Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

Comb the sagebrush of western Wyoming with Mike Eastman on his annual mule deer hunt. Mike has learned that hunting for a mature buck takes patience, persistence and a lot of time behind the glass. Locating the needle in the haystack pays off for Eastman on this deer hunt.

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The post Sagebrush Mule Deer Hunting With Mike Eastman appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Hunter and backcountry hiker and all around outdoorsman Dan Pickar discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using bear spray or a pistol for defense when recreating in grizzly bear country. Each tool has benefits depending on the situation and what your preferences may be as a hunter. What is your preference? Leave a comment below.

Learn more about how to recreate in bear country: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list…

The post Pistol VS. Bear Spray??? appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Want a a couple pieces of top notch hunting clothing just in time for the October seasons? Here is your chance to do just that from Sixsite! Win a Gunnison Jacket and a Clear Creek pant just by filling out the form below! Make sure you are following Eastmans’ on Instagram for more notices about our gear giveaways and see when post the Sixsite clothing video review!
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The post Sixsite Gunnison Jacket And Clear Creek Pant Giveaway! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Last-Minute Dictate from Montana

Just when the historic Wyoming grizzly hunt was set to finally happen, on August 31, the day before the hunt, Judge Dana Christensen, a U.S. appeals district court judge in Montana, issued a restraining order halting Wyoming’s grizzly hunt for at least two weeks, at which time he may issue a more permanent injunction or give a ruling.

Who is This Judge?

Why would a judge in Montana, which is in the 9th federal circuit, rule on a Wyoming hunt when Wyoming is in the 10th circuit? Presumably because that’s where environmental extremist groups go to find a friendly federal judge.

Judge Christensen has been a dependable judge when environmental groups sue the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). In August 2016 he ruled that the USFWS decision to not list wolverines as threated or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was “arbitrary and capricious.”

Hunter Scott Reekers reviews the latest release from Vortex Optics, the Viper HD series. The Viper HD is available in binoculars and spotting scopes. These lightweight binoculars are perfect for the backcountry hunter and the low-light quality of the spotting scope is ideal for hunting. Combined with the durability and glass quality offered by Vortex Optics, the new Viper HD is a powerful tool for any western hunter.

The post The Vortex Viper HD Series Optics! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Eastmans’ bowhunter Jordan Breshears is after an archery season antelope in this web edition of Eastmans’ Hunting TV. Breshears has several close calls, but is forced to carry this bowhunt into rifle season when the pronghorn bucks are even more wary. Bowhunting antelope is always full of surprises!

The post Bowhunting Montana Antelope DIY! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

The post Review: Ebelestock’s Technical Hunting Wear appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

The largest mountain goat relocation project in American history is set to begin this September in Olympic National Park (“ONP”). Following a lengthy study, the National Park Service (NPS) decided to completely eradicate the entire mountain goat population from ONP over the next three years.  

Mountain goats were introduced to the Olympic Mountains in the late 1920’s and the park service arrived in 1938. In what the park is calling an attempt to preserve native alpine plants, all of ONP’s mountain goats will either be live-captured and relocated or lethally removed.  In essence, the animals that are not successfully captured will be killed.

This fall’s initial capture will be a trial run to what amounts to a monumental and unprecedented relocation attempt coming in 2019 and 2020. The park estimates their goat population around 750 animals. The goal is to live-capture as many animals as possible and to gift them to the state of Washington.  To get a better idea, that is estimated at roughly 15% of the total mountain goat population in the lower 48 states. (I need to double check that number).

Currently, the plan is to relocate the live-captured animals to augment and revitalize native goat populations in Washington State’s Cascade Mountains. A live capture of this many mountain goats has never been attempted. Several agencies and organizations are working together to execute this unprecedented project.

One organization, the Rocky Mountain Goat Alliance, remains actively involved in efforts to capture and relocate as many of the mountain goats as possible.  Conservation dollars have been allocated to the purchasing of several collars to be used by Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife to track and study the relocated animals.

Hike into the public land of Wyoming with Guy Eastman to hunt elk in October. Eastman is hunting DIY style in an elk unit he has hunted before. He locates a monster bull near the end of bull season, but is forced to back out before closing the deal. Can he relocate the monster during the October rifle hunting season?! Watch more from Beyond the Grid TV by Eastmans’: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsCaxOyKjb4rEqH0wImLVDtAxDdL6i4Qi

The post Beyond The Grid: DIY Wyoming Elk Hunt appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Hunter Josh Kinser travels to Argentina to hunt red stag during the roar. Hunting red stag in the roar can be heart pounding and just abut every elk hunter has dreamed of heading south to pursue a roaring red stag! Kinser must move quickly when a charging stag surprises him at only 15 yards! The flexibility of his Swagger bipod allows Kinser to make a quick adjustment and center punch a trophy. Take a look at the tip below to see how to properly level off while shooting from a bipod and how practicing this can make the moment of truth count!

The post Red Stag At 15 Yards: In The Field With Swagger appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Join Guy Eastman on a DIY bowhunt for mule deer in Wyoming. Eastman must overcome the mature sagebrush and swirling winds to close the deal on a velvet deer with impressive back tines. Don’t miss this archery hunt packed with big buck encounters! This is DIY bowhunting at its best.

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The post Bowhunting DIY Velvet Mule Deer! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Big Agnes Q-Core Deluxe

Brandon Mason

Big Agnes is a name synonymous with quality backpacking gear and has been for a long time. Their line of sleeping bags, pads and tents is nothing short of impressive.

The Q-Core sleeping pad line is full of options, including the insulated deluxe option. This sleeping pad is a three-season pad (comfort rated from 15 degrees F to 35 degrees F) and is one size of five options that you can choose from in the Q-Core Deluxe pad line. The 25” x 78” (width x length) is the largest in this series and weighs 33 ounces.

While this seems a bit on the heavy side, it does include Primaloft insulation to get you through even more chilly nights on the mountainside. In addition the pad has heat-reflective technology to retain warmth.

We’ve all heard the expression; Hunt Smarter, Not Harder! Well, what if you could actually do both and just Hunt Better! With a subscription to Eastmans’ Hunting Journals you can simply Hunt Better!

Each issue of both Eastmans’ Hunting and Bowhunting Journals is jam packed with features from hunters like you who share their stories to not only entertain you but for you to learn from. Add to that expert tips and tactics from our staff writers and you’ve got mountains of expertise and knowledge right at your fingertips.

For example, Guy Eastman’s articles on scouting and locating specific species will get you on the fast track to finding more game. This is where the hunt smarter side of your subscription comes into play. By learning how the experts approach each and every hunt you’ll have a leg up when it comes time for your own western adventure.

Combining expert knowledge with tips and tactics for everything from field judging sheep to sealing the deal on a bugling bull elk is what we do everyday at Eastmans’ Hunting Journals. Do yourself a favor and subscribe to the leader in western big game hunting and get started today on your road to Hunting Better!

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Big Agnes- Summit Park 15- Long

By: Ike Eastman

Quilt meets sleeping bag! Big Agnes is a household name when it comes to the sleeping bag market and the Summit Park 15 is a quality bag that cuts back on weight with the assumption that when you are laying on down it doesn’t function as insulation. That means your insulation comes from the pad that is partnered with the bag, and in my case the Big Agnes Q-Core Deluxe three season option works well. The bag has a built in sleeve that holds the pad in place with the idea that you can’t slide off of a pad that is directly attached to the bag.

The down filling is 600 weight Downtek which in layman’s terms means that it has been treated with a water repellent that prevents the clumping when wet that untreated down is known for. Because it won’t clump up, warmth is retained and it’s possible to get a good night’s sleep in damp conditions. The outer shell is built from a tough rip stop Nylon that is also treated with water repellent which makes this bag an ideal choice for late September and early October when the wet conditions really begin to take hold.

The Summit Park is accurately rated down to 15 degrees, in hunting terms that means you can expect to be comfortable through most of October in this bag. If you get cold easy, supplement the bag with base layers in the late season and you are set. The bag itself is wide in the shoulders and knees with a hood that wraps around your head comfortably keeping the drafts out all night long. The long version, comfortable up to 6’6”, we tested comes in at 4lbs, 3.6 oz before the pad and the weight will go down if you don’t need the long version. The bag packs down to 9” by 20” in the long version and you can find it at www.bigagnes.com for $329.95 or take a look at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse for a variety of models from Big Agnes.

Your Idaho archery elk honey hole may be inaccessible when the season starts due to numerous fires in central and northern Idaho. Idaho Fish & Game (IDFG) announced last week that more than likely current wildfires will still be active in the early elk season and you may find that your area is closed even if the fire has been contained or put out. Firefighters may feel an area is too hot or too likely to start up again with human activity. Or roads may be closed. In fact, IDFG says this will be an issue into October when other seasons are likely to be affected. So, listen up, rifle hunters.

To find out if your area is affected, you can go to the IDFG Hunt Planner  and turn on the fire layers and road closures layers. You can also go to the Idaho Panhandle National Forest website  for the most current closures. If you are hunting outside the Panhandle, check out the fire map at https://inciweb.nwcg.com where you will see an icon for each fire. Click on it and you can get the closure announcement for it.

The other way this can affect your plans is regarding campfires. The Idaho Panhandle is under a Stage 1 Fire Restriction, meaning you can only have a fire in a designated recreation site and then only inside a permanent metal or concrete ring. If you planned on camping in other areas, just don’t make a campfire. This is not a trivial thing. Build one in this very dry, intense fire season and even if it doesn’t spread, you may have a less-than-cordial visit from a Forest Service employee or IDFG employee. Or worse, it does spread and you are responsible for burning potentially hundreds or thousands of acres.

Another way this can affect you is if winds have blown the smoke into drainages you plan to glass. The fire may be a long way away, but the smoke may be where you want to hunt. Either drive there and see if the area is very smoky or call a local ranger to find out. The best glass in the world can’t see though a smoky haze.

Bowhunter Ike Eastman reviews the latest release from Sitka Gear, the Apex system. The Apex Hoody and Pant are purpose built for big game hunting when mornings are cool, but weather is still warm and mild. Combining Merino wool and poly-blend fabrics, these camo pieces are durable without sacrificing moisture management. A built-in face mask offers concealment for spot and stalk hunting while the tapered pant leg maximizes range of motion and reduces noise.

The post The Apex System- New From Sitka! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Backcountry hiker and hunter Dan Pickar shares his favorite method to wash a dirty down sleeping bag. Sleeping bags filled with down require extra care to make sure they last a lifetime. Using the right laundry detergent and washing machine can make all the difference. Protect your investment and get the most out of down filled sleeping bag.

The post How To: Clean Down Sleeping Bags appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Backcountry hiker and hunter Dan Pickar shares his experience with Lowa’s new Z-8S GTX Boot. This hiking boot can tackle any task. It’s breathable, supportive and designed to keep you going for miles. Pickar reviews his first five miles hiking in a brand new pair. No blisters and dry feet at the end of the day on his first day out with the Lowa Z-85 GTX boots.

The post Lightweight, Breathable Boots – Lowa Boot Review appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Dehydration is a state of existence that many in the hunting world find themselves in by accident. In the name of being conservative many backpack hunters forego getting enough water and act like nothing’s wrong for a few days while the mild headaches set in. Don’t do it, there is never an excuse to put yourself in an unsafe position due to a lack of water. Finding water, even in the higher elevations, is possible in just about every hunting season within 1000 feet of elevation and to top it off there is no shortage of ways to purify it into drinking water. So let’s dig into this Gear Lab and take a look at a variety of water purification methods that can be used in a variety of settings.

Aquamira – Ike Eastman

When you are counting ounces it’s hard to beat what Aquamira has to offer. Simply mix part A with part B in the lid, wait 5 minutes and then pour into your water container. It’s really hard to beat in terms of weight-to-purification power. When hunting from the trailhead or even on extended trips to the backcountry where I know that there are steady streams of water this method of purification is really hard to beat.

The downside is that you have to wait a few minutes and when you are thirsty that can make time move incredibly slow. The other thing to consider when using Aquamira drops is that they won’t remove the floaties from the water. Plan on using a scarf or even a reusable coffee filter to get the bugs, mud and other floaters out of the water. Having to chew water is never a pleasant experience and something that can be avoided. You can find Aquamira at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse or at https://www.aquamira.com/ for $14.99

Katadyn Vario Filter – Scott Reekers

Ike Eastman hunts the aspen and sagebrush country of western Wyoming for a trophy mule deer. Hunting deer in deep sagebrush is extra challenging. Eastman must be patient to find the right buck in the right scenario for an ethical shot.

The post Hunting Wyoming Mule Deer: Ike Eastman’s Buck appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.