Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

Keith Arnold took this 7-year-old buck in Iowa with a vertical bow.  Interestingly, Arnold also hunts with a crossbow, his favorite being the TenPoint Flatline due to its compact length.  The Flatline shoots 16-inch arrows so that a hunter can “peek” around a tree and not worry about the broadhead catching on a branch or trunk because the broadhead does not extend beyond the end of the crossbow.

At the 2025 NRA Great American Outdoor Show, saddle hunting was exceedingly popular, with patrons standing in line to try out gear and ask questions of exhibitors.  TrophyLine offers a complete line of gear and a great video series explaining each element of saddle hunting.  If you are considering this exciting tactic, the following quickie gets right to the point.

Top 3 Questions

“All things in moderation” is a formula for success, and TenPoint’s new TX 28 exemplifies this principle. With a launch speed of 410 fps, the TX 28, as does its compact size and price point, falls into the modest camp of speed bows. The bow is offered in moss green or Vektra camouflage, which looks sharp and blends well.

The TX 28 safe decocking crossbow is equipped with a TriggerTech Trigger, ZERO-Trac Barrel, and GUIDE-Lock Arrow Rest System, which create the most secure, consistent launch platform ever built for a compact crossbow.

The ACU-Lock Scope Bridge provides the ultimate foundation for scope stability for the most accurate crossbow, and the ACUSlide MAXX provides silent and safe de-cocking.

Trigger performance is critical to any bow’s accuracy, and the TriggerTech triggers are among the best. Click here for a full video explaining this exciting new bow. 

BuckOps offers two new crossbow scope upgrades at a modest price. Each works like a standard crossbow scope yet has amazing features. If you are thinking of sinking two or three thousand dollars into a new hunting system, give each of these scopes a look. You may purchase a Raptor BCX topped with a BukOps scope for half that price.

Cycloptic-X Prime Time Color Vision Crossbow Scope

The name indicates the scope’s features, including five aiming dots that can be red, black, or green.  The scope zooms out to five power and records video at the touch of a button.  No more wondering where you hit a deer.  Play back the video, and you can watch the shot repeatedly.  Most exciting, this scope maximizes light down to the last second.  It’s not infrared, but light enhancing so you can make a clear, accurate shot til the last second of legal shooting light.  MSRP $599.

Buck Ops X Factor

With the push of a button, your scope will display the distance to a deer, turkey, stump, or scrape.  The button is large and centered on the top of the scope, so dialing in an unknown range in a snap is easy.  The X Factor is a speed-compensating scope so that you can experiment with heavier arrow packages and keep your zero by adjusting the dial to the speed of your arrow.  Additionally, the reticle is adjustable from black to red to green for added precision.  MSRP $599 BuckOps.com

Here’s a quick video further explaining these two new scope options:

Hickory Creek’s Mini Vertical Crossbow is made by hand in the USA and offers many crossbow benefits in a traditional vertical format.  I shot the bow at the GAOS and found it incredibly quiet and easy to shoot. My first shot was spot on.  An added advantage of this crossbow is the ability to hand-cock it, so there is no cocking rope to lose or forget.

Different than a Draw Lock

I installed a draw lock on a compound bow for an African safari.  This device allowed the bow to be cocked much like a crossbow, with the string “locked” at full draw.  I used the same sights, rest, and other gear I’d used before, except now I didn’t have to draw and hold the bow’s draw weight.  I found that the force of the bowstring helped steady the bow in my hand.  Without that pressure, my accuracy was not nearly as good.

Ultra Quiet and Easy to Shoot

The advantages of the Hickory Creek Mini Vertical Crossbow are that it allows you to use full-length regular compound arrows of 300 or greater, has a scope for sighting, can be cocked by hand, and feels just like shooting a compound bow with a trigger release.  For more information, click here.

Searching for shed antlers is an excellent way to scout for next season.  Although you will be looking for “white gold” among leaves and branches, be on the lookout for rubs and scrapes from last year.  Also, don’t be surprised if you find fresh rutting signs in February and March.  While turkey hunting in mid-April, I encountered a cedar tree rubbed bare with fresh pieces of bark on the ground.  This buck held its antlers and displayed signs of its dominance into April.

Read the Regulations

Eastern hunters may be surprised to learn that some Western states have seasons for shed hunting.  Large elk and mule deer antlers are valuable. Humans entering wintering areas where big game animals have exhausted most of their energy can threaten their survival and make them more vulnerable to predators.  Even in Eastern habitats, be mindful of your deer herd’s health.  Does are in the final months of pregnancy and have had to dodge coyotes, bobcats, and emerging black bear populations.

The Perfect Ice Breaker

Jeff Harrison, the man holding the two sheds in the lead photo, taught me this trick.  If there is a farm or ranch that you want to hunt but are nervous about asking permission, ask the landowner if you can hunt sheds.  You may gain permission and learn the property’s true potential even if the land is posted.  Likewise, if you know of suburban estates with big buck potential, knock on the homeowner’s door and ask to hunt sheds.  For urbanites, having a small antler may help them know what you are talking about.  You can thank them and return a month later to ask and search again with the potential of hunting in the fall, now that you have been acquainted.   Check out this video if you need a little motivation to brave the cold weather.

The NRA GAOS is the largest and best, in my opinion, outdoor show in the world.  Not only does it offer hundreds of products for sale, hunts you can book, and the latest in firearms and fishing gear, but you can meet the legends of the outdoors, have them demonstrate a product, and autograph it.  That was the case when I stopped by Eddie Salter’s booth last week.  He entertained a family with five small daughters, signed one of his custom box callers, and helped the toddlers learn how to use it.

The Voice of Experience

https://www.eddiesaltergamecalls.com/

Idaho Whitetail Guides offers a complete line of archery hunts despite the “whitetail” name.  The business adopted the title many years ago, and it has worked out for them.  They offer whitetail, mule deer, bear, elk, turkey, and mountain lion hunts in Idaho’s Nez Perse/Clearwater area.  Idaho offers a licensing benefit like no other state I know.  If you buy a deer tag, since the price is greater than that for a bear or mountain lion, you can take one of these animals and tag it with your deer tag.  I learned this the hard way one fall as my guide came across a mature chocolate-phase bear.  “Do you have a deer tag?” he whispered.  Sadly, “No” was my response.

Meet the Owners

Bradley and Ami Dammerman own this business and welcome your interest at www.idahowhitetailguides.com

As deer season closes and tax season arrives, hunters realize how much they spent last year on cellular camera service.  For many, the cost of their monthly contract will surpass the cost of the camera and cause them to re-think this critical element of scouting for deer, elk, turkeys, and other game.  The folks at Cuddeback have a solution so that you can set up a couple or a dozen cameras and pay only one subscription fee, beginning at $10.

Form a Daisy Chain with CuddeLink

Hunters can link up to 23 CuddeLink cameras to one Cell Home camera, which sends all images for viewing on your phone.  Instead of paying for multiple cell plans, you only pay for one, regardless of how many cameras you use.  CuddeLink cameras can communicate with one another from a quarter to half of a mile and spread out in a network so that you can cover a lot of territory with just one monthly fee.  Here’s a quick interview about the plan at the GAOS:

Bowfishing can be non-stop action in a party atmosphere where camo isn’t needed and you can shoot until your arm tires.  Most bowhunting opportunities are silent, solitary forrays with little chance to interact with friends and family.  Bowfishing differs greatly and is an ideal way for a bunch of bowhunting buddies to have a great time.

Branded Outdoors

I met the folks from Branded Outdoors at the GAOS and they were quick to answer my questions and explain their program.  They operate from a 23-foot R&R custom bowfishing boat that can easily handle a party of six.  It feature a large frontal shooting platform that gets you right on top of the action.  They fish from the Atlantic Ocean to Western Maryland for northern snakehead, stingray, blue catfish and gar.  They provide all equipment so no need to shop before your voyage.  Here’s a quick video that was interrupted by the National Anthem.  Call them at 570-898-3207 or search them on Facebook.  Bowfishing is becoming increasingly popular and I’ll bet there’s an operator near you.

The National Archery in the Schools Program is one of the best school sports.  Unlike football, where you have to be large and nimble, or basketball, where height is a huge advantage, or track, where only the fastest survive, archery is an equal-opportunity sport.  A youngster can be tall or short, thin or not so, fast or wobbly; physical characteristics do not matter.  Most important is the self-discipline to listen to coaches, do homework (practice regularly), and perform under pressure.  Plus, equipment is inexpensive, and practice can be done in a backyard or basement.

Kaila Hess is the Shooting Sports Coordinator who works with the Pennsylvania Game Commission in Harrisburg, PA.  You can contact her at [email protected] or visit the national website at NASPSchools.org

Hunters are already looking forward to fall hunts, and February is the perfect time to make arrangements before the best dates are taken.  Maryland Sika deer offer a unique animal in surroundings, different from most whitetail habitats. Yet, you can still use many of the tree stand tactics you are familiar with and your whitetail gear.

Hunt-Cation

Most bow hunts occur in very rural or mountainous regions, yet you can be the family hero and build in a great hunt with a Sika adventure.  Instead of a cabin or tent camp, rent a cottage or motel room on the beach and let the family enjoy the surf and sand while you stalk an Asian stag.  Maryland’s public and private hunting areas are near the ocean, and some units include the ocean beach.

Maryland is a Sleeper State

Aside from a unique sika deer hunt, your non-resident state license allows up to two bucks and 10 does in the archery season, two wild turkey tags, small game, and the opportunity to apply for a bear tag.  Nanticoke Outfitters offers sika and other Maryland hunts.  For more information, click here.

Nanticoke Outfitters

“I have five herds of Cape buffalo on my property, and drought is forcing me to reduce their numbers,” said Clive Perkins, owner of Sportsmans Safaris in Northern South Africa.  “We offer a bull and cow buffalo package for $12500, or you can opt for one of our cull hunts where you can take one or more females at $1300 each.”  Perkins has a booth in the outfitter hall of the GAOS that is open through Sunday if you are at the show and wish to speak to him in person.

I first hunted with Clive in 1994 on my first African safari, and we have stayed in touch ever since.  He was just 18 years old at the first meeting, and he has worked his way from a young professional hunter to operating a full-size South African hunting operation.  Visit his website at www.sportsmanssafari.co.za or by email at [email protected]. za  Here’s a quick interview from the GAOS.

Greenland may be the world’s best-kept big game secret, with thriving populations of caribou and muskox. The Great American Outdoor Show allowed me to speak with the booking agent personally, and I was immediately impressed.  Outdoor Adventure Specialists (O.A.S.)  books Muskox hunts in fall and winter, with the August and September hunts in mild to moderate temperatures.  A winter hunt is very cold and snowy, but that may be your desire.

A September hunt may be ideal because caribou have hard antlers and beautiful white mains, and muskox have thick dark coats.  For the O.A.S. website, click here. 

Does your camouflage pattern fool a deer’s eyesight?  If you are considering a new pattern for 2025, keep these points in mind.  Whitetail deer can see 300 degrees from side to side, which means you can be seen unless you are well behind a passing deer and probably at too great of an angle for the coveted quartering-away shot.  Although deer have a wide range of vision, research indicates they have a “fuzzy” view of their surroundings.  Here’s a look at some popular patterns:

KUIU

Kuiu offers a variety of patterns.  Shown above is the Valo pattern which blends well with open terrain and helped take this big mule deer on the open plains of South Dakota.  On the same hunt, I was stalking through a patch of cedars where I called in a basket-rack 8-point.  The buck didn’t see me standing at 25 yards as I tried to slip an arrow through a tiny hole in the brush.  My arrow peeled the bark from a tree the buck stood behind, and it escaped by half an inch.  Kuiu is known for its durability and lightweight.  Select a pattern that will disrupt the human silhouette.  For the Kuiu website, click here.

Nomad Veil

The Veil camouflage pattern is one of my favorites because of the extreme contrast between lighter spaces and dark graphics.  Contrasting light and dark patterns helps eliminate the human silhouette’s “blob” effect, especially when hunting from a tree stand where a hunter can be seen against a light sky. Nomad

SKRE

I’ve been using SKRE camouflage over the past year and like it very much.  The product is well designed with pockets in all the right places.  The hooded jacket above breaks the wind, insulates in moderate temperatures, and is cut with enough room for insulating in colder temperatures.  The digital dot pattern is printed on a light background, allowing the pattern to break up the human silhouette. SKRE

Every archer needs a sturdy practice target, and Morrell has transformed its Mod Pro bag target into a precise tuning instrument.  All scopes and some compound sights are calibrated to adjust the point-of-impact a fixed amount, usually 1/2 or 1/4 inch at 20 yards.  Often, archers guess an arrow’s impact by estimation instead of carrying a ruler with them.  Although this can eventually work out, it usually requires adjusting back and forth to get the arrow on target.

Mod Pro 24

Since archers sight their bows multiple times a year, the folks at Morrell boosted this process significantly by placing a one-inch tuning grid on one side of their bag-style targets.  Instead of estimating how many inches an arrow impacts off the mark, the tuning grid does that measurement for you.  I want my arrows to impact 1 inch high at 20 yards on crossbow scopes so that I can quickly point and shoot.  I’m also a huge fan of single-dot red dot scopes, and this gives me a kill zone shot nearly to 30 yards with a center-shoulder aiming point.  Depending on the weight of your arrow and the speed of your bow, performance will vary greatly, yet the tuning grid helps keep the visual image of your bow’s performance clearly in mind.

The full-face tuning grid is a matrix of one-inch squares, and the larger display is divided into more than a dozen smaller grids.  During your tuning sessions, you can aim at small, larger, square, and even no bulls-eyes.  Your target will last for years if it does not become a family heirloom, not to mention a standard target face on the reverse side.  Look for this unique tuning target at local archery shops or order online at Morrelltargets.com

Savvy deer hunters are always on the lookout for a new deer trick, and this video demonstrates the proper way to use the Primos can caller.  I used this tactic to draw a buck within feet of my deer blind and enabled my grandson to take a 7-point buck with a crossbow.

Over the past decade, I have had this trick work sporadically, and now I know why.  The deer season may be over for 2024, but I’ll remember this big buck hack well into next fall.  Peter Fiduccia hosts this video and shares hunting strategies in his unique style.

6 Reasons GAOS is a Must-See

The NRA’s Great American Outdoor Show can make your outdoor dreams come true.

“Exciting,” “Adventurous,” “Thrilling,” “Inspiring,” and “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 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.

Absolute Adventure- (2)

Nature is the best remedy for today’s crazy world, and few places will immerse you in ways to enjoy the outdoors, like the GAOS, where you will find every hunt your mind can imagine.  Want to stalk a brown bear in Alaska? Cape buffalo in Africa? Bag a giant whitetail in Montana or Canada?  You will meet the people who can make it happen.

Traveling to adventure destinations can be challenging, and you can tap their knowledge for the best times to fly or drive and how to avoid pitfalls that can unexpectedly occur.  On my first night in an African bush camp, I nearly froze and had to dress in every piece of clothing I’d brought.  Heck, I thought Africa was hot.

Conversing with a guide or outfitter may open opportunities you hadn’t considered.  Are there special seasons when prices are reduced?  Additional animals to be hunted that can make a guided hunt more cost-effective? Does the outfitter offer drop or spike camps where you can hunt without a guide?  Having a personal conversation greatly expands your windows of opportunity, something a website can’t do.

6 Reasons GAOS is a Must-See

The NRA’s Great American Outdoor Show can make your outdoor dreams come true.

“Exciting,” “Adventurous,” “Thrilling,” “Inspiring,” and “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 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.

Absolute Adventure- (2)

Nature is the best remedy for today’s crazy world, and few places will immerse you in ways to enjoy the outdoors, like the GAOS, where you will find every hunt your mind can imagine.  Want to stalk a brown bear in Alaska? Cape buffalo in Africa? Bag a giant whitetail in Montana or Canada?  You will meet the people who can make it happen.

Traveling to adventure destinations can be challenging, and you can tap their knowledge for the best times to fly or drive and how to avoid pitfalls that can unexpectedly occur.  On my first night in an African bush camp, I nearly froze and had to dress in every piece of clothing I’d brought.  Heck, I thought Africa was hot.

Conversing with a guide or outfitter may open opportunities you hadn’t considered.  Are there special seasons when prices are reduced?  Additional animals to be hunted that can make a guided hunt more cost-effective? Does the outfitter offer drop or spike camps where you can hunt without a guide?  Having a personal conversation greatly expands your windows of opportunity, something a website can’t do.

With deer season coming to a close, it may be tempting to pull your cameras and store them until next season.  However, I enjoy knowing what’s going on during the entire year, including the predators that roam the location, if bucks are shedding their antlers, and the number of deer that frequent that spot.  I usually opt for the annual service on trail cameras and pay for the cell signal whether the camera is posted or not.

Learn from Your Cameras

Each of the small saplings in this picture has been rubbed by deer during the rut.  It’s part of a saddle where I have a Stealth Cam 360 Revolver to cover the entire crossing.  Once the rut ended and the firearm season opened, that hot spot became as cold as the white covering you see.  In January, only two deer crossed this saddle.  On the positive side, only one coyote was seen, indicating a low number of predators in the area.

Consider a Solar Panel

If you are considering buying new cameras, I strongly recommend paying extra for ones with a built-in solar panel.  Frigid winter temperatures heavily tax batteries; some won’t last a month in freezing weather.  Moultrie sells a small solar panel with a built-in battery.  This way, the sun charges the panel’s battery with your camera batteries as a backup.  Using an auxiliary panel, you can position the cell for maximum solar exposure without facing the camera into the sun, which will cause false triggers and poor image quality at sunrise.  For Moultrie products, click here.

Tips on Camera Placement

This YouTube video offers excellent tips on camera placements.  Additionally, followers added theirs in the comments:

Wildcrete targets came from an African manufacturer who sold ultra-realistic lawn ornaments made from concrete.  An entrepreneur wondered if these lifelike models could be molded in foam and become 3D targets.  In a word, “Yes,” you can now purchase a host of animals never seen on a 3D course before.  Made from foam, these targets are IFAA-approved and shipped from California. Examples are lynx, rusa deer, scarecrow, mountain lion, sambar deer, werewolf, and many others.

Unique Forms

The black sable, shown above, is one of the most majestic trophy animals on earth, and whether this is your dream hunt or you just want to spice up your practice sessions, this foam target is bound to create excitement.  Scoring rings are in traditional locations for North American animals and are ideal ways to pass a dull winter or tune up for next fall.

Contact Thomas Vida

Wildcrete 3D has a South African website, www.wildcretetargets.co.za , and you can contact Thomas Vida, Sales Manager by clicking here.