Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

C&H Precision Weapons is a leader in slide milling for various pistols. Both weapon sight attachments and slide serrations are available. Slide milling services comprise cuts for specific optics on compatible pistols.

Pistol optic milling options are available for Trijicon, Holosun, Leupold, SIG, Aimpoint, Vortex, Shield, Browe, Steiner, and others on a case-by-case basis.

The entire process is customized to the specific end user’s needs. Through the decision process, C&H Precision offers a definitive list of options based on the pistol chosen and the optics used. After selecting the pistol and optic, users are given the option to keep the rear dovetail or have the optic completely replace the rear iron sight.

What sets C&H apart from many other companies is their final finish of the cut sections. For no charge, they will cerakote the milled section only and leave the factory finish. As an option, users can have the entire slide finished with nitride for an additional charge. Please note: C&H does not perform nitriding.

When time is of the essence, there is even a Concierge Program that will expedite the entire process. Lastly, duty weapons can be sent with qualifying documentation, and shipping insurance options are provided for minimizing risk.

FEATURING RUSS KELLEY, M.S., EUKANUBA AND ROYAL CANIN PET HEALTH AND NUTRITION CENTER

When it comes to optimizing performance, professional athletes know the importance of muscle health. The same applies to our canine athletes. Whether your sporting dog is a hardcore waterfowler or a big running bird dog, maintaining healthy lean muscle will help ensure years of performance.

Dogs naturally condition themselves when given the opportunity, so you won’t have to take your dog to the nearest gym for squats and sit-ups. But beyond conditioning, your dog needs optimal nutrition to keep her muscles strong and healthy. Here are the key nutrients that will help keep your dog’s muscular system in top form.

MUSCLE HEALTH REQUIRES PROTEIN PLUS OTHER KEY NUTRIENTS

It’s easy to fall into the trap of focusing on a single nutrient like protein when it comes to muscle health, but optimal nutrition is more about balance than any single nutrient. Just like your dog’s muscles have to work together in a delicate balance to create stable fluid movement, the nutrients in your dog’s diet need to work together to help build and fuel their muscles.

“Muscle tissue is a great example of how so many different nutrients are needed for a dog to optimally function,” says Russ Kelley of Eukanuba’s Pet Health & Nutrition Center. “One class of nutrients is not more important than another. They are all important in that they work together for our dogs to perform at an optimal level.”

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Engaging in hunting requires numerous decisions to be made on a variety of things, and the most important one is the weapon. The choice of weapon is guided by several factors, such as ease of use, ammo accessibility, and, of course, animals it can kill humanely.

A .22 rifle is justly considered the best beginner rifle, but, as with nearly everything in our world, it has its strength and limitations because all-arounders are pie in the sky. In particular, novices want to know whether a .22 can kill a deer. So we’ve decided to write an article about .22 rifles and share what animals they can handle ethically.

What Can You Hunt with a .22 Rifle: All You Need to Know

Why a .22 Rifle is Perfect for Hunting

Though a .22 is the best rifle for anyone new to hunting, we shouldn’t treat it as a newbie’s gun. Some experts continue to use these guns because they meet their needs perfectly. 

But what exactly makes a .22 rifle the best gun for certain hunting scenarios and applications? Here are a couple of reasons why it has earned its spot as the go-to gun for hunting.

Weight

A simple .22 caliber rifle is very easy to handle because it’s lightweight. An average one, whether it’s a bolt-action, semi-auto, or lever-action type of a .22 rifle, weighs around 6 pounds. For the sake of comparison, .223 Remington non-AR rifles weigh 7+ pounds, while bolt-action rifles in .308 Winchester are about 8 pounds. A lighter rifle means more stable aiming and more accurate shots because your hands don’t tire so much from holding a weapon. The lightweight and simple construction of the rifle and small .22 rounds of ammo are reasons why survival rifles are in .22 LR.

Lightweight, Breathable and Moisture Wicking, the New Bexley 3.0 Set Will Keep Hunters Cool For When the Hunt Heats Up in the Early Season 

Madison, WI – DSG Outerwear, premier makers of the most technical, high-performance and size-inclusive hunting apparel for women, is proud to announce its new Bexley 3.0 Ripstop Tech Camo Shirt and Pants. An updated version to the beloved DSG Bexley style, the pullover and pants set blend a lightweight tech material with moisture-wicking capabilities and a stellar fit, making the pair a must-have set for your early season hunting.

“The Bexley is one of our most popular lines, and we’re excited to launch the newest update to the set in a wide range of popular Realtree® and Mossy Oak® camo patterns,” said Wendy Gavinski, owner and founder of DSG Outerwear. “Both shirt and pants are constructed with a lightweight and breathable Ripstop tech fabric which is also moisture-wicking and water resistant to light rain, allowing hunters to stay covered and protected while keeping cool.”

Made with warmer climate in mind, the new Bexley 3.0 is perfect for early season hunting where summer temps are still blazing and staying cool is vital to success in the field. The Bexley 3.0 Ripstop Tech Shirt and Pants are most comfortably worn in temps 55 degrees Fahrenheit and above. Its breathable, Ripstop fabric is DWR treated to help shed water off the surface and allow for moisture to wick away. The shirt features a hood with soft elastic binding to keep the head covered while comfort-length sleeves with thumbholes give wearers extra protection from the elements. The pullover also incorporates a front quarter-zip which makes pulling the shirt on and off a breeze, along with a concealed upper chest zipper pocket and a pouch pocket for extra storage.

The Bexley 3.0 Ripstop Tech Pants are both comfortable and functional with darts at the knees for added flexibility, allowing the pants to move right along with you when on the hunt. Like all DSG Outerwear gear, fit is paramount which is why the pants incorporate an adjustable inseam (33 inches to 29.5 inches) along with an elastic waistband which allows for added stretch. Need quick access to your smartphone? A handy cargo pocket with snap closure is located on the thigh to stash it, or other gear quickly. Jeans-style pockets can be found in the front plus a roomy back pocket is available in the back for even more convenient storage.

EDGEFIELD, S.C.—Like many states, South Dakota had a boom in its wild turkey numbers during the early 2000s. Around 2010, however, the harvest rates in the Mount Rushmore State have been steadily decreasing year after year, hinting at an overall population decline.

The NWTF is helping fund a new wild turkey research project in the southern part of the state that will measure various demographic information about wild turkeys. Data gleaned from the project will be used to create a growth model, giving wildlife managers a better understanding of populations and how to manage them accordingly.

“We definitely have been declining after our restoration boom,” said Chad Lehman, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks senior wildlife biologist. “As with most states, we grew rapidly after reintroductions and then started declining around 2009 and 2010.”

Lehman and Christopher Rota, Ph.D., associate professor of wildlife and fisheries resources at West Virginia University, are the principal investigators of this new research project.

At the beginning of 2023, Lehman, Rota and their team will capture 40 adult hens and 40 juvenile hens and attach them with VHF (very high frequency) radio transmitters, which send out a unique, high-frequency radio signal that the team can detect with a receiver, allowing them to locate the marked birds and infer information surrounding survival and reproduction. The team will capture 80 birds a year for two years.

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NEW HAVEN, Mo. – ALPS OutdoorZ, premiere manufacturer of rugged hunting packs and gear for big-game hunters, announces a new frame and pack system developed for extreme backcountry hunters. The new ultralight modular Elite frame and pack bags address the needs of hunters who require a lightweight system that can reliably and comfortably haul meat and gear through the most adverse terrain and weather conditions.

The Elite system centers on the all-new Elite frame, which improves the structural integrity by approximately 30-percent, providing a lighter and stronger pack frame. In addition, this new frame hits higher benchmarks of performance and ergonomics thanks to an adjustable torso length, fully adjustable load lifters, contoured lumbar support, anti-sway waist belt, and a quiet and breathable 3D air mesh suspension with an anti-slip lumbar pad.

The Elite system is designed so that the frame can be used as a standalone solution for hauling meat and capes. A large front load panel and two side panels feature buckle compression straps that allow the hunter to properly balance and secure heavy loads without shifting. What’s more, the loaded Elite frame can accommodate one of two Elite pack bags, which use compression straps to secure to the frame over top of the meat load. This allows the hunter the option of packing their game and gear out in a single trip.

Two-pack bags are offered with the Elite system. For short trips or for ultralight bivouacs, there is the Elite 1800 pack bag, weighing 1 lb., 12 oz. with the included rain cover and drop-down weapon pocket. For multi-day backcountry trips, the Elite 3800 pack bag is the optimal choice. This pack features a 3800 cu-in capacity, weighing 2 lbs., 7 oz with the rain cover, drop-down pocket, and spotting scope pocket on the exterior of the pack bag.

Team Remington shooters travelled to Orvieto, Italy and returned with multiple medals at the World FITASC Sporting Clay Shooting Championship.

Team Remington’s Madison Sharpe earned the gold medal with the ladies team, heavily assisted by her score of 178. Individually, Sharpe took the silver medal after an intense shoot-off. Todd Hitch took home the silver medal alongside other members of his junior team. His individual score landed him in 6th place overall.

Team Remington is comprised of an accomplished list of top shooters who continue to compete with the best in the world across trap, skeet and sporting clays competitions domestically and internationally. Utilizing Remington Premier STS Target Loads, Team Remington shooters continue to tally podium finishes and represent Big Green against the best shooters in the world.  

Find Remington ammunition at dealers nationwide and online. For more information on Remington ammunition and accessories, visit  www.remington.com.

Hooyman, a premium hand tool brand known for its No-Slip H-Grip technology, today announced the launch of its first ever line of chest spreaders. The 24v Lithium Ion and Manual Chest Spreaders are now available to consumers at hooyman.com. The Hooyman Spreaders were designed with land managers, home owners, avid outdoors-people, and gardeners in mind. At Hooyman, we understood some of the issues with current spreaders, so we went to the drawing board and crafted two new spreaders that are comfortable and extremely durable, reduce spillage of product, and increase the throwing distance of product.

Hooyman 24V Lithium Ion Chest Spreader | MSRP: $279.99

Includes:

The 24V Lithium Ion Chest Spreader makes spreading faster, easier and more comfortable. Our multi-seasonal spreader features durable construction, an easy fill hopper, an adjustable seed rate, a proprietary throwing disc, and a viewer window. The comfort harness allows you to spread with ease, and a continuous run time of 3 hours will allow you to complete most jobs on a single charge.

Hooyman Manual Chest Spreader | MSRP: $149.99

Experienced hunters and shooters understand that, when setting up a rifle for a specific purpose, a key element is selecting the right riflescope for the task at hand. From lightweight mountain rifles to heavy beanfield models, and everything in between, GPO USA (German Precision Optics) has a high-quality, affordable scope to meet the needs of every hunter on the planet.

“Fly fishermen call it ‘matching the hatch,’” said Mike Jensen, GPO USA President and CEO. “They know they need to present exactly the right fly to maximize their chances of success. Hunters that mount exactly the right riflescope on their rifle will likewise maximize both their enjoyment and their chances of making the shot during even the most difficult conditions.” 

GPO USA offers a full array of options for hunters, from the PASSION 3X and 4X line offering both one-inch and 30mm tubes and 42mm, 50mm and 56mm objective lenses, all the way through the award-winning SPECTRA scopes series with dozens of models that include 30mm & 34mm tubes — and objective lenses ranging between 44mm and 56mm.  SPECTRA has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from top-end scopes so there is something that will meet every hunter’s needs, and budget.

Among the many top-end features found in all GPO riflescopes, two stand out — the company’s proprietary GPObright coating process and Double HD Objective Lens Technology. 

GPObright coating is a process that maximizes light transmission through each surface of an optical element. As light hits an optical surface, normal uncoated high-performance glass can reflect up to five percent of that light, redirecting this light so it does not transmit through the optical system. However, when these high-performance lenses are vacuum coated with GPObright lens coatings, up to 99.7 percent of the available light passes through each optical surface. Furthermore, when every surface of the entire optical system is properly coated, total light transmission can reach up to more than 92 percent, making the optical image of a GPO binocular or riflescope “bright,” even in the lowest light conditions.

Performance Eyewear company takes home coveted award for “best eyewear” at the biggest fishing trade show

Bajío, maker of blue-light filtering, sustainably-made, performance sunglasses that are built to save the world’s saltwater flats and estuaries, is pleased to announce that its new Roca sunglasses has won ICAST Best Eyewear award for 2022. This marks the first time that Bajío has taken home the award for its category.

“Last year we launched our brand at ICAST to show the world what we’d been working on. This year we won the Best of Eyewear category,” said Al Perkinson, founder of Bajío Sunglasses. “We’re a small team, we’re an independent company, and we have so much more on the way. To everyone that’s helped us on our journey, thank you.”

The Roca sunglasses are a durable pair of performance shades made especially for anglers’ eyes to cut through the glare and see more fish. Made with tough, bio-based nylon, this modern oversized frame protects eyes with complete coverage and vented side shields, reducing glare off the water and overall light intrusion without fogging up.

These sunglasses are designed for sight-fishing since it requires a laser focus on the slightest indication. They provide the coverage and visibility for that split-second opportunity when an angler needs to either set the hook or lament over the one that got away. With so much on the line, an angler needs sunglasses that provide every available advantage. The name Roca (rock in Spanish), is named for the productive Roca Flat near Campeche, Mexico which is one of the many stops on the brand’s around-the-world environmental project called the Bajío Odyssey.

Like many states, South Dakota had a boom in its wild turkey numbers during the early 2000s. Around 2010, however, the harvest rates in the Mount Rushmore State have been steadily decreasing year after year, hinting at an overall population decline.

The NWTF is helping fund a new wild turkey research project in the southern part of the state that will measure various demographic information about wild turkeys. Data gleaned from the project will be used to create a growth model, giving wildlife managers a better understanding of populations and how to manage them accordingly.

“We definitely have been declining after our restoration boom,” said Chad Lehman, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks senior wildlife biologist. “As with most states, we grew rapidly after reintroductions and then started declining around 2009 and 2010.”

Lehman and Christopher Rota, Ph.D., associate professor of wildlife and fisheries resources at West Virginia University, are the principal investigators of this new research project.

At the beginning of 2023, Lehman, Rota and their team will capture 40 adult hens and 40 juvenile hens and attach them with VHF (very high frequency) radio transmitters, which send out a unique, high-frequency radio signal that the team can detect with a receiver, allowing them to locate the marked birds and infer information surrounding survival and reproduction. The team will capture 80 birds a year for two years.

RCBS®, the leading manufacturer of ammunition reloading equipment for rifles and pistols, recently wrapped up its first-ever “RCBS Rumble” – the company’s own Precision Rifle Series match, after years of sponsoring and supporting other PRS events nationwide.

“Our team couldn’t be happier with how the inaugural RCBS Rumble turned out,” said Laurie Kokoruda, senior product manager and match director.  “We have been discussing such an opportunity for years and thanks to the tremendous support we received not just locally but from our sponsors nationwide, the match was even better than we could have predicted. RCBS has supported PRS competitions for decades and it was great to see our brand take the lead in making a match of this caliber happen.”

Kokoruda continued, “A special thanks is owed to all the range officers and volunteers who worked behind the scenes to make the match move smoothly. We heard nothing but positive feedback from the shooters all weekend and we hope to be back next year in an even bigger way.”

The RCBS Rumble was held August 6 in RCBS’s and GA Precision’s own backyard near Pleasant Hill, Missouri. With additional support from partners including Bushnell, Hoppe’s, Federal Ammunition, GA Precision and Manner’s Composite Stocks, the Rumble drew 75 elite PRS Pro Series shooters from across the country and sold out of registration spots in less than an hour. In addition to the main competition, the match included side stages sponsored by Manners Composite Stocks and Bushnell.

The match heated up quickly, not just with a heat index of 105 degrees, but with a fast-paced, challenging course of fire that included buses, trucks and other props. Team RCBS and Elite Tactical shooter Troy Livesay took fourth place at the match, taking home one of the coveted trophies – custom RCBS presses. First through fifth place won gold, silver, bronze and copper RCBS Summit presses, while the top shooter in each class also received a custom copper RCBS Rebel press. Team RCBS and Elite Tactical shooter Melissa Gilliland claimed the Top Lady title at the match.

New Program Honors Former Executive Director Kevin Hisey

Pope and Young, America’s leading bowhunting conservation organization is excited to announce the development of the Kevin Hisey Youth Program. These programs are designed to increase opportunities for youth within Pope and Young and their conservation efforts focused on preserving, promoting, and protecting the sport of bowhunting.

Pope & Young is dedicated to promoting the sport of bowhunting with today’s youth through outreach programs, the Junior Outdoors Program, and the Youth Bowhunting Awards.  The goal of all these initiatives is to expose young hunters to the joys of fair chase bowhunting, with the hope of creating bowhunters for life.

The Kevin Hisey Youth Program is named in honor of Kevin Hisey a highly respected employee of Pope & Young since 1992, and former Executive Director for 15 years, the longest tenure in that role in Pope & Young’s history. Kevin who had an unapparelled passion for bowhunting and youth participation passed away in 2015.

“Kevin was a passionate bowhunter and conservationist, dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of bowhunting, and promoting the ethics of fair chase,” stated Kurt Ebers, President of Pope & Young.  “He was an Official Measurer, Senior Member of the Pope & Young Club, and was always involved in the organization’s youth activities, and we couldn’t be prouder to name the Youth Program in his honor.”  

Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) filed a new lawsuit challenging the ATF’s rule that would create new terms and enact a slew of regulations for the agency to enforce, including ones that would treat non-frames and non-receivers as if they were actual frames and receivers of weapons. The complaint in VanDerStok v. Garland can be viewed at FPCLegal.org.

“The Final Rule defies the plain language of the [Gun Control Act] and longstanding agency interpretation suggesting that the items at issue here, sometimes colloquially referred to as receiver blanks, unfinished frames or receivers, or 80% frames or receivers, are not firearms,” says the complaint. “Through this rulemaking, however, the Agencies are attempting to create a broad, sweeping definition by including items that are not yet the ‘frames or receivers’ of such weapons and by including ‘frame or receiver kits.’”

“Neither the president nor any federal agency has the power to make law,” said FPC’s Senior Attorney for Constitutional Litigation Cody J. Wisniewski. “The Constitution is clear–Congress has the power to make law, and the Executive Branch is limited to enforcing that law. But here, President Biden openly admitted that he would circumvent Congress and have the DOJ and ATF issue new regulations that go well beyond congressionally-established law and seek to greatly expand the ATF’s reach. FPC will not stand idly by while the federal government tramples the rights of peaceable individuals through agency rulemaking.”

Individuals who would like to Join the FPC Grassroots Army and support important pro-rights lawsuits and programs can sign up at JoinFPC.org. Individuals and organizations wanting to support charitable efforts in support of the restoration of Second Amendment and other natural rights can also make a tax-deductible donation to the FPC Action Foundation. For more on FPC’s lawsuits and other pro-Second Amendment initiatives, visit FPCLegal.org and follow FPC on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube. 

Firearms Policy Coalition (firearmspolicy.org), a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization, exists to create a world of maximal human liberty, defend constitutionally protected rights, advance individual liberty, and restore freedom. FPC’s efforts are focused on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and adjacent issues including freedom of speech, due process, unlawful searches and seizures, separation of powers, asset forfeitures, privacy, encryption, and limited government. The FPC team are next-generation advocates working to achieve the Organization’s strategic objectives through litigation, research, scholarly publications, amicus briefing, legislative and regulatory action, grassroots activism, education, outreach, and other programs. 

After extensive testing by the editors of Outdoor Life, the Federal Gold Medal 6.5 Creedmoor, 140-grain Sierra MatchKing was named the Editors Choice for the most accurate load in 6.5 Creedmoor. The article outlining the testing and results was written by Outdoor Life Shooting Editor, John Snow. 

During the testing, the Federal Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing was shot through 9 different 6.5 Creedmoor rifles. The ammunition performed above its competitors, with the smallest 10 five-shot groups measuring an average .501 in (1/2 MOA).

“The quality in design, craftsmanship, and components of Federal products is highly recognized once again by this acknowledgment from Outdoor Life,” said Jason Nash, Federal’s Vice President of Marketing. “The rigorous testing by the editors shows that the Federal Gold Medal 6.5 Creedmoor, 140-grain Sierra MatchKing is the go-to load for out-of-the-box accuracy for the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge.”

Federal Gold Medal 6.5 Creedmoor 140-grain Sierra MatchKing is built for long-range accuracy. The load uses exclusive benchrest-quality Gold Medal primer design and the precision-built Sierra MatchKing bullet. The boat-tail hollow-point bullet is built with a uniform match jacket to ensure consistent long-range accuracy.

This product features, a uniform match bullet jacket to ensure consistent, long-range accuracy, reliable Federal brass, specially formulated propellant, and a Federal Premium Gold Medal primer. It’s sold in 20-count boxes. Learn more at: https://www.federalpremium.com/rifle/.

Federal Ammunition sponsored shooter Vincent Hancock adds to the list of recent events won by Federal sponsored shotgun shooters. 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist Vincent Hancock won the 2022 Skeet Nationals Championship. The shoot was held on August 6, 2022, at the John Anthony Halter Shooting Sports Center in Hillsdale, Michigan.

Using Federal Premium shotshell, Hancock scored 248/250 broken targets in the qualification rounds. During the Gold Medal Final, Hancock secured 59/60 to win the gold medal in a field of 46 shooters.

The win at the 2022 Skeet Nationals Championship adds to an already accomplished-filled 2022 shooting season for Hancock. At the 2022 ISSF World Cup in Baku Azerbaijan, Hancock won three gold medals in individual and team shooting events.

“2022 Skeet Nationals was a big success,” said Vincent Hancock. “It was a fun event that I was able to perform well at. The 2022 season has been one to remember. A big thank you to my sponsors including Federal Ammunition for being my partners and providing the gear needed to succeed.”

Federal Ammunition is a large supporter of the Amateur Trap Association (ATA), National Skeet Shooters Association (NSSA), National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA), and many other national, regional, and state shooting sports organizations.

TrueTimber has announced a licensee partnership with Malta Dynamics on the Hunter’s Elite Hunting Harness and accompanying accessories pack. Available exclusively in TrueTimber Strata and Kanati camo, the Hunter’s Elite Hunting Harness is lightweight, comfortable and durable. Above all else, it is field tested and approved by lifetime hunters to deliver the utmost confidence while in the stand. The Hunter’s Elite Hunting Harness and accessories are available for purchase on the Malta Dynamics website at  MaltaDynamics.com. MSRP $149.99 and $19.99.

“I am extremely excited to introduce TrueTimber patterns to the safety gear that Malta offers,” said TrueTimber CEO Rusty Sellars. “Malta is synonymous with delivering some of the best fall safety equipment on the market, so I know that tree stand hunters will appreciate the availability in our industry leading Strata and Kanati patterns. We have worked hard to ensure that we can help offer the best hunting experience to TrueTimber fans and hunters all over, so this is an exciting addition to our lineup of licensees.”

The Hunter’s Elite Hunting Harness comes complete as a high quality harness with a shock absorbing tether. Designed by both the leaders of safety gear and hunters, all the features one could desire are present in the harness. Featuring premium padding, lightweight build and silent climbing/connector loops, the harness is sure to provide all day comfort and quietness for the best hunt possible. The harness system is easily adjustable, able to support up to 300 pounds and has been rigorously tested and meets the strict ASTM F2123-19 standards.

Malta Dynamics has also released the Hunter’s Elite Hunting Harness Accessories pack as an optional add on. This accessories collection includes the suspension relief/deer drag, lineman’s climbing strap and tree strap that have been expertly designed for use with the Hunter’s Elite Harness System to further improve a hunter’s experience. The tree strap allows users to anchor safely to the tree for the duration of long hunts and is easily adjustable. It provides the idle friction for safe attachment and is made with durable high strength polyester webbing. The Lineman’s Climbing Strap is made with durable polyester and steel carabiners, allowing users to safely scale a tree to install or remove tree stands, steps or hang bags while keeping the users hands free. The Deer Drag/Suspension Relief Strap adds the extra protection needed to ensure that hunters are able to stay safe while waiting for rescue in case of an accidental fall. It can also be used to create a slip knot on a deer’s limb for dragging efforts.

Malta Dynamics is a full-service manufacturing company specializing in fall protection solutions. While originally created to serve the general industry and construction, it has now recently expanded into hunting gear. Malta Dynamics prides itself on providing top of the line safety products while also giving back to their community. Each product meets strict safety standards, and the customer always comes first with their 100% satisfaction guarantee on all products. To learn more about Malta Dynamics, visit MaltaDynamics.com.

Living off-grid sounds easy enough, right?

Surely it can’t be more than a matter of moving to the woods, building a cabin, installing some solar panels, erecting a wind turbine, and drilling a well. Then, you could start a vegetable garden, raise some chickens, and sit back and relax – away from the rat race of modern life.

Not so fast.

Going off the grid requires serious planning and a lot of hard work before you’ll be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor. And the work doesn’t stop once you’re established – there will be constant upkeep and maintenance. Let’s begin with the basics.

Here are five things you need to know before moving off the grid.

1. Food

You won’t have access to supermarkets, so you’ll have to grow your own food in a garden or greenhouse. Begin with some raised beds and a traditional garden, and fill your greenhouse with fruit and vegetable-bearing plants. You should either hunt or have your own livestock to produce milk, eggs, and meat.

Foods to stockpile include non-perishables, so you should stock up on these when you make your occasional trips to town. Canning and preserving the food you produce will also allow you to build up emergency supplies of food.

2. Water

To live off the grid, you’ll need a steady source of potable water. Because you will probably not have municipal water sources, you need to find your own. When choosing a piece of land, make sure there is a natural water source or that it isn’t too far to haul water from other places.

Being a competitive equestrian in my teens and twenties, I went through an average person’s lifetime of buckets. I bought buckets with sturdy handles and what the industry labeled indestructible. Rarely well-used buckets last longer than a few months. Now, as an avid outdoors enthusiast, I seldom embark on a trip that doesn’t include at least one bucket. The problem is that the typical bucket, repurposed or not, never last and is not always dependable–I needed a performance bucket. 

I was introduced to the HUCK Performance Bucket this summer. At first, I thought it was just a pricey bucket with a cool look. As I started using the bucket, I found it to be much more than just another “pretty bucket.” My first experience was on a deep-sea fishing trip earlier this summer, and this trip made me appreciate the features of the HUCK Bucket.  

How I Used the HUCK Performance Bucket

HUCK on the Water

The trip was a huge success, and once we were docked and emptying our catch for the day, I noticed the solid non-skid, non-marking Vibram footholds were highly stable on the edge of the boat surface even as it rocked with the wakes of other boats docking around us.

Not only was it stuck solid to the surface, wet or dry, but the 3/8th-inch raised bucket base allowed water to flow at the cleaning table without picking the bucket up to wash around it. The finger indents on the handle allowed me to carry the bucket without hand pain, even with the bucket full of big red snapper. 

HUCK in the Woods

The following weekend after our fishing trip, I took the bucket to the woods to spread bait for hog hunting. I have been through so many buckets baiting hogs. The handles break, I drop them from hand pain from the wire handles, or they crack when I smack them around, trying to empty the hog hooch I brewed in the bucket.

Kenneth “Jack” Morris of Milton, Del., is the winner of the 2022 Ducks Unlimited (DU) National Scholarship.

Morris served as the secretary of the DU Varsity Sussex Tech High School Chapter in Georgetown, Del., before taking over as the committee chairman his senior year.

The DU Varsity program is for high school students across the United States.

DU Chairman of the Board Doug Schoenrock called Morris to break the news.

“It was an honor to be the first to congratulate Jack on his outstanding accomplishments,” said Schoenrock. “This year’s class of scholarship applicants was extremely competitive. It feels great to give back to this select group of young men and women who have represented their communities in such a positive manner.”