Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

I killed a bull elk in Idaho six weeks before the 2020 election, and my grandson volunteered to pack out the 100 pounds of meat and antlers you see on his back.  Several of those who helped quarter the elk had Donald Trump signs and used the antlers as appropriate flagstaff to show their support.  I didn’t publish the photo then because I thought mixing politics with the outdoors was unethical.

Make Your Own Decision

Former President Trump will speak at the NRA Great American Outdoor Show on Friday, February 9th.  Here’s the information from the GAOS website: Join President Donald J. Trump and other leading Second Amendment supporters for the NRA Presidential Forum on Friday, February 9 at the Great American Outdoor Show. Free admission with the purchase of a Great American Outdoor Show ticket. Event starts at 5:00pm – Doors Open at 3:00pm. You may not line up until 2:00pm.

I met Clive Perkins in 1994 on my first African safari.  He was just 21 at the time and was a new Professional Hunter.  Today, Perkins has his own concession on the border of South Africa and Botswana and offers various bowhunting options.  His 18-year-old son is also a certified Professional Hunter and accompanies many of Clive’s clients.  Their 30 years in business is a testament to their company’s client satisfaction and a great place to take your first or dangerous game safari.

Compound or Crossbow

Bowhunters can hunt from ground and elevated blinds with shooting ranges of 20 to 30 yards or spot and stalk.  Perkins offers a variety of package hunts beginning with the Plains Game Special which includes 5 days of all-inclusive hunting and a blue wildebeest, impala, and a warthog for $2450 for a minimum of two hunters.  Other packages have more animals from seven to ten days with the ability to customize you hunt to meet your hunting goals.  Even the elusive Cape Buffalo is $9,500 for you and a buddy.  Booking a safari for five or six animals is less than half the price of a guided elk hunt out West and you will be hunting in areas of high game concentrations with virtually no competitive hunting pressure.

Rifle Hunting Too

Much of the fun derived from an African safari comes from sharing the adventure with friends and I have many who would rather rifle hunt than use a bow.  By choosing a safari company that offers both methods, you don’t limit friends who choose to hunt differently.  Or, if stalking a Cape buffalo with bow and arrow is a bridge-too-far, you can bow hunt plains game and challenge black death with a powerful rifle and enjoy the best of both worlds.

Great Accommodations

Despite the wilderness location, safari companies go to great lengths to make sure that guests are comfortable and well fed.  You can expect hearty American-style breakfasts, nutritious lunches, and festive evening meals with meats, including wild game, seared over native wood coals.  Every African campfire is a source of celebration and a fitting end to a spectacular hunting day.  Pack light because your clothes will be washed and ironed each day.  Mornings in June, July and August are chilly, but the day warms quickly.

Meet the Professional Hunter- www.sportsmanssafaris.co.za

Stunning new findings from a nonpartisan citizen group indicate gray wolves are roaming nearly two-thirds of a state that was once considered marginal home range for North America’s apex predator. In data released today, Wisconsin Citizen Wolf Count documents wolf sightings in 45 of the state’s 72 counties. Of these sightings, sets of data have […]

The NRA Great American Outdoor Show lasts for nine days with so much to see, you can spend the full day and not get done what you intended.  I’ve been a regular at this event for 40 years and have learned a few tricks to maximize my success.  First, decide what is most important to you.  Just seeing all the cool new bows, fishing gear, and great adventures is entertaining, yet are there specific things you’d like to buy or do?

Terrific Website

First, go the www.GreatAmericanOutdoorShow.org website for all the details about the show.  You can buy tickets, learn about parking and other logistics.  On the website, begin with “Explore the Show” or click here.  Your first thought when you see 986 exhibits, may be “Holy Cow, there are a lot of exhibits,” and you’d be correct.  Let’s say you want to visit Alaska.  On the opening page you will find several Alaskan hunting and fishing guides and David Lazer who specializes in guided Alaska travel.  He’s an Alaska native, big game guide, and very knowledgeable of the nuances of Alaska.  He provides a “boots on the ground” tour that cruise ships can’t.  Mark the booth number of the people you’d like to talk with and visit them first.

Get the Big Picture

The “2024 Event Floor Plan” tab will give you the big picture of the show and allow you to concentrate on the areas you like most.  If you are searching for a new shotgun, you want the firearms hall and using the list in number one, find the booth number for your favorite brands.  Likewise, if archery is your passion, and we hope it is, head for the Archery section upon arrival.  Generally, the longer the show last, the busier it gets.

Afternoons and Evenings are Less Crowded

What if you wanted to book a crossbow hunting safari in Africa? You will have 25 outfitters to choose from and you will have numerous questions.  Crowds at the show lessen in afternoon and especially in the evening.  Since the show is open until 7 pm on weekdays, planning to visit the last several hours of the show will give you more time with the vendors you seek.  Instead of taking a full day from work, you may be able to accomplish your goals by taking a half day.  Most booths are manned by owners and operators, so you will get to “speak with the boss” until the show closes.  If you are making a significant hunt purchase, you may want to discuss your plans one day and return a few days later once you and your friends have made a decision.

The NRA Great American Outdoor Show is the largest fishing and hunting show in the world, and I hope that these three tips help make it more successful for you.  BHN wishes you safe travels and a productive visit.

Wolves are a hot-button issue with me.  If I could snap my finger and erase every wolf on earth, you’d think popcorn was exploding.  They are horrendous killers that eat their prey alive.  The picture above shows no mark on the young fawn’s neck.  That’s because wild dogs eat flesh until the sheer pain of the carnage overwhelms the victim’s system, and the animal expires.

Drastic Impact

Listing the grey wolf on the Endangered Species List was originally intended to bring the population into balance.  Once achieved, wolves would be managed by the states like all other wild game.  Unfortunately, the same lunacy that brings us open borders and wants to castrate your son or daughter, hates hunting prevents wolf control through the courts and legislation.  In Yellowstone National Park, wolf populations have grown from 14 in the mid 1990’s to 120 today, a 750% rise.  Elk, what leftists like to call prey species, have plummeted from 20,000 to 5,000 in the same time period, a 75% drop.  Moose populations have dropped from 1,000 to 200, an 80% population decrease.

Support Hunt Nation- https://hunternation.org/delist-the-gray-wolf/ 

The Great American Outdoor Show will take place from February 3rd to 11th this year in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This iconic outdoor show has been taking place for decades, and every year, outdoorsmen from across the Midwest and East Coast head to the show to buy new gear, book hunting trips, and listen to seminar speakers share hunting tips.

One well-known outdoor brand that will have a booth at the show this year is Redneck Blinds. One of their top dealers, Esh’s Storage Barns out of Chambersburg Pennsylvania will be representing Redneck Blinds at the show. Redneck Blinds will be at booth number 933.

A Totally Different Perspective-

Buying a new blind can be overwhelming. A new deer blind is expensive and knowing what blind to choose can be a daunting task. There are deer blinds with just horizontal windows, some with horizontal and vertical. Some blinds are insulated; some are not. The goal of Esh’s storage barns is to help hunters choose the perfect blind for them. “We love talking to potential customers about what type of deer blind fits their needs,” said Bill Barling, Manager of Esh’s Storage Barns. “We have almost every model of Redneck Blind in stock. We bring a wide variety of them to the Harrisburg Show so hunters can see the different options.”

Probably one of the best reasons to purchase a new Redneck Blind at the show is because Esh’s offers a lot of show specials. Customers will receive $200 off any Redneck Blind they buy at the show plus free accessories. “The specials we offer at the show are really good and often the best deal of the year!” Barling noted.

If you are in the market for a new deer blind this year, stop by booth 933 at the Great American Outdoor Show and check out all the specials on Redneck Blinds. Learn more at www.eshhuntingblinds.com

Just because the firearm seasons are over, and there may be fewer Bucks available and ones that are, maybe, warier, is no reason to pass on what may be some of the best hunting of the year. Sure, the tactics you have used earlier in the year may no longer be as productive. Still, by changing your strategies to take advantage of changing Whitetail movements, you may turn those unfilled tags into wall mounts and/or venison for the freezer. So, let’s discuss some new tactics that will make it worthwhile to leave that warm couch and pursue our passion!

Benefits of Blinds

Earlier Season may have been all about hunting from the several tree stands you had strategically placed throughout your hunting areas; the late season may dictate a change in this method of bowhunting. Trees are bare now and no longer hide your silhouette and add the fact that wary deer now tend to look up more often, these same productive stands give way to better options. I like to utilize hub type blinds during the late season for several reasons. No need to worry about icy tree steps or ladders, and they serve to get us out of cold north winds that can shorten our stay on stand. A blind in the right place with a comfortable blind chair can be pretty cozy and deadly productive.

Late Season Strategies

During severe cold weather, Whitetails tend to be more active during the warmer temperatures of midday and spend more time feeding during this warmer time of day. They are more likely to spend the much colder morning and late evening hours conserving calories by bedding and being less active. The photo above shows a young buck searching for snow buried acorns during a midday foray. I like to set up closer to feeding areas this time of year, as the deer are focused on food sources in order to survive winter challenges. This is true also of rut weary bucks that need to replenish lose weight for the cold months ahead.

Take Advantage of Natural Cover

In the big woods where I love to hunt, I like to search oak flats and any fresh deer sign showing feeding trends. Heavy trails in the snow and dug up snow is evidence of feeding activity and turn into prime locations to set up. A felled tree or natural brush along one of these trails can be a productive blind for unsuspecting deer focused on traveling to chosen food sources.

“Exciting,” “Adventurous,” “Thrilling,” “Inspiring,” “Educational,” are just a few of the words attributed to the annual outdoor pilgrimage to Harrisburg Pennsylvania.  It’s like the opening day of the next hunting season, where every game animal in the world can be seen, and the details worked out.  I’ve been attending the show in Harrisburg for 40 years because it’s informative and downright fun.

Forget Online, Talk to the Experts in Person

Joey Lane killed this great Canadian black bear on a hunt he booked at GAOS.  Instead of looking at pictures and “references” online, you can ask questions directly of outfitters, look at their photos, and compare options in real time.  Often, I have to stand in line to talk to a guide or outfitter and learn from the conversations others are having.

Book a Combination Trip

How about an Alaskan halibut and black bear combination?  Above, I stand with Frank Stelmach, owner of Island Point Lodge that is advertising a spring or fall bear hunt that can be done from his lodge.  I have hunted and fished at Island Point Lodge several times and it’s a great experience. The advantage of talking with outfitters in person is the ability to ask about combination game or secondary animals.

Unique Species

The sika deer of Maryland and Virginia, technically the Asian elk, is one of the least expensive exotic animals to hunt.  For the price of a whitetail deer hunt with most outfitters, you can challenge this monarch of the marsh.  Access is easy, unlike the challenge.  These creatures rut in mid-October, make a whistling bugle, and are known for outstanding table fare.

Shoot the Latest Gear

You can not only see and purchase the latest archery and hunting products but use them as well.  Several manufacturers have shooting lanes set aside with staff members to walk you through the features of the latest bows and crossbows.  It’s one thing to see a bow online, but a whole different experience to handle and shoot it.