Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

Three great, but quite different whitetail cartridges. The venerable, versatile, long-action .30-06 (middle) with the short-action. .30-30 (left) and the short-action .243 Winchester (right). The .30-30 wasn’t specifically designed as a member of the short-action group because that designation didn’t come into popular parlance until the .308 Win. standardized it beginning in 1953. (Ron Spomer/)

Admittedly, one of the most overdone topics in the hunting industry is the Best Whitetail Cartridge. Every outdoor publication and website has done it. Some several times. A few annually. And still, no one agrees.

Why? Because the question is too broad. As if every whitetail weighed 300 pounds and lived on the edge of Saskatchewan’s buffalo plains where 300 yards is considered close. Or 100 pounds and haunted South Carolina swamps where 75 yards is considered a long shot.

Nevertheless, the articles keep popping up. That’s not all bad, because it gets hunters arguing and discussing stuff, if not thinking, and at least sharing some ideas. A few generate a hint of light with all their heat.

This article will avoid describing the Best Whitetail Cartridge in favor of comparing three of the more famous. Surely thousands, if not millions of deer hunters, consider one of these the ultimate whitetail round, whether it is or isn’t. So let’s dive right in.

.30-30 Winchester

The new Norma Bondstrike in 180-grain .308 Winchester. (Tyler Freel/)

When someone tells you that they’ve “tested” a hunting bullet, you should take it with a bit of skepticism most of the time. Accuracy on the range and performance in ballistic gel testing are valuable indicators, but the real proof is in a heavy meat pole. Even then, repetition and a variety of field conditions are necessary to convince discerning hunters of the merits of a new bullet. Even with all the opportunity I have here in Alaska, it can take years to generate a vetted track record of an ammunition’s performance on different types of game. That’s why a lot of big-game hunters find a bullet they trust and end up sticking with it. If it’s not broke, why fix it?

But if there was ever an ideal proving ground for quality hunting ammunition, it’s Africa. The game-rich hunting grounds in Africa provide the most valuable factor in testing hunting ammunition—opportunity for shots at game, and lots of it. So it was in Africa that I got to field test Norma’s new Bondstrike bullet.

The Bondstrike was a new offering for 2019, unveiled at SHOT Show. To the relief of many 6.5mm haters, the loaded Bondstrike ammunition is currently only offered in 180-grain, .30-caliber cartridges. It’s marketed as a long-range, high-B.C. bullet that’s bonded but will expand reliably. I looked at the pamphlet at SHOT, just like everyone else, and had no idea that I would be putting it to the test in South Africa nine months later. The bullet itself has an impressive B.C. of .615, and a bonded jacket that thins towards the front, allowing for expansion at lower velocities, but keeping the bullet together at high velocity. Often, bullets that expand reliably at long range will come apart up close, and tougher bullets will pencil-hole (not expand) at long range. The soap blocks we shot at various ranges showed a dramatic wound cavity within a couple inches of entry, but the bullets had great weight retention and penetration.

For my hunt in Africa, I shot .308 loads out of a Bergara B14 Ridge Rifle with a 22-inch barrel. On the range, the combination shot beautifully. I was able to shoot sub-MOA groups at 100 meters, and then I stretched out the range until I had good DOPE out to 800 meters.

We had the opportunity to hunt a variety of plains game, which have the reputation of being very hardy, tough critters of varying body size and anatomy. The most numerous were the impala and blesbok—both small, fleet-footed antelope, similar in size to pronghorns. I was able to take four total, one male and one female of each, with shots between 100 and 220 yards. I expected there to be a distasteful exit wound on these smaller antelope, but that wasn’t the case. A single shot through the lungs put them down quickly, with clean exits on all and catastrophic internal damage.

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 27 through November 3, 2019.

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A stud largemouth that couldn’t resist a green-pumpkin colored soft-plastic. (David Brown/)

There are only a handful of certainties in bass fishing. For example: When you ask someone if they can throw a baitcaster and hear: “You mean the one with the button?” That’s a hard “no.”

Equally bankable is the likelihood that if I fail to retie my obviously frayed fluorocarbon after that close encounter with a dock post, my next bite will be my nearly personal best, and I will watch that fish swim away when my line —and heart—breaks.

Granted, there is some degree of case-by-case variance here, but here’s a rock-solid statement that needs no setup: I can take a green pumpkin-colored (GP), soft-plastic bait and catch black bass anywhere they exist. That could be largemouth bass (Florida-strain or northerns), smallmouth, or spotted bass. But if you had to choose only one color for the remainder of your life, this greenish/brown design with the black specks is a safe bet.

Now, if you’ve already started writing the email, take a break and consider this important framing statement: We are not saying that green pumpkin baits are the best choice for every situation; nor are we saying other colors won’t work in scenarios in which GP also produces.

Nevertheless, green pumpkin is the most universally versatile color for soft-plastic baits, and there are a few compelling points to substantiate this premise.

Using a sous vide cooker is easy and can transform old recipes into something unique. (ChefSteps/)

Of all the ways to prepare meat, cooking sous vide is probably the least understood and most under-utilized. But if this French technique’s growing popularity in commercial kitchens is any indication, slow cooking “under vacuum” is a style that every serious home chef should explore. It is especially well-suited to meat and fish and requires only a few specialized tools to get started, including a vacuum sealer, which many sportsmen already own. When looking to expand your horizons in the kitchen, consider the benefits of cooking sous vide.

Set It and Forget It

Cooking sous vide basically means sealing the meal in a vacuum bag, submerging it in heated water, and circulating that immersion bath until finished. Because of the even heating and low temperature, it's hard to go wrong with this method. Just set it and forget it. One of the reasons sous vide is so popular in restaurants is the ability of chef's to prepare meals in advance, and then finish or brown off right before serving. It's also a handy technique for entertaining large gatherings at home.

Preserves Nutrients

Because the meal is vacuum-sealed, more vitamins and nutrients are preserved than with other methods. This means healthier food that tastes as good as it possibly can. The vacuum environment also allows chefs to experiment with infusing other flavors in the form of oils, herbs, spices and even alcohol into the preparation.

Don't get duped by your bow shop. (Jace Bauserman/)

The newbie bowhunter was excited. He’d just dropped serious coin on a new-for-that-year bow. He completed the package with a top-tier sight and rest. He spared no expense on arrows or broadheads.

The bow was in and out of the press before I could blink. I gave the bow tech the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he was just doing some preliminary work. Nope. The customer looked him right in the eye and asked, “Shouldn’t this peep sight be tied in?” His response: “No, these new peeps have deep grooves that grab the string. You will be fine. That thing will never move.” What!?

I spend lots of time in archery pro shops each year. A trio of my close friends own shops, and being an archery fanatic, I tend to shuffle through bow shops on a regular basis. Here’s the stone-cold truth: There are some great shops out there. Then, there are the hacks. Here’s six common fibs unethical archery pro shops feed bow hunters. Don’t be a victim. Knowledge is power, and the following this advice will help you save money and improve your shooting setup.

Fib 1): Draw Length Doesn't Need To Be Exact

Any shop worth its salt will make sure to measure you before putting you into a bow. If they don’t, you need to ask them to do so. It’s a simple process that measures your tip-to-tip wingspan. Numbers are taken and put into a (wingspan/2.5) formula, and viola, you have your draw length.

Having warm water when you’re off the grid can become a creature comfort you won't want to go without. (NEMO/)

A hot shower is one of those everyday luxuries usually unavailable in the outdoors. But a solar shower that harnesses the warmth of Mother Nature can add a touch of civility anywhere the sun shines. Just fill it with tap or creek water, let the shower bake for an hour or so, and then enjoy a hot scrub at your leisure.

Beach and Camp

The salt, sand, and grime of the waters and woods can quickly get irritating. At less than two pounds, the average solar shower brings some of the convenience of home to the outdoors without a great cost in added weight.

Survival Situations

Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and other natural disasters have a way of rearranging the plumbing in affected areas. When emergencies occur, a minimal investment in a sun shower can at least restore some semblance of normalcy and comfort in an otherwise difficult situation.

Electric winches adorn the front of many off-road vehicles, but there are also smaller, lighter, handheld models that make chores easier to tackle. (Smittybilt/)

Whether you are exploring on your own or off-roading with a group of vehicles, having extra towing capability can save the day in the event of an accident or other misfortune. A front-mounted electric winch is great for righting a vehicle from a ditch, pulling your own rig back onto the road, skidding timber, felling trees, hanging big game for processing, and any number of tasks that require heavy hauling. Consider these things when thinking about investing in an electric winch.

Weight Limit

Load capacity for commercial winches ranges anywhere for 1,000 to 15,000 pounds. The low end is enough for lighter tasks such as hanging game, stretching fence lines, or yanking a small vehicle or tractor out of the mud. For heavy duty pulling, demolition, and other tasks that require serious leverage, a winch in the range of 5,000 pounds or greater will offer a serious advantage.

Cable Material

Electric winches are available with towing lines composed of braided cable, sturdy nylon rope, or webbing straps. An amphibious winch with a synthetic rope that won't corrode or rust is a great addition to any vehicle pressed into hard service in chronically muddy or boggy environments.

A chicken or turkey cooked in an air fryer is healthier and tastes just as good (if not better) than a meal prepared in boiling oil. (Emeril Lagasse/)

For decades now, the standard method for frying a turkey involved a cauldron of boiling oil and alerting the fire department to remain on stand-by in case of an accident. Crisping up the holiday bird or any other traditional fried food doesn’t have to be such an adventure. Modern fryers use convection heating to achieve the same results without the mess or concern of what to do with a couple gallons of used oil after the feast. Here are a few reasons to consider an air fryer.

Frying or Dehydrating

Adjustable temperature ranges from around 100 up to more than 400 degrees allows you to control the rate of cooking. That means you can slowly dehydrate foods to produce snack chips from vegetables, wild game jerky, or dried fruit, as well as impart that deep fried crispness to fries, seafood, poultry, or other meats.

Use Less Oil

An air fryer relies on forced-air convection currents to circulate heat evenly around the food. That means you can use just a sprinkle of oil in many preparations, such as French fires, and still get the same crunch and taste as deep-frying.

Overland tents are easy to attach to vehicles and are a great alternative to sleeping on the ground. (TEPUI/)

One of the major disadvantages of sleeping on the ground is, well, sleeping on the ground. A standard tent is vulnerable to moisture under the footprint, and the cold ground can suck warmth away from campers. An “overland” style tent solves those problems by moving quarters up to the rooftop of your vehicle. Virtually any rig capable of supporting a rack system can be outfitted with a rooftop tent, which is like having a treehouse on wheels. Overland tents set up and break down quickly and are available with separate awnings to create an enclosed ground-level annex. If you are tired of the bugs and the wet associated with sleeping on the ground, maybe it’s time to move upstairs.

Tent Size

Most rooftop tents are meant for two adults and perhaps a small child. But there are options for larger tents that can accommodate up to four adults.

Built-in Mattress

A major advantage of a rooftop tent is some models incorporate a built-in high-density foam mattress. This increases comfort levels and reduces set-up time involved with furnishing a ground tent with self-inflating or blow-up mattresses.

Grilling planks are easy to use and available in several different wood combinations. (Grill Gourmet/)

Grilling planks are an excellent way to add another dimension to outdoor cooking. The indirect heat of plank grilling promotes even cooking, and virtually any kind of kind of meat, poultry, fish, or vegetable benefits from the natural wood flavors imparted by grilling planks. Western red cedar is the wood most often used, but maple, hickory, and alder are also common. If you stick to a few basic techniques, the process is simple and the results are delicious.

Soak Before Use

Prior to grilling, soak planks in a wide, shallow baking dish of warm tap water for about 15 minutes (or up to an hour in cold water). This will keep the plank from scorching during cooking; however, keep an eye on the plank to make sure one area doesn't dry out and ignite. Use a spray bottle of water to suppress any unwanted flare ups. You can also infuse your soaking or spray water with fruit juices, salt, herbs, or white wine to intensify flavors.

Scorch the Plank

Scorch one side of a plank before cooking. Then turn it over and lay your meal on the scorched side. This helps season the wood prior to cooking, minimizes warping, and imparts maximum flavor.

Make sure the soft case you’re considering is long enough to accommodate the rifle you plan to keep in it. (Allen Company/)

While there’s no doubt that a hard-sided gun case is the best choice for extended travel involving rough handling, a soft case has advantages, too. In addition to being lighter, a soft-sided case is usually sufficient for transport to and from camp, to the range, or day hunting locally. They’re less expensive than hard cases, easier to handle, and often feature external pouches for tools and accessories. No matter your choice of firearms, there’s a minimalist case to fit it.

Tactical

Modularity is the hallmark of any tactical soft good.The ability to add pouches, sleeves, or tool sheaths to any case with MOLLE webbing is literally what makes it tactical. Shoulder or ALICE straps add versatility to a tactical case, enhancing mobility and load distribution.

Shotguns

Most double guns are easy to break down into separate components, requiring smaller cases that are easier to transport. A break-down case also has an advantage over sleeve-type cases in that they can be filled with rigid padding or pluck foam to offer about the same protection as a hard case.

Is it better to vacuum seal wild game or wrap it in plastic and then butcher paper? (Outdoor Life/)

It’s meat season. Knives are sharp, grinders are churning, and vacuum sealers are running hot. Most of us have our own traditions of how we wrap or vacuum seal game before freezing it. We do it the same way every year because … it worked last year. Why change it?

Well, at the start of this season, I got curious. What actually is freezer burn? And is there a specific way of processing wild game meat that will prevent it from occurring for a longer period of time?

So I hit up Kenji López-Alt, the mastermind behind Food Lab, which is all about using science to unravel the mysteries of home cooking.

Here's what he said:

Freezer burn is caused by the sublimation of frozen water (ice) into water vapor. Normally, when ice turns to steam, it melts into water first. Sublimation is when ice turns directly into water vapor, skipping the water phase. In a controlled environment, such as with freeze-drying, this process can preserve the shape and color of foods while removing its water content. But when it happens to meat in your freezer, the result is freezer burn—inedible dry swaths of meat that need to be trimmed before cooking.

Bob, Nick, and I had just returned from a bone-chilling cold late December sea-duck hunt, and our first job was to get the sand and salt off both the insides and outsides of our shotguns. We’d then hang our gear in between the basement furnace and the dehumidifier to dry for tomorrow’s hunt before cleaning and picking the birds.

But Bob was so cold that he didn’t join us. Instead, he fogged up the bathroom with a hot shower. The relaxing heat made him tired, so he took a nap. Bob woke up a few hours later, ate a big bowl of clear clam chowder, and washed it down with a three-finger glass of bourbon. He was barely into the first quarter of the Auburn game when he passed out again. Bob didn’t move from the couch.

By morning, his pump gun was a mess. Rust formed on the receiver, the pins were frozen tight to the trigger assembly, and corrosion and sand kept the slide from moving. He skipped the morning hunt to try and resurrect his shotgun, and he was still hard at work when we returned. The choke tube was stuck, and it wasn’t coming out any time soon.

Time to See a Gunsmith

For over 35 years, virtually every shipping box opened by Doug Turnbull of Bloomfield, New York's Turnbull Restoration company has contained a rifle, shotgun, or pistol in rough shape. Negligence is only one of the many reasons for firearm failure. Other common problems come from accidents, while others are the result of regular use over time.

There are more than 600 species of oaks found growing around the world, and every one of them produces acorns. Acorns are different from other tree nuts because of their interesting two-part shell. The nuts have a smooth shell that is held inside a second cup-like shell called a “cupule.” This “shell and cap” structure is much different from other tree nuts like hickory and walnut, whose inner nut shells are surrounded by outer husks. Acorn cups (or caps) can have very different sizes, shapes, and textures, based upon the species. Some of them are shallow, covering very little of the nut's shell. Other kinds of caps cover half of the shell, and some almost surround it.

All oak acorns are edible, and they all contain some degree of tannic acid. This bitter substance can (and should) be soaked out in water, using various techniques. Some species produce huge acorns with low levels of tannic acid, while others grow tiny acorns that are loaded with it. While tannic acid has some outstanding medicinal benefits for topical problems, it’s an irritant to the GI tract. Consumption of tannic acid can cause nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and in extreme cases, intestinal bleeding.

Remove The Shells (and the Bitterness)

Growing up, my family had always said that acorns were poisonous, though this was probably due more to someone’s tasting of a raw acorn (and subsequently spitting it out) than any real heath threats. In fact, acorns are perfectly safe for those who don’t have an acorn/nut allergy, and they are listed as edible in all the survival guides. You just have to get rid of the tannic acid, which may be abundant or light – depending on species and growing conditions. Luckily, tannic acid is water-soluble, and we can remove it with a soaking technique that most people call “leaching.” Here’s the basic process:

Step 1 – Use rocks or a wide hammer to break the acorns open and crack the nut meat into pieces. Once smashed, separate the shell from the actual nut pieces. This is necessary for soaking since the shells are waterproof.

"The old duck men are fading into the sunset." (Minnesota Waterfowl Association/)

The Minnesota Waterfowl Association, one of the oldest, largest, and most effective state-based conservation groups in the nation, has ended its 52-year run.

The MWA announced its dissolution in a message posted on its website last month; the doors closed Sept. 30.

“Times have changed in the waterfowl and conservation world, and the old duck men are fading into the sunset,” the group announced in the statement. “Due to an aging and declining use base in waterfowl hunting and conservation a trend has developed over the last decade or so which points to the reality of the time. Declining duck populations, Duck Stamp sales, access, and declining membership are all indicators which contributed to this decision.”

The decision to fold was reached after months of angst, says John Schroers, chairman of the board of directors, who says he’s still experiencing the range of emotions associated with loss and death.

“I have sadness, anger, grief, bewilderment, disbelief. And resentment. Don’t forget resentment,” he says. “You could say that we’ve been declining for 20 years, but it became increasingly apparent that we’d be unable to meet our mission goals. One of the hardest things I’ve had to do was to tell the founders that their dream was going away.”

Select the best tent you can afford because like most outdoor gear, you get what you pay for. (Kelty/)

There are many ways to experience the backcountry, from hammock camping and tarp set-ups to simply sleeping under the stars. But for most folks, the standard shelter in wilderness travel is still the 1- or 2-person backpacking tent. A tent keeps the bugs out, is a better defense against blowing rain, and offers more room and privacy than the more minimalist approaches. When shopping for your next backcountry bivouac, consider the following features.

Weight

Any tent meant for more than two people isn't really a backpacking tent. It's someone else's load that you are only carrying for them. Generally speaking, for backpacking purposes each person should be shouldering about 2.5 pounds of tent gear. If you are traveling with a partner, split up the poles, tent, and rain fly to achieve the most equitable loads for each person.

Seasonality

Like sleeping bags, tents are usually rated as either 3- or 4-season gear. A 3-season tent should weather everything but deep snow and a monsoon. But a true 4-season tent can handle whatever nature throws at it, including torrential rains, cold, or heavy snow loads. Unless significant winter camping is on the recreational calendar, a 3-season tent will meet your needs at a more affordable price.

LED headlamps are bright, lightweight, and efficient. (Black Diamond/)

Headlamps were once used almost exclusively by miners toiling away in subterranean caverns because they could keep their hands free. Eventually, mountaineers picked up on a headlamp’s usefulness and climbers started employing them while they climbed above the tree line. Now, just about everyone that works or plays after dark uses one. Here are a few things to consider when picking one out for your adventures.

Light Output Levels

Always having the brightest light possible isn't ideal. For some of the tasks you use a headlamp for, like tying on a fishing lure before sunrise, low output is best. Look for a headlamp that has three or four brightness levels so you can handle whatever you're doing, whether that's unhooking a fish or navigating the lake. Moreover, look for a light with a low moonlight mode in case you need to rummage around camp without waking anyone up.

Red Light

Red or green light lets your eyes recover in the dark faster and doesn't affect your night-adjusted vision as adversely as white light. Choose a headlamp that has colored LED settings so you can get back to enjoying the dark of the night sooner. As a bonus, colored light modes typically prolong battery life.

Finding a bull during a 7 to 14-day hunt isn’t always easy. You may only get one chance. Better have a cartridge and bullet that can take advantage of any reasonable shot angle. (Ron Spomer/)

If you don’t live in moose country you might not believe this, but you can kill the world’s largest moose with your typical whitetail cartridge — even some of the smaller calibers — if you put a proper bullet in the proper place.

Many Alaskans and far north Canadians collect their winter moose meat with .303 British, .243 Winchester, and (drum roll please) .223 Remington.

That doesn’t mean any of these are ideal for the purpose, but it does reduce one’s tendency to insist on a bullet weight and cartridge size commensurate with the bulk and mass of a 1,000-pounds-plus bull moose.

To dissuade you from thinking I’m merely theorizing here, allow me to confess that I’ve hunted moose several times and taken at least seven bulls with six different cartridges, the largest a .300 WSM throwing 165-grain Barnes TSX bullets backed up by 180-grain Swift A-Frames. The smallest was a 6.5-06 spitting a 120-grain copper and bronze Lost River J-36 bullet no longer made. Between these were .30-06, .280 AI, 7mm Rem Mag., and .270 WSM. If there was any difference in terminal performance among them, neither I nor the moose seemed to notice.

In my limited experience, a chest shot moose stands as if trying to figure out what just happened. He might hop a step or two, walk or trot a few yards, then go back to cogitating until his blood pressure drops. And then he does. The only exception to this delayed response comes when moose are hit in the spine instead of heart/lungs. Those fall right over. (And the real work begins. Breaking down a moose is equivalent to taking apart four to six whitetails. But it feels like 10.)

White-tailed deer, like many other hooved mammals, crave salt and other minerals. That’s why many hunters use mineral blocks, licks and other mineral-based attractants as part of their hunting plans, and why so many manufacturers make such products specifically for hunters. However, using mineral blocks and licks to attract deer to your area and hold them isn’t as simple as just tossing out a salt block you bought at your nearby farm store. When shopping for mineral blocks, licks and other attractants, consider 10 types of mineral blocks and related products that can attract big bucks to your hunting area—and keep them there. (Check local regulations in your hunting area, since use of minerals might be considered baiting in some areas and some states don’t allow the practice.)

Buy Now

Block are one of the most popular types of mineral attractants available for deer hunters. Blocks can range from simple salt blocks—generally somewhat effective at drawing deer—to a mixture of salt, other minerals and flavors that some deer have a hard time resisting. Most mineral blocks made specifically for deer contain a large amount of salt, along with the various other minerals in different amounts. Many also include flavorings to make them even more attractive to deer. Some blocks are even disguised as rocks or logs in order to avoid alerting other hunters that they are in your hotspot when they pass through. Since salt and other minerals are healthy for deer and necessary ingredients in their diet, providing blocks also does your local deer herd a service.

Buy Now

Along with blocks, minerals and mineral-based attractants also are available in granule form. These are handy for sprinkling heavily over an area of ground and working into the soil to form a licking area that deer will visit frequently. Along with minerals, many also contain favored deer food or deer food flavors like acorns. Once a lick has been established with granules, deer will sometimes visit the place to paw and lick at it until it looks like wild hogs have rooted up the ground. Like other minerals, try a few in your area to determine which are the most effective and which flavors attract the most deer. Success is likely to vary from region to region, depending on what the primary food sources are in a particular area.