Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

.rafflepress-giveaway-iframe-wrapper iframe { width: 1px; min-width: 100%; *width: 100%; height: 1000px; }.rafflepress_iframe_loading { background-image: url('data:image/gif;base64,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') !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; background-position: center 100px !important; height: 100%;}

function insertIframe( ID, src, minHeight) { var wrapperID = 'rafflepress-giveaway-iframe-wrapper-'+ID; var iframe = document.createElement('iframe'); iframe.setAttribute('id', 'rafflepress-'+ID); iframe.setAttribute('class', 'rafflepress-iframe'); iframe.setAttribute('src', src); iframe.setAttribute('frameborder', '0'); iframe.setAttribute('scrolling', 'no'); iframe.setAttribute('allowtransparency', 'true'); if (minHeight) { iframe.setAttribute('style', 'min-height:'+minHeight); } iframe.setAttribute('onload', 'rafflepress_resize_iframe_'+ID+'(this)'); document.getElementById(wrapperID).appendChild(iframe);}insertIframe( '65505243', 'https://blog.eastmans.com/?rafflepress_page=rafflepress_render&rafflepress_id=2&iframe=1&giframe=false&rpr=&parent_url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.eastmans.com%2Ffeed%2F&23637', '' );try{iFrameResize({ log: false, messageCallback: function(messageData) { if (messageData.message == 'rafflepress_loaded') { var el = document.getElementById('rafflepress-giveaway-iframe-wrapper-65505243'); var className = "rafflepress_iframe_loading"; if (el.classList) el.classList.remove(className); else el.className = el.className.replace(new RegExp('(^|\\b)' + className.split(' ').join('|') + '(\\b|$)', 'gi'), ' '); } }}, '#rafflepress-65505243');}catch(error) {}function rafflepress_resize_iframe_65505243(){ iFrameResize({ log: false, messageCallback: function(messageData) { if (messageData.message == 'rafflepress_loaded') { var el = document.getElementById('rafflepress-giveaway-iframe-wrapper-65505243'); var className = "rafflepress_iframe_loading"; if (el.classList) el.classList.remove(className); else el.className = el.className.replace(new RegExp('(^|\\b)' + className.split(' ').join('|') + '(\\b|$)', 'gi'), ' '); } }}, '#rafflepress-65505243');};

The post Outdoor Edge RazorBone Giveaway appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

We’ve all seen the statistics. Hunter numbers are down, way down. There are fewer than 12 million hunters in the United States as we speak. To put it another way, that’s less than 5% of the roughly 325 million people living in the U.S. Five percent, for crying out loud, the percentage of Americans who don’t own a car hovers around 9%, there are more Americans who have foregone automobiles than who hunt! That is a problem on several counts, but the funding of conservation is the most pressing as things with no value are quickly done away with in our modern world and hunters value wildlife and wild places more than any other segment of our population. 

The North American Model of Conservation rests squarely upon the shoulders of outdoorsmen, most specifically hunters; tax dollars and license sales are the primary sources of funding for wildlife management and habitat work. So, the wildlife are the ones who truly suffer when fewer hunters take the field each year. With the number of American hunters dwindling how long will it be before there is no longer a science-based conservation model in place? When that happens I fear for the future of our wildlife. 

So, what can be done? I’ve drilled you with facts that most of you already know and scenarios that most of you have already contemplated but I will now challenge you to pick up the gauntlet thrown down before us all and do your part to infuse new blood into the ranks of the American hunting community, and by American, I mean North American, as this is a fight without a DMZ…

Roots

Who first took you hunting? For an awful lot of us it was a family member; father, mother, uncle, aunt, grandparent. The point is that it was someone whom you likely respected and had a close personal relationship with. My dad began letting my brother and I tag along at very tender ages to make sure we fell in love with hunting. I’ve already had my three-year-old and two-year-old daughters on pronghorn hunts and in duck blinds. They, like their father before them, are learning early to appreciate the hunt, the special place wild animals have in our lives and the meat, antlers, horns, hides and feathers that nourish us physically as well as mentally.

Eastmans’ Brandon Mason shows how to turn a YETI cooler into a portable air conditioner unit! This DIY AC can be built with any cooler or ice chest and cost little to nothing! This easy to build AC cooler will surely keep you comfortable in your tent during those especially hot early hunting seasons.

The post YETI Cooler Air Conditioner – How to build an AC for your tent! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Every year we hear of the poaching nonsense that happens all over the country, and…really… all over the world. Recently this thread popped up on our Forum: https://forum.eastmans.com/threads/nice-bucks-poached-in-utah-how-can-we-stop-poachers.22129/

I’m preaching to the choir, here, but hopefully someone is reading this and maybe will think twice before shooting something they don’t have a legal license for.

North American wildlife resides in a public trust, belonging to the people of North America. No single person owns them, we all own them collectively, similar to our public lands. With this in mind, none of us has the right to poach animals whenever we see fit, no matter the species or size of the antlers/horns on the animal.

The fact of the matter is poaching is stealing, lying, and cheating. If you illegally shoot wildlife, you are stealing from your children and fellow man. If you illegally shoot wildlife, you are lying to those around you and yourself about how you harvested it. If you illegally shoot wildlife, you are cheating others just like you out of the opportunity to harvest that critter during legal hunting seasons and not allowing that animal to die with grace as a true sportsman would.

Come on, brothers in the field, we are better than this. This activity only puts a black eye on all of our reputations to the voting public. Hunting is a heritage going back as far as our earliest records of mankind. In the United States, hunting is a privilege that can be taken away. 

Hunter Brandon Mason reviews the brand new RazorBone replaceable blade knife from Outdoor Edge. This lightweight knife combines performance with a 5-inch replaceable filet blade in an easy to use and convenient folding knife style. It comes with three blade styles; 3.5 inch drop-point blade, 5 inch filet blade and an all-new gutting blade. This knife can tackle any job in the field when you’re hunting and at home for meat processing.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE RAZORBONE FROM OUTDOOR EDGE

The post Outdoor Edge Razor Bone Review! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Join us to help conserve wildlife and wildlife migration in Wyoming. Help reduce road-killed wildlife. Buy a Wyoming wildlife conservation license plate for your vehicle and Eastmans’ will give you a FREE subscription to EASTMANS’ HUNTING JOURNAL, EASTMANs’ BOWHUNTING JOURNAL, and Eastmans’ TagHub! Eastmans’ Hunting Journals has teamed up with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to raise money to build wildlife road crossings in the state of Wyoming. The money raised not only to wildlife crossing structures but migration corridor management and more! Be sure to stay tuned for the upcoming release of Eastmans’ mule deer migration short film “Imperiled.”

CLICK HERE TO GET MORE INFO WYOMING RESIDENTS!

The post Buy A Plate for Safe Wildlife Road Crossings – Conserve migrations + get FREE EASTMANS’! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

What do you get with Eastmans’ TagHub? A new round of live updates are now live on Eastmans TagHub! Your one-stop-shop for all your hunting research needs is getting better and better every day!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR EASTMANS’ TagHub

The post Ultimate Western Hunting Research Tool! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Learn how to save on quality hunting gear with Eastmans’ TagHub! How great would it be to have a promo code to shop your favorite outdoor? You are in luck! By becoming a member of Eastmans’ TagHub you have the access to top-notch outdoor companies promo codes to get the best bang for your buck.

CLICK HERE  TO START USING YOUR PROMO CODES! 

 

***MUST BE A MEMBER OF EASTMANS’ TagHub TO HAVE ACCESS TO PROMO CODES***

The post FREE PROMO CODES From Your Favorite Brands!!! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

This hunting gear review details the Bora Vest by Kryptek. High country hunter Scott Reekers tests this lightweight core layer on a high country deer scouting trip. Just like all the layers in Kryptek’s Altitude line-up this vest features a DWR finish and Schoeller’s C-Change membrane. The C-change membrane responds to your body’s needs, whether you need to cool down or warm-up.

 

BY GIVING 3 SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR MAGAZINE YOU AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY FOR A FREE VEST!

CLICK HERE TO START GIVING!

Loading…

 

The post Kryptek Bora Vest Giveaway appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Learn how to judge antelope in the field while out hunting for a trophy buck. Pronghorn antelope can be one of the toughest big game animals to score on the hoof. Mike Eastman shares his tips to maximize your next trophy antelope hunt and help avoid ground shrinkage.

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

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with a mule deer master, a man who in his lifetime has forgotten more about hunting big mulies than I’ll ever know. Mike Eastman has spent decades studying and hunting big mule deer bucks from the high alpine basins where September dreams are realized to the bitterly severe winter range of southwest Wyoming. What I took away from our conversation has changed the way I look at hunting mid-fall mulies and made me itch for the chance to get out and put some of his thoughts, theories and strategies to the test this fall. So, follow along as I walk you through my conversation with a mule deer buck’s worst nightmare. 

 

Q: What is the #1 thing you look for when searching for bucks in the “mid-fall?”

 

A: Wow, that’s a broad question… we are going to have to narrow it down to where we are hunting – mountains or sagebrush/arid country. But the one thing that bucks in both areas have in common is the need for cover. 

For most die-hard western antelope hunters, an antelope buck is considered of trophy quality when the score hits near or around the 80’ mark. This buck will represent a mature animal in the top 10% or better for the species in both genetic makeup and nutritional health. 

The total score of a pronghorn buck consists of four evenly spaced circumference measurements, representing roughly 50% of the total score of the buck, along with a total length of horn measurement (about 40% of the total score) and a length of prong measurement which is only about 10% of the total score when all is said and done on average. From this we can easily make the assumption; that just like all horned animals, antelope are no different when we conclude when it comes to score, mass is king. Needless to say at this point, the first rule of judging antelope on the hoof is: if you find a buck that lacks mass, move on and keep looking. A relatively thin-horned buck would need to be insanely long to even begin to score well, probably in the 18-20” class for starters. These kinds of bucks do in fact exist, but are extreme rarities and mostly in Arizona and New Mexico. 

I nearly always focus my initial search for a buck that is very heavy, particularly on the base, followed by top-end mass. The top-end mass is usually the toughest buck to find as we go north. This portion of the horn is typically grown in the months of December and January, which are very, very tough months for antelope bucks in the northern regions of Montana and Wyoming. Shortcomings in the prongs and length can be compensated for by excessively heavy mass, particularly up top, while the contrary is generally not true. 

While long prongs look good on the wall, they are of the least concern when looking for a high scoring buck. After mass, the second criteria I check off is the overall length of the horn and finally the prong. There are bucks in the records book with 13” horns, but they are rare, and the mass for this type of buck to qualify has to be beyond exceptional, almost unearthly. 

Horn length can be a very tough measurement to judge. The really heavy bucks will tend to look shorter in length simply due to their mass. I once passed up on a buck initially because I honestly thought he was less than 14” in length. After my dad talked me into shooting the buck back at camp, we ended up putting him on the ground that night, only to find out his length was over 16 ½” and he grossed nearly 89” B&C! How could I have been so wrong? The buck was so heavy that he looked incredibly short. One of the biggest mistakes of my hunting career… almost. 

This review details the new rangefinding binos, the Geovid 3200.com by Leica. These binoculars with a built in rangefinder are not only packed with technology, but have a unique design making them super comfortable in hand. Scott Reekers tests the clarity and accuracy of these optics at long distances in the high country while scouting for an upcoming hunting season. Combined with the new app from Leica, you can customize these to your rifle setup to really dial in your accuracy.

The post Range Finding Bino Review: Leica Geovid 3200.com appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

It’s upon us, by the time this issue comes out elk season will be going hot and heavy.   Big bulls will be getting fired up, and start making noise.  These days and trips to come for us elk hunters are going to be heaven on earth.  Hopefully they will be filled with encounters, and the opportunity to try to arrow one of the big bulls we all dream about.  I know you die hards have been practicing religiously, and can close the deal If given the chance.  The key to that phrase is getting a chance, and to earn one you have to be good at locating elk.   The more bulls you can locate during your hunt the better you odds of killing one. 

Do your homework

Spend as much time as you can studying the country you will be hunting.  I swear I should be getting royalties from how much I mention Google earth.  It’s just such great program for us hunters to utilize.  It’s truly second to being there.  Along with this you should be looking at maps of roads, and topo maps.    Make yourself plan for where you will access country and where you will hunt.  Give yourself multiple options of places you want to check out.  Learn and memorize the country you want to hunt, and it will give you a leg up when you get there. 

When I am looking for new elk country I like to find big drainages or ridge lines that separate two different drainages.  I like to look for big country that connects to other pieces of big country.  I like to look for possible feeding meadows both on south sides and north sides of the mountain.  I look for water, as that is a huge reason why elk live where they do.  Elk need water daily, and it plays a big part in the rutting activities.  

I will also look for the flow of the country I am hunting.  What I mean by this is how the elk will move through country.  How the elk access water and feeding, and how they move to different drainages.  Look for saddles or dominate ridge lines, and try to paint a picture of what the elk are doing.  Plan to move along your flow of country if you are not seeing elk, chances are they are within a couple drainages.    

Dan Pickar is bow hunting mule deer in Idaho on this web episode of Eastmans’ Hunting TV. This is a DIY open country hunt. It takes days of glassing and patience to turn up a good stalk opportunity.

The post BOW HUNTING open country BUCKS! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

 

Calling elk on public land can be the most difficult task for any bowhunter. It is rare to see a 330 bull come in to calls like you see on TV, especially on public land. 

The easiest bulls to call are satellite bulls. The only problem is these are rarely the biggest bulls in the area. Big, mature herd bulls with cows are the hardest to kill simply because they are surrounded by a lot more eyes and they won’t want to leave their cows. 

Remember, all of the calling tactics listed below work best if the person calling is back 50-100 yards from the hunter, depending on cover. You can call solo and be effective, you’ll just have to be more careful using the terrain to hide your calls and direct your calls back behind you.

Pre-Rut

The post Deer scoring – the easy way! How to Field Judge Mule Deer with Mike Eastman appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

If you’re anything like me you are searching for the perfect hunting arrow. The deal is, each and every archer is different, which in turn makes each arrow different. Everyone’s draw length, poundage and performance is different.  Also, every bowhunter’s needs are different.  Do you plan on hunting Elk or moose, or are you a deer and antelope guy? Do you hunt where there is a lot of wind or in the timber where it’s fairly calm? You see, each arrow is archer- specific. Ultimately, you want an arrow that is going to fly true and penetrate deep with hopefully a pass- through, leaving a good blood trail.  Follow along as I break down the components of a hunting arrow and give you the information to build your ultimate hunting arrow. 

 

Spine

Spine—a shaft’s lateral stiffness— is the most important factor when building your arrows. Your spine is the flex in your arrow flexes as it absorbs the energy from your bow. A properly spined arrow bends back and forth as it’s released from the bow, creating perfect arrow flight. Your spine needs to match your setup or you simply are not getting the best performance out of your arrow or your bow. When you have the correct spine, your arrows react to the bow and create the most forgiving setup. 

There are a couple of ways to match your spine to your setup. All arrow manufacturers make a spine chart with poundage and length. This works, but there are so many factors that affect spine. Say you have a 70-pound bow;, well, a lot of times that bow is pulling 73 pounds,; thatwhich makes a huge difference in your spine.  Also, if you shoot 125- grain heads on the front, that affects spine as well. Now you can always adjust your spine by cutting your arrow. The shorter you go the stiffer the spine needs towill be. I like to use the shortest arrow I can. The reason I do that is the shorter the arrow the less wind drift will affect it. Okay, I am getting off topic here, but you want to find the perfect spine for your bow. You can test this by shooting different length arrows through paper to find the most consistent paper tear.

When it comes to hunting elk, the classic scenario you see on TV is calling a big bull into 20 yards, nostrils flaring and spit flying, all to make an easy shot. Any seasoned elk hunter knows it rarely happens this way, especially on highly pressured elk on public land. Calling in a big bull is harder now than ever on public land, so the odds are stacked against you. And a lot of times those smart old herd bulls are rarely in the mood to fight off a bull and instead just push their cows away and leave. Heck, many big old bulls won’t even bugle! So what do you do? Obviously, there are a lot of different paths you could go down here. Sitting wallows might work, or maybe a well-used trail. Some guys set up tree stands over wallows, which can be effective. Or maybe you’d rather call elk and don’t mind covering a ton of country to find a bull that wants to play. All are effective methods and everyone has their own preference. My style changes based on the area and state I’m hunting, but I mostly rely on spot-and-stalk tactics. I’ve found a lot of success over the years, and the areas and habitat I hunt dictate how and when to stalk elk. What follows are techniques I’ve learned over 15 years hunting elk; they’ve proven effective and they’ll work for you too. 

The Wind

The most important component to putting together a successful stalk is the wind being in your favor. There’re just no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Of course, you often have thermals to consider in the mountains, but sometimes you don’t because of prevailing winds. In the summer and early fall, most of the weather we get here in the West comes from the southwest, west, or northwest. That said, I prefer to hunt west-facing slopes if possible, especially when I’m in the mountains, where the wind can be the most squirrely. Of course, changing weather patterns and game movement can nix that reasoning, but it’s something to keep in mind when you’re hunting that will give you the edge needed to seal the deal. I love hunting in a strong wind to cover my movement. I can count the number of times on two hands that I stalked in windy or rainy conditions and filled my tag, no matter what species I was hunting. I always consider good wind as a prerequisite to a successful stalk, acting to cover some if not all of my movement. 

Stalking the “Thicks”

As you can imagine, stalking elk in thick brush and timber is challenging and not usually recommended. Most of the type of forest I’m talking about is found in northwest Montana and northern Idaho. Alder, devil’s club, huckleberry brush, mountain maple and moderate forest canopy make for a tangle that no sane man likes to walk through. Stalking through this stuff is just not realistic and will not increase your odds of success. In the very odd case that conditions are right, still hunting with a bow in the “thicks” can be productive. A scenario that comes to mind is if you can locate a bull that’s very vocal to move in on and have some favorable weather to work with; that could work. Strong/gusty winds or rain, or both, are two factors I look for, and prefer, that can give you the edge while stalking in close for a shot. Obviously, if the winds are swirly, you’d better sit tight and not try anything. Stalking near moving water as cover noise can also be your ace in the hole. Anything you have to work with to cover your noise is necessary to make a successful stalk in these conditions. Take the path of least resistance. Many times that means walking on game trails. If you’re in a zone that has solid elk numbers, there will be some freshly beat-down elk trails with soft dirt to walk in.