Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

Saddle hunting is revolutionizing hunting from a tree.  Hunters can move more and take advantage of inviting deer sign immediately.  If you find a fresh feeding area, hot scrape, sap-dripping rub line, or other deer hot spot, you can immediately climb a tree and be ready to hunt within 10 minutes.  The beauty of saddle hunting is the ability to capitalize on a given circumstance and optimize your chances at a great deer.  This tactic is ideal for public land where traditional tree stands damage trees and are illegal.  Saddle hunting allows you to walk deep into virgin territory and hunt an unpressured spot from an elevated stand.  The following video from Vance is one of the best I’ve seen.  It explicitly explains how to set up a saddle and the gear you need.  If you are thinking about saddle hunting in 2025, this video will help immensely.

Saddle Hunting 101

You may wonder what to buy if you received Christmas cash or gift cards.  Here are three great products you’ll use for 2025 and beyond.

Morrell High Roller Foam Target

This great target with the easy-to-carry handle is excellent for realistic practice with field points or broadheads.  It weighs about 15 pounds, light enough for easy transport yet hefty enough to absorb the fastest crossbow arrows.  A fun activity with this target is to literally “let it roll.”  Throw the target and shoot when it stops without ranging with a laser device.  This will quickly build confidence and hone your rangefinding skills.   Additionally, as you would find on a pair of dice, the target has small white dots,  ideal for “aiming small to miss small” practice.  www.Morrelltargets.com

Moultry Edge II Trail Camera and Universal Solar Power Pack

How about a digital camera system that is “Hang it and forget it?”  I have posted two Moultrie cameras and am very pleased with the results, especially when attached to a Universal Solar Power Pack.  As the name implies, this screen generates power from sunlight and stores it in its internal battery.  A downside of a cellular camera with a built-in solar screen is the placement direction.  Normally, it is best not to have a camera facing east or west because the sun’s rays will distort or cause false triggers.  However, if you want the highest performance from the solar panel, it should be facing east or west.  The Universal Solar Power Pack attaches independently of the camera allowing for optimal placement of both.  www.MoultrieProducts.com

Final Rest Rip-N-Grip Shooting Tripod

As a pre-teenage shooter, I learned the importance of a shooting rest and embraced the Final Rest Rip-N-Grip tripod for several reasons.  First, it does precisely what a shooting rest is supposed to do- hold the crossbow steady.  The Final Rest is a clasping rest that allows a person to lock the crossbow onto the rest, which frees both hands to operate rattling horns, turkey calls, or binoculars.  When hunting from a blind, a hunter can set the bow up for a particular shot and make minimal movement when game shows up at close range.  At other times, I keep the clasping jaws open so that the bow will rest in place yet be moved easily. The Final Rest is ideal for sighting in a crossbow or testing for point-of-aim.  It sets up quickly and provides a solid base for accuracy with a single shot.  The adjustable tripod legs allow a rest shot from a sitting through a standing position, and uneven terrain is easily accommodated. www.final-rest.com

Shot placement is one of bowhunting’s critical elements.  Changing from tight groups on paper targets to realistic 3-D targets and then to live animals is the journey every successful hunter must travel.  Unlike paper and 3-D targets, those darned bucks don’t stand still and often appear in unexpected locations.  Placing an arrow in the most lethal area possible is the skill of shot placement and is relevant to rookies and veterans.  As you will see in this short video, Ryan Kirby uses his incredible artistic talent to draw deer anatomy.

As Editor, I stalk the internet looking for new products, hunting tactics, and videos keen to bowhunting.  We wish you all the best in the New Year and hope you’ll keep returning for the latest bowhunting excitement.

Many hunters take a spike buck, sometimes known as an 11-pointer, as their first deer, and that animal is the thrill of their lifetime.  Every deer with a bow or crossbow is an achievement that only a hunter can appreciate.  However, some believe that spike bucks should be culled because their breeding results in more spikes that will never grow a mature rack.  Fortunately, deer breeders and researchers have settled this question and this video demonstrates the results.

Once a Spike, Alway…

The wind chill was in the teens, and I could hunt a heated blind or sit on a ridgetop facing a northwest wind.  I chose the latter because of a large scrape and a few freshly rubbed saplings.  A big buck was using this runway, and I hoped that impatient hunters on the last day of Maryland’s rifle season would cause deer to cross the ridge within easy bow range.

Dress for the Cold

As I’ve grown older, I don’t embrace cold weather as I once did; however, I’ve learned to prepare for frigid weather by dressing accordingly.  My program is as follows:

Check Out this Program

The Easton 5.0 is the all-new lightweight, small diameter hunting arrow, designed for bowhunters seeking a versatile shaft that offers multiple setup options. Built on a micro-diameter 5mm Acu-Carbon platform, the Easton 5.0 reduces friction for enhanced penetration and decreases wind resistance for greater accuracy and higher velocity downrange. The lighter overall mass weight of the Easton 5.0 also allows for a versatile range of arrow setup options, from lightweight speed builds to high-FOC configurations.

Crafted in the USA using Easton’s seamless Acu-Carbon process and high-modulus carbon fiber, the 5.0 ensures consistent weight and spine in every shaft and across every dozen.  Available in six spine sizes (200, 250, 300, 340, 400, and 500), the Easton 5.0 accommodates virtually all bowhunting setups. The 5.0 features Easton’s new 5MM Microlite Nock System, which includes a more compact nock body and a redesigned throat for better string fit and enhanced tunability. Available in both standard and Match Grade versions.

Features:

For more information on the new Easton 5.0 visit: https://eastonarchery.com/new2025/

I got my first pair of Dryshod boots in late spring. Since temperatures were relatively warm, I wore a thin pair of cotton socks and enjoyed how easily the boots slipped on and off. Despite being one size larger than my shoe size, they were comfortable and worry-free. As colder weather arrived this fall, I began wearing them again with light socks until I realized the socks I wore had little bearing on warm feet.  During the recent winter blast, I wore a single pair of nylon socks, and my feet remained comfortably warm while maintaining the easy-on/off characteristics.  Here’s their latest product for freezing weather.

Dryshod

Gear Up for Late-Season Hunts with Dryshod’s Evalusion Hunt Max Gusset Boots

 Dryshod introduces the new Evalusion Max Gusset, the world’s lightest waterproof hunting boot. It is even more comfortable and accommodating for the stealthy hunter and outdoor adventurer. The rear gusset and buckle system easily expands to provide room for extra clothing layers during cold-weather outings and to accommodate outdoor enthusiasts with more sizeable calves. The adjustable strap can then be secured for a just-right fit to provide all-day comfort, whether sitting in a stand or walking the most aggressive terrain.

Weighing nearly a full pound lighter than Dryshod’s already lightweight comparable boots, the DUREVA outsole employs a fusion compound that eliminates the need for a secondary rubber sole while delivering maximum stability and energy return to reduce fatigue. Moreover, the multi-lug tread design is tough and pliable, ensuring high traction on challenging ground and quiet flexing over ground elements to enhance stealth.

Temperature control is always a factor with 100-percent waterproof boots, and the Evalusion Max Gusset is ready for any climate or activity. Layered beneath the 5mm DENSOPRENE® foam bootie is a four-way stretch breathable Airmesh lining that promotes airflow to maximize insulation during cold weather while minimizing moisture build-up during warm, high-activity conditions. The integrated polar fleece lining offers a broad comfort range from -50°F to 65°F.

A broadhead may be the most critical hunting gear.  Bows change speeds, arrows wobble and bend, but if the broadhead doesn’t create a large wound channel, the deer is lost and the hunt ruined.  I hunted in West Virginia with the Grim Reaper Whitetail Special for the first time this fall.  On the final morning of the hunt, opportunity knocked, and I got a 25-yard shot at a nearly-broadside buck.  I launched an arrow at 400 fps from an AXE crossbow, and the Grim Reaper Whitetail Special hit point-of-aim.  The animal immediately wobbled, staggered a few yards, and crashed in mere seconds.  I’ve never had a deer go down with such lethality in 40 years of bowhunting.  If you are considering trying a new broadhead for 2025, give the Whitetail Special your attention.  The wound channel created by three huge blades is incredible, and you, as I did, may watch ’em drop.

SelfFilm Testimonial

Does that did not breed during the main rut will come into season this weekend- December 7 and 8th. As I watched the attached video, I double-checked my cameras, and Holy Cow! There was a nice buck posing like a magazine model, and a dozen does moving at midday.  Forget football this afternoon.  Get to your stand.

Deer are Moving in Daylight

Cellular cameras have come down in price, a welcome sign for deer hunters.  Most hunters are thrilled to get instant or very recent images sent to their computers and cell phones.  Personally, the first thing I do each morning is check my trail cameras well before getting to the work of the day.  Although my priority is whitetail deer, when bears, coyotes, and bobcats show up, I’m reminded that I’m not the only hunter in the woods.

360 Revolver Advantages

Most cellular cameras are designed to capture a specific area on stills or video.  As shown in the Stealth Cam Revolver 360 graphics, this image came from zone 3, nearly perpendicular to the camera’s posting.  This image shows a herd of deer crossing in the early afternoon on the second day of the state’s firearm season.  I posted near this trail last evening and nearly got a sub-30-yard shot.  Not wanting to risk a last-minute shot and a trailing task in darkness, I left at sunset.  My camera showed several does, and a buck passed at 5:05, 10 minutes before the end of shooting light.

Image Economy

If you set up multiple cellular cameras, it quickly becomes evident that you must pay a yearly or monthly fee for each one.  The Stealth Cam Revolver 360 will pay for itself in the first year because you need only one subscription for a wide coverage area.  I posted this Stealth Cam in the middle of a saddle, an area where I expected deer to travel naturally. I used no bait, scents, or other means to focus deer in a specific location and with the benefit of the panoramic view saw exactly where and when deer crossed.

Hunting Decisions

Our hunt club has two mountains that run north and south.  One weekend, a cold front moved in with heavy northwest winds, a condition that shuts down deer movement significantly at my stand site.  I opted to hunt a different area and was gratified that my Rotary 360 saw zero deer movement due to the northwest winds.  The Stealth Cam 360 Revolver shows temperature, moon phase, and time of day, allowing data-driven hunters to diagnose a hunting area and make decisions based on previous results.

I am very pleased with the performance of the Stealth Cam Revolver 360.  It has allowed me to take a big-picture look at a large chunk of my hunting area and adjust my strategy accordingly.  It’s very economical and captures images without using bait or other lures that can attract bears, turkeys, and raccoons.  For the latest on this unique camera, visit www.Stealthcam.com

“Bucks move as much at noon as any other time of day.”  That was one of the conclusions from an exhaustive study done by researchers to study deer movements and what whitetails eat.  Researchers gave pregnant does a locating device that would activate when a fawn was born.  When that happened, researchers raced to the location. They attached a tracking collar, allowing them to monitor fawn mortality and follow the deer throughout its life, including avoiding hunters on public land.

Bay Journal Summary

Although this study won’t be completed until 2026, its preliminary findings are very informative. For a summary of preliminary findings, click HERE.

Bruce Ryan walked the edge of the Monongahela National Forest yesterday and found a familiar sign—fresh bear tracks. This large bear has lived in this area for many years and has often been seen in camera pictures. I hunted this spot several times last fall, but the smart bruin stuck to its nocturnal routine and didn’t show up in daylight.

Why Aren’t Bears Asleep

Here’s the perfect example of the Eastern black bear’s change in behavior.  This image came from Western Maryland, adjacent to West Virginia, and shows a sow and two cubs active in early December when the temperatures are below freezing and in the face of a 25 mph northwest wind.  These bears should be hibernating.  Rather than burrow into a cave, large bores curl up in a fallen treetop or pocket of leaves, sleep when temperatures get frigid, and become active when temperatures moderate.

WV Bow Season through December 31

The “Big Mo” is nearly a million acres of mostly walk-in access with an abundant deer and bear population.  This area is blanketed in snow this season, making tracking a bear reasonably easy if you don’t mind walking.  Bears and deer often concentrate on acorn stands for winter food and are frequently found in the same areas.

Bear/Ski Vacation

The Monongahela National Forest borders many recreational areas where skiing, tubing, snowshoeing, and other winter sports abound.  If your friends enjoy winter activities or relaxing in front of a roaring fireplace, a winter bear hunt is a great adventure in which you don’t have to leave your family behind.  For lodging, consider renting an Airbnb like the one shown above.  It is available from Rocky’s Rustic Cabins. For full details on hunting in West Virginia, visit www.WVDNR.gov.  Good luck.

Watching daylight illuminate the deer woods from a tree stand or saddle is a magical feeling. However, when winds howl from the Northwest, spending time in prime locations can be very difficult. Additionally, shooting accurately becomes a challenge when you are fighting frigid temperatures. I remember one late-season hunt in Illinois where my body and muscles became so cold that I couldn’t draw the bow I shot easily each day.

Expert Advice

Hunter, my grandson, is 12 years old and a passionate hunter. He flew to Maryland from Idaho and was anxious to go hunting despite the two-hour time difference. When I awoke him at 4:00 a.m., his body time was just 2:00 a.m. A cup of hot chocolate and a burrito from McDonalds boosted his energy as we entered the club grounds, and I fired up my UTV.  After a bumpy ride up a steep mountain, we parked the rig and walked to my box blind, built especially for my three grandsons.

One of my grandsons was born with bronchial issues, and cold weather puts him at risk for health complications. That made building an enclosed box blind an easy decision, and we have enjoyed it for the past three years. Personally, I enjoy sitting in a tree stand with a panchromatic view of the deer woods, but the enclosed blind offers most of that visibility while blocking cold winds and allowing for a small heater to keep temperatures moderate.

Hunter’s Turn

Hunter, the youngest, flew in a few days later, and we were off to the blind on a crisp early morning. Thankfully, the incessant wind had finally died down, and the morning was ideal for calling deer. Although I had rattling antlers, I opted for an estrous bleat from a Primos Can caller.  About an hour after daylight, I noticed a deer moving along a ridge above us and made a series of bleats with the can caller. We keep one window open at all times, and when leaves crunched, I peeked out the window to see a buck directly below the stand.

Old Reliable

Petersen’s Publishing published “Old Reliable” about my years of experience with this Excalibur Micro crossbow.  It shoots at 360 feet per second, and when topped with a Burris FastFire red dot, sight is point-and-shoot.  Hunter made a great shot when the buck stopped, catching both lungs with a Grim Reaper Hybrid 100-grain broadhead. The blood trail was easy to follow, and we soon had a celebration.

Primos Estrous Bleat

This is the easiest deer call to use, and the first year it was introduced, a hunter used it to take the Ohio state-recorded buck. The caller is small and compact and won’t make noise in your pocket or pack. To bleat, put one finger over the hole in the top of the call and turn it upside down. The alluring sound doesn’t always attract a deer, but it surely made a difference on this hunt.  www.Primos.com

Despite a high-powered flu shot, this editor spent all of Thanksgiving day in bed. Our household was filled with anxious deer hunters who all contracted the same illness. I apologize for the lateness of this post. I hope it finds you fondly remembering a wonderful time with your family.  Late season is here, and we’ll keep you apprised of the latest tips and tactics.

Black bears add an element of danger to any deer hunt.  Walking to your stand isn’t quite the same if you have a trail camera picture of a large sow and cubs in the area.  Yes, bears usually run from humans, but a stealth-like trek through the woods could easily create an encounter.  Overturned logs and piles of bear scat are sure signs of a bear’s presence, but a camera image is the best way to know the number of bears, their size, and their sex.

Curiosity Killed the Camera

Black bears are curious animals that can quickly become destructive.  I had an elevated box blind built deep in the woods on our hunt club, and the structure wasn’t there for more than a month before a black bear broke out a window in the door and crawled in.  Luckily, there was no internal damage except for the $100 window I had to replace.  I attached a camera 12 feet above the ground, and a bear climbed the steps (leaving claw marks) and messed with the camera.

No-Bear Options

Two ways to reduce bear damage to cameras are to use them in “dark mode,” where no visible red flash is seen, and to put the camera on daylight mode so that the infrared flash is not detected.  The pictures above are from a Stealth Cam Revolver 360 posted in a saddle with no minerals or food nearby.  It is so well camouflaged that I must hunt for it despite knowing exactly where it is posted.  Nonetheless, this black bear found it and tried to rip it from the tree.  However, the youngster didn’t count on the six-way imaging of the Revolver 360, and its image was captured despite being upside down.

No Harm Done

I have had bears bite the camera and tear off the antenna.  Luckily, this youngster didn’t do either.  The large ears give this bear away as a two-year-old.  It may have been passing through or perhaps will establish a home area.  Either way, my camera will tell the tale.

Calling a turkey can be a life lesson- we seem to learn best when we screw things up.  A friend and I were 100 yards from a thundering gobbler in West Virginia.  The tom gobbled relentlessly but wouldn’t budge toward our location.  Maybe we can call him to a different location, we thought, carefully spending the next 20 minutes making a wide circle.  After great care, we were in position, but the gobbler suddenly had become silent.  I gave my most alluring call, and the bird gobbled exactly where we had been.  My calls wouldn’t lure the bird closer, but “silence” did.

Scratch One In

I knew of a roost tree on a farm I hunt in Maryland.  This bird has been hunted often, and I knew I’d need to be cautious and aloof to lure it.  The tom began gobbling before I was in position, and I hesitated to crest a hill within sight of the roost.  In minutes, the bird flew down and continued to gobble.  I called softly, but the tom didn’t respond.  The leaves were dry, and I began to scratch in the leaves with my right hand while keeping the left on the crossbow.  The tom gobbled at the scratching noise and then grew silent.  I should have known to aim the bow at the horizon but continued to scratch in the leaves.  Suddenly, the gobbler stood erect at 25 yards, catching me in “mid-scratch.”  The bird lowered its head and vanished.  I should have been in the shooting position but made a rookie mistake.  When birds suddenly go silent, they are often approaching.  A lesson for next time. Adam Keith posted a great video on this subject that made some excellent points.

When to Call and When Not To

2024 Traditional Classic

May, 16th — 19th  2024

Gunpowder Falls State Park, Glen Arm, Maryland

MORE TARGETS THAN EVER!

This family-friendly four-day shoot has 3 dynamic ranges with woods, streams, and hills as terrain, which allows for creative and realistic target placements. This event continues to attract traditional archers and their families from as far away as Europe.

Three Ranges, more targets than ever

Novelty Shoots

Over 100 3-D Targets

Traditional Archery Dealers

The turkey woods become eerily quiet in the late season. By this time, most birds, including turkeys, have mated and are actively nesting. Unlike cardinals, where both males and females raise their young, mature toms are still looking to breed and are vulnerable to soft, seductive calls. Focus on these three tips presented by the folks from Informed Outdoors.

Late Can be Great