks are simply doing their best to hang tough and help keep themselves and others safe the best way they can. Many of us now find ourselves on lockdown, mandated to stay home. Some are lucky to have exceptions, and easy access to the outdoors, but some aren’t. There are a lot of folks out there who are getting a first-hand dose of real cabin fever. Even here in Alaska, we are on stay-at-home orders—and at the tail end of the coldest winter in 44 years. The lockdown comes at the time of year where suicide rates already peak in Alaska. I have no doubt that the situation looks bleak for many people throughout the country, with the psychological pressures of confinement being as real a threat as the virus for many. The good news is that we are resilient, and that we can find ways to cope, and even find some positives.

The long winters of interior Alaska force those of us who live here to come up with ways to fight the cabin fever. The honest truth is that many of us have already chosen social distancing as a lifestyle. So here are some thoughts from a guy who is happy to spend a whole weekend tinkering in his garage.

Find a Project

The most helpful thing that anyone can probably do to fight the boredom is to find things to keep your mind and skills occupied. This is cabin fever 101, and pretty redundant rhetoric, but it really does help. The obvious things that come to mind are board games and card games, Netflix, and social media, but most of these time-killers aren’t really healthy or helpful in occupying your mind.

You need to work on something productive, even if it’s just a small project. This is straightforward for some of us: remodeling work, cars or equipment to tinker with, a backlog of ammunition to handload, or easy access to a fishing lake. Some folks will have to get more creative, but the key is to look for some sort of meaningful work to do, regardless of how silly it may seem, taking into account the resources and access to supplies that you have. I’ve used some down time to build a muzzleloader kit, and I am very much looking forward to hunting with it. The project pulled double duty. It gave me something to work on, but the whole time I was tinkering with it, I was looking forward to the fall hunting season, which gave me a little mental reprieve.

Archery hunting spring longbeards is popular, but it’s not easy. The difference between what has to happen to fill a shotgun tag on a turkey versus what has to happen to skewer one with an arrow is as wide as the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. While it might seem as simple as popping up a blind in a field and yelping until a gobbler struts in, there’s usually a lot more that goes into a successful hunt. Here is how to punch your tag this spring.

Don’t Skip Scouting

Use a trail camera so you know when gobblers are traveling the area you are hunting. (Tony Peterson/)

When you stuff a trio of 3.5” shells into a shotgun and hit the woods at first light, the plan is usually to hear a gobble and get moving. After that it’s a cat-and-mouse game that might involve putting your back to several trees in an attempt to get the bird within that magical 40- or 50-yard line. Then it’s jellyhead time.

When it comes to bowhunting and blinds, the mobility is gone, which means you better be in a spot that the birds want to be in. The only way to ensure this is through scouting. Spending a few days walking the woods and looking for fresh sign, not only beneath roost trees but anywhere the birds might be feeding, will start to clue you into the daily travels of the neighborhood flock.

If you have the option, throw up a couple of trail cameras as well. This will give you the chance to monitor wooded logging roads, small clearings, or simply the field edge that has the most tracks. What you’ll see when you check the camera, are all of the day-long visitors. If you’ve set the date and time stamp correctly, you can dial into the times of day when turkeys are most likely to visit your spot. Better yet, use video mode and set it for the longest-in-duration recording setting. I use two minutes, because if the hens walk by and trip the trigger, it might be 45 seconds before the toms strut through, and I want to see every member of the flock every time they walk past.

Success with dropback steelhead is all about monitoring river conditions. (Joe Cermele/)

Based on my first few attempts, I assumed that suffering was essential to catching steelhead on Great Lakes tributaries. Those early trips, made between December and March, left me with numb extremities, ice-clogged guides, and few, if any, fish. That’s why, during the first week of May a few years back, I almost felt guilty wearing short sleeves while fighting my umpteenth steelhead. A few months prior, during a frustrating midwinter trip to the Salmon River in New York, the clerk at Whitaker’s Sport Store took pity on me and said, “If you really want to catch them good, come back in the spring for the dropbacks.” He was referring to the post-spawn steelhead in the process of returning—or dropping back—to Lake Ontario. After a winter of limited feeding opportunities, these steelhead chow voraciously to regain lost weight, making them much easier to catch. What’s not as easy is figuring out when to show up.

Time Crunching

The peak action may last a couple of weeks at best, and some years, it doesn’t happen at all. An extended period of high, muddy water in spring could send post-spawn steelhead flushing back to the lake in one rapid shot before anglers ever get a chance to target them.

On Great Lakes tributaries, steelhead spawning usually begins in February and can continue into May. Runoff, water levels, and water temperatures all determine when spawning occurs, and that varies from river to river and year to year. The fish linger in the river up to a few weeks after the spawn before warming water sends them to the cool lake depths. This means the best dropback fishing can happen from early April to mid-May.

Joe Diorio, a Connecticut-based charter captain and obsessed steelheader far more experienced with dropbacks than me, watches the water levels above all else. When they return to normal after a spring runoff, he clears his schedule. “I prefer lower water in the spring,” he says. “It concentrates the fish in the deeper holes.”

For those who prowl the spring woods, there are more prizes out there than gobblers and deer sheds. The morel mushroom can be found as winter loses its grip on the forests. But like any other foraged food, mushrooms pose some hidden hazards and you have to be able to locate the right species before you can make a meal out of them. It takes time and experience to become a legendary morel finder, but these tips wills shorten your learning curve.

What Is A Morel?

Morels typically begin to grow in late March through May. (USFWS/)

There are several species of edible morel mushrooms in North America, and a few toxic species that resemble the edible ones. The yellow morel (also known as the common morel or Morchella esculenta) is one of the easiest to spot. These grow in forested areas, typically in late March to May (depending on the soil temperature). You’ll find them blending into the leaf litter and growing 2 to 4 inches tall with tan, grey, or yellowish coloration. Their color (and irregular pitting) creates a very effective camouflage, protecting them against hungry creatures on two legs or four. The black morel (Morchella elata) is also worth mentioning, as it’s often the first species of the season. This one is smaller than the yellow species, with darker ridges and a yellowish color inside the pits.

Timing Is Everything

Depending on your latitude and elevation, April and May are the most common months to find edible morels. But mushrooms don’t go by calendars, so the timing of their emergence is all about soil temperatures and it has nothing to do with the actual date. When spring runs early, morels will pop early. While mycologists (mushroom scientists) disagree on the exact numbers, the basic parameters are that the soil surface temperature needs to reach 60 degrees for three or more days in a row. This window doesn’t last long, especially during a very warm spring, as these mushrooms stop growing when the soil temperatures are over 62 degrees. One indicator species that also reacts to these temperatures is mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum). When this native woodland wildflower is in bloom, your area is likely to be at the right soil temperature for morels

English setter puppy Crosby works on basic retrieving with a pigeon. (John Hafner/)

Tom Loy of Tallgrass Gordon Setters sits by the whelping box, where a litter of 3-day-old setter puppies navigate their tiny universe from behind closed eyes. One by one, Loy lifts the puppies from the box and runs them through a series of brief exercises. When he is finished, the puppies go back into the box and crawl close to their mother.

Those lessons continue for the next 13 days, and while the exercises have nothing to do with bird hunting—­­at least, not directly—they effectively teach Loy’s setter puppies how to manage stress. Years later, this early training results in dogs that are less timid, more social, and better equipped to handle the stressful situations that any working dog encounters in the field.

Super Puppies

The program Loy uses (Google “bio sensor programs” for more details) was pioneered by the U.S. military as part of an effort to improve the performance of service dogs. Research shows that shortly after birth, puppies and other mammals are particularly responsive to stimuli, and that early stimulation can improve overall health. Exposing puppies to stimuli has been shown to increase brain function, which boosts overall confidence while reducing stress-linked behaviors such as biting or growling. Originally dubbed “bio-sensor training,” these exercises are now known as the Super Puppy program.

From the age of 3 days to 16 days, each puppy in the program is exposed to five stimuli once each day. These include being held in head-up, head-down, and supine (on the back) positions; cotton-swab stimulation on the paws; and being laid on a cold washcloth. Each phase, which doesn’t inflict pain so much as discomfort, lasts just seconds, and after the training is complete, the dogs are returned to their mother.

Sunglasses that will protect your eyes, keep your vision clear, and, crucially, stay on your face. (Katherine Hanlon via Unsplash/)

If you’re ever forgotten your sunglasses while fishing on a sunny spring or summer afternoon, you know that you might as well pack up your gear and call it a today. Because if you’re sight fishing without glasses, you’re effectively casting blind. And even if you’re not sight fishing, it’s zero fun to spend an entire day squinting as you tie knots and change lures. We’ve found four pairs of outdoor-ready eyewear from across the price spectrum—several of which are so cheap, you can buy a pair to leave in your glovebox, tackle box, and fly vest, so you’re never caught without shades again.

High-quality budget sport shades. (Amazon/)

You’d be hard-pressed to beat the Ryders Seventh when it comes to reasonably priced sport sunglasses. The impact-resistant, semi-rim shades boast UV 400 protection and weigh about 2.4 ounces. They also have scratch-resistant finish and adjustable, hydrophilic nose pad and temple tips. The glasses come in several lens options, including polarized, anti-fog, and photochromic variants, the latter of which adjust to sunlight levels.

An affordable Wayfarer alternative. (Amazon /)

Eyewear upstart Goodr makes super-affordable running glasses that fit snugly, are well-built and comfortable, and resemble the classic, perma-cool Ray-Ban Wayfarers. Since the goofily named polarized glasses are designed to neither slip nor bounce while jogging, they’ll no doubt stick to your face while you cast at a rising fish. And if you do happen to scratch and bang up the UV 400 shades while on the river, Goodr offers a one-year warranty, so you can swap them out for a new pair.

Sturdy, affordable shades, backed by a lifetime warranty. (Amazon/)

Made from recycled plastic, the Sunski Navarro, like the Goodr A Ginger’s Soul, recalls the classic Wayfarer but without the high price tag. Designed for sports and active use, the polarized Navarros are comfortable and well-fitting and offer 100-percent UV protection. The glasses tend to cost just a bit more money than similar Goodr models, but the tradeoff is the Sunski’s lifetime warranty, so you can go forth knowing you’re covered in the event of incidental damage.

Top-shelf performance shades that block a crazy amount of sunlight. (Amazon/)

Designed for hardcore mountaineers, the Julbo Shield are high-performance, wide-view sunglasses that are ergonomically designed to grip the face and head. They’re also the most expensive pair of glasses on our list, but not without reason. What really distinguishes the glasses are the high- quality polycarbonate Spectron lenses. The Spectron 4 lenses block 95 percent of visible light, for maximum sun protection while climbing mountains, while the Spectron 3 series is more versatile and suited to most sports.

Clear views. (Paul Gilmore via Unsplash/)

There’s just something special about seeing the woods from an elevated position. And there’s plenty of advantage in that lofty perch as well. There’s no shortage of treestand options available, and we’ve spent hours of time on stand to help us pick the best of the best.

Built for the mobile setup. (Amazon/)

If mobility is what you’re looking for in a treestand, the Vanish Evolution is your stand. Weighing in at just under 11 pounds, the Evolution is easy to carry and its cast aluminum construction is quiet and stable. The padded seat cushion is comfortable and the platform is adjustable to fit varying tree angles.

Roomy, comfortable, and portable option. (Amazon/)

With a generous 28-inch-by-23-inch platform, this all-aluminum option is roomy and stable. The Featherweight Switch can adjust to crooked tree trunks thanks to the adjustable platform and the comfortable seat features nearly three inches of padding. The stand weighs 17 pounds.

Time-tested cast aluminum design. (Amazon/)

Weighing in at about 12 pounds, this sleek stand is ideal for those who love to be mobile in the woods. The Assualt II’s cast aluminum platform is fully adjustable and features an integrated bow-holder. The cinch-strap attachment is quick and silent.

Super-comfortable and easy to hang. (Amazon/)

The M50 features Millenium’s revered zero-gravity seat design that provides true all-day comfort. The roomy platform measures 24 by 30 inches and features a leveling system. The CamLock receiver makes for quick and secure setups in a variety of trees. The stand is made of powder-coated steel and weighs in at 20 pounds.

Add more flavor. (Amazon/)

The days of charcoal are all but over. Pellets are the outdoor cook’s new best friend and these versatile, pellet-fueled units will have you smoking, grilling, and baking in no time. They’re easy to use and deliver consistent results and tremendous flavor.

Do-it-all workhorse smokes and grills. (Amazon/)

The Razorback can grill, bake, roast, and, of course, smoke. It features an easy-to-read digital control panel with precise temperature control. The hopper can hold 11 pounds of hardwood pellets and the unit features 305 square inches of cooking area.

Easy, no-hassle smoking perfection. (Amazon/)

The Holiday is an 8-in-1 unit that features a large 399-square-inch cooking area and a 10-pound pellet hopper. The automated feed system maintains temperatures between 180 and 450 degrees for simple, consistent results. The Holiday comes with a lifetime warranty.

Ideal size for the at-home cook. (Amazon/)

With 380 square inches of grilling area, the Renegade Elite is the optimal size for at-home use. As with all Traegers, the digital Elite controller precisely controls the temperature within 20 degrees with the turn of a dial. The unit includes a wire front prep rack and an integrated tool caddy.

Budget-friendly pellet performance. (Amazon/)

If you’re looking for a terrific pellet smoker/grill without a lot of bells and whistles, the Pit Boss is worth a long look. It features an impressive 440 square inches of cooking surface. You can dial in the digital temperature between 180 and 500 degrees and includes a removable warming rack.

Bigger is better seems to be the mantra of today’s scope buyers, but remember to match objective diameter to power. No matter how big the main tube, objective diameter divided by power yields the exit pupil, and if that is smaller than your pupil, you’ll lose brightness. (Ron Spomer/)

Bigger! Brighter! Nearly 110 percent light transmission! Sees in the dark!

Few things in hunting optics are more hyped and misunderstood than riflescope brightness. Every shooter wants a bright, bright view. And every scope maker promises one. But the truth is:

Riflescope brightness is not as big a deal as advertising makes it out to be.Differences in brightness from scope to scope are often undetectable to users.Some features credited with brightness don’t even contribute.Some high-end scopes aren’t as bright as some costing half that.
The rose, purple, and green colors you often see reflected on objective lenses indicate an anti-reflection coating, usually several layers. Oddly enough, they do not change the color of the image that exits the eyepiece, but they do brighten it considerably. (Ron Spomer/)

Before we dive into details, let’s agree that a bright scope is useful. Who wants to peer through a dim scope at murky images? When we put that magnified view over a deer or bear, we want to clearly see not only the subject, but our aiming reticle hovering over it. It’s important to know what “ingredients” provide that in a bright riflescope.

Big objective lens—Here’s something everyone understands. The bigger that front lens, the more light it lets in. If you want to see what you’re aiming at in low, low light, get a giant objective lens! The bigger the better. Maybe.Big main tube—Forget those antiquated 1-inch main tubes. You need 30mm at a minimum and 34mm is even better because anything smaller restricts the light passing through, right. Uh, no.Lens coatings—Anti-reflection coatings, to be precise. Do these really make a difference? Oh yes!Light gathering ability—Oh yeah, this is the big one. A scope that really gathers light is the brightest, right? Wrong.
This is the extreme test for riflescope “brightness.” Look toward the setting sun at an animal in the shade. If the scopes antireflection coatings control flare and glare properly, the shadow subject, although dim, are sharply defined with crisp edges and good color saturation, all of which helps make it stand out visually. (Ron Spomer/)

Half truths and misconceptions are what’s wrong with the four points above. Let’s address them individually.

Is Bigger Better?

Small-river walleyes are brute fighters on light tackle. (Bill Lindner/)

Turk Gierke is a 20-year fishing guide who lives in the heart of walleye country—Minnesota. But his favorite place to fish isn’t one of the state’s iconic 10,000 lakes. It’s the upper St. Croix River, which is only a few feet deep and less than 100 yards wide in many areas. The beauty of small and midsize walleye rivers like the St. Croix is that once you understand how to pattern fish on one, you can do it on any of them. According to Gierke (croixsippi.com), it’s a different game because conditions are always changing, so you spend less time glued to your electronics and more time actually reading the water.

You may not land as many giants in these smaller waters, but river walleyes fight harder—an 18-incher on light line in only 6 feet of flowing water will give you a run for your money. The more time you spend chasing river walleyes, the more you’ll sharpen your hunting instincts, but these tips from Gierke will shorten the learning curve.

Reading Material

Much like in trout fishing, flow and water clarity dictate success. Gierke says good flow and slightly stained water conditions are ideal. High, surging water the color of chocolate milk spreads the fish out and makes it difficult for them to feed. But when that high water starts to drop, visibility increases and the hottest bites happen because walleyes haven’t been actively feeding for a few days. Under falling and clearing conditions, Gierke says, the key is to target the edges of deep holes and flats, which he identifies first by reading the water—stronger flows cut troughs in the riverbed—and then zeroes in with sonar. But hotspots shift as river levels fluctuate.

“When the water comes up, the fish come up,” Gierke says. “In high water, I’ll be fishing in an area that might have been an exposed sandbar just a few days before.”

Outdoor perks. (Leslie Cross via Unsplash/)

You’re addicted to coffee. You might try to deny it, but if you’ve ever gone on a hunting and fishing trip without your morning cup, you know that it’s a certified fact. (You’re in good company, for what it’s worth: Teddy Roosevelt reportedly drank a gallon of the stuff a day, even when in the backcountry.) Fortunately, the days of suffering through cowboy coffee are long gone, and today’s sportsmen have tons of choices when it comes to brewing up a cup while afield. We’ve narrowed down four options, one of which will surely suit your next outing.

A simple, cost-effective way to satisfy caffeine cravings. (Amazon /)

This 32-ounce container has a super-tough 18-8 stainless steel outer pot, designed for cooking and boiling water in camp, which is handy. But, for caffeine-addicted sportsmen, the real appeal is the internal French-press component, which makes brewing ground coffee beans straightforward and easy: No paper filters, no instant coffee, no plethora of parts to keep track of and clean. Plus, it’s affordable. This pot has received an overwhelming amount of praise from Amazon reviewers, and no surprise.

A percolator perfect for a crowded deer camp. (Amazon/)

The 32 ounces of coffee that the Stanley Adventure All-In-One Boil can brew should be enough to share with a buddy. But if you’re throwing a big deer camp or cooking breakfast for a crowded duck blind, you’ll want to opt for the stainless-steel Farberware Classic Yosemite Percolator. Ideal for camping-stove cooking, it brews about 96 ounces of coffee, has a reasonable price tag, and seems to hold up better than many enamelware percolators. Plus, it just has a nice, classic look.

Instant coffee that’s actually tasty. (Amazon/)

If weight is a concern on your upcoming outing, instant coffee can fill the void of a normal cup of joe and prevent you from having to pack excess coffee-making supplies. Opinions abound online about the best instant coffee, but Mount Hagen is a clear favorite, in terms of taste anyway, the downfall of most instant-coffee options. Mount Hagen is organic and fair-trade certified, and, no shock, it isn’t exactly cheap. But if you’re after tasty coffee, it’s a good option. Plus, since it comes in a jar, not in those little plastic pouch things, so you won’t have to worry about littering on the trail.

A cheaper instant option. (Amazon/)

Though Mount Hagen might dominate in terms of taste, it certainly might set you back a bit financially. If you can’t stomach spending that much money on instant coffee, Alpine Start receives generally favorable taste reviews. The little plastic pouches that it comes in aren’t compostable or recyclable, unfortunately, so you’ll have to keep up with litter, but you might find the savings worth it.

A lighter pack is a better pack. (Kyle Glenn via Unsplash/)

Long-distance hikers and backpackers obsess over minimizing the weight of their gear. More sportsmen would certainly benefit from doing the same, especially those who intend to cover miles or spend substantial time in the wilderness. Because, after all, hunters and anglers have the added weight of a rifle or fishing tackle to reckon with. We’ve rounded up four ingenious pieces of camping gear that’ll help shed pounds from your pack and prove super handy in the backcountry.

An easy-to-pack solar light source. (Amazon/)

The Luci inflatable solar lights won us over on a recent Alaskan fishing trip. The Pro model puts out an impressive 150 lumens of light and lasts 50 hours per charge. It’s also waterproof and rechargeable via USB if sunlight is in short supply. Perhaps most notably, the Luci 2.0 weighs just 4.4 ounces—about equal to a deck of cards—and deflates to 1.5-inch-thick, 5-inch-wide disk, making it a perfect, easy-to-pack way to provide light to your campsite.

A cleverly designed cooking grate. (Amazon/)

If you’re bent on cooking over an open fire, this stainless-steel, 19.8-ounce portable camping grill creates a 9.1-inch-by-10.2-inch cooking surface when assembled and breaks down to an 11.4-inch-by-0.9-inch tube, for relatively easy storage and packing. According to user reviews, the grill isn’t quite as durable as, say, a heavy-duty welded steel grate. But that’s no real surprise. What the Grilliput will do is pack easily and help you reduce weight.

A practical tool in a mini package. (Amazon/)

A wave of mini keychain multi-tools have hit the market over the past few years. But many of these bitty tools, though novel, tend not to be terribly practical in the backcountry. The Gerber Dime is an outlier in this regard. The 2.24-ounce workhorse boasts 10 different tools—a bottle opener, needle-nose pliers, a wire cutter, a blade, a package opener, scissors, a medium-flat driver, a crosshead driver, tweezers, and a file. And yet, through some next-level design know-how, the stainless-steel Dime measures just 2.75 inches when closed, and users have applauded the little wonder for its quality and durability.

A space-saving cooking tool. (Amazon/)

At 10 ounces, this silicon-sided pot weighs less than many other backpacking pots and holds a substantial 1.4 liters. (It’s also available in 2.8- and 4-liter versions.) The 7-inch pot’s chief appeal, though, is that it collapses down to about an inch thick, ensuring that it takes up almost no space in your pack. The X-Pot’s aluminum base heats up just like a traditional camping pot, and it should work with most normal backpacking stoves.

The author shows off a heavy bowfin caught in the Florida Everglades. (Courtesy of David Graham/)

Bowfins are controversial. The very mention of these “trash fish” on social media can incite warfare in the comments. They have been here since the Jurassic Period, but I first found them 20 years ago along the tailwaters of Lake Columbia in Arkansas. I was 12 years old, fishing the muddy banks of a spillway. Battling with a bowfin was so violent compared to the bream and bass I was used to—I became obsessed.

Everything I learned in those early days came from having boots on the ground. Information about catching bowfins was scarce, and it’s still scarce today. Much of what I figured out while chasing these underdogs across seven states came from my ability to read water. Bowfins thrive in river and tidal systems, but ironically, they don’t like current. Targeting them in these areas means using the flow to create road maps to the places where the water essentially isn’t flowing at all, or at least very little. If you’re ready to give these brawlers a shake, here are the most critical things I’ve learned about finding and hooking them in moving water systems.

Ride the Tide

The inland portions of coastal lowlands that the tide reaches but the salinity does not are some of my favorite places to target big bowfins. Success revolves around fishing along grassy floodplains and in feeder creeks during a falling tide. Sawgrass edges, thick mats of hydrilla, and other forms of river grass or pads affected by tides provide excellent habitat for bowfins. But as the tide falls and exposes the vegetation, the fish will be flushed out of these hiding places and get condensed into smaller, weed-filled pockets. I like to target these fish with creature baits, or any soft plastic that imitates a crayfish. You can punch through cover with them, and work them slowly and precisely, which is often key because in low water, a bowfin isn’t usually as willing to move too far for a meal.

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