Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

Upgrade your grill game. (mnm.all via Unsplash/)

Let’s pretend that you don’t already own plenty of grilling tools. Because odds are you do. That’s not the point. Because we have a hunch that you could stand to add a few more tools to your game-cooking arsenal anyway—or, at the very least, to upgrade your current setup. These four top-rated tools will up your grill game in a serious way.

A big spatula that’s not just for fish. (Amazon /)

Fish turners are underrated. This heavy-duty workhorse will beat the heck out of normal spatulas when not only when it comes to flipping fish but also to turning burgers, steaks, and whatever else you’re firing up. It’s made of super-sturdy steel and measures an impressive 16 inches long by 6 inches wide. Don’t be surprised if you banish your old spatula from the grill in perpetuity.

A game-changing set of well-balanced tongs. (Amazon/)

Life is too short to use a terrible set of tongs. These 16-inch bad boys are both super cheap and comfortable to use over long hours manning the grill. Because, whereas other tongues tend to have a stiff spring, the Winco tongs are perfectly balanced, providing just the right amount of resistance.

A fast-reading, professional-grade temp checker. (Amazon/)

You probably already own a digital meat thermometer, and it’s probably just so-so, as most tend to be. The professional-grade Lavatools Javelin Pro Duo is an exception. It reads temps in a superfast 1 to 3 seconds and beeps when it determines an exact measurement. Another plus is the foldable probe, which angles for easy insertion at odd angles. If you’re serious about getting a precise measure of your meat temp, send a few extra bucks for this next-level gadget.

A wire-free way to clean your grill grate (Amazon/)

As Consumer Reports points out, over a recent 12-year-period, nearly 2,000 Americans visited an emergency room after having ingested wires from grill-cleaning brushes that somehow ended up in their food. Which sounds like absolutely zero fun. A wood grill scraper will prevent such ER trips and effectively clean your grill crate. It also just looks a lot cooler than wire grill brushes, so there’s that.

You're not dinner. (Brooks Rice via Unsplash/)

While some might disagree on how to keep mosquitoes, white socks, horseflies, and other biting insects off our skin, we all agree that biting insects are the quickest way to ruin an otherwise great weekend outside. Some people may prefer old-fashioned DEET, but many don’t want it on their skin. And for some of us, just having biting insects hovering around our faces is enough to make us run inside. Fortunately, we have four options perfect for any situation or preference, whether sitting in camp, casting a line into a river or trudging up a mountain.

Bug and stink free. (Aamazon/)

We understand you if you don’t want to spray yourselves with a chemical reminiscent of your childhood Scout camp. That’s why we’re recommending insect repellent lotion by Sawyer. It’s effective for up to 8 hours against biting flies, gnats, chiggers, and sand flies. It also repels the yellow fever mosquito which transmits the Zika virus. Consumer Reports even listed it as the Fishermen’s Formula. Cover yourself and your family and don’t worry about damage to clothes, backpacks, fishing, or hunting gear.

Douse your outerwear. (Amazon/)

Not into coating your skin with spray or lotion day after day outside? Instead, spray down your clothes and let them do the repelling for you. One bottle treats up to eight articles of clothing and lasts up to six weeks or six washings. It doesn’t damage or stain your clothes, and is as effective as 100 percent DEET at keeping all the nastiest biting insects away. It’s also odorless after it dries and ideal for hunting.

Mock the insects on the other side. (Amazon /)

Bug repellents are great when you’re on the go, but they can start to drive you crazy swarming in camp. Try this Coleman screenhouse to keep yourself, and your family, bug-free while cooking, drinking and relaxing after a day on the trail or river. This is also a perfect fit for our furry friends in camp who are harder to keep bug-free. Two large doors offer easy access and it sets up quickly in just about a minute. As a bonus, the tent also offers sun protection up to 50 UPF.

Cloak yourself with invisible bug repellent. (Amazon/)

Stop for a quick trail-side picnic? Want to sit outside but don’t have the time or space to set up a tent? Fire up this Thermacell, wait a few minutes for the zone of protection to form, and watch the mosquitoes thin. It’s scent-free, DEET-free, durable, and small. One cartridge lasts for 12 hours, and the repeller charges with a USB cord. When you’re done, simply turn it off, tuck it in your bag, and pull it out the next time with no bug spray residue.

The inertia-driven Benelli Super Black Eagle 2. (Joe Genzel/)

The debate over inertia-driven autoloaders vs. gas-operated semiautos has been going around the shotgun world since the conclusion of World War II. For more than a century, inertia guns have been in the hands of hunters, thanks to John Moses Browning’s Auto-5, and a Danish gunsmith, Christer Sjorgren, who created the inertia system Benelli and other gun manufacturers utilize. Gas-operated guns came about after WWII with the development of the M1 Garand, the battle rifle U.S. troops used in combat. Starting in the 1950s, Browning, Winchester, and Remington all began producing gas guns. The arguments amongst hunters and competition shooters over who did it best—inertia or gas—have swirled around late-night campfires ever since.

First let’s take a look at how each system works. Gas guns bleed off gas near the action from a fired shotshell, which operates the bolt, moving it toward the back of the gun, and ejecting the spent shell. It then returns the bolt forward, loading the next shell. One difference is with the Remington VersaMax and V3, which have a series of gas ports in the actual chamber. The size of the load (2¾-, 3-, or 3½-inch) determines how much gas is bled off. Inertia-driven guns are much simpler. The bolt is held in place by a spring, and when you pull the trigger the charge from the shotshell overwhelms that spring, forcing the bolt backwards, ejecting the spent shell. It then picks up the next load on its way forward.

One system isn’t inherently better than the other, but there are benefits and drawbacks of both. And honestly, you shouldn’t pigeon-hole yourself into shooting gas or inertia. My three favorite modern 12-gauge shotguns are the Beretta A390 Silver Mallard, Winchester SX3, and Benelli Super Black Eagle 2. The first two are gas-operated, and the SBE2 is an inertia gun. I like using the guns for different times of the year and different shoots. The Beretta is for clays, ducks, pheasants, and turkeys. The Benelli is my go-to dark goose gun because it patterns so well beyond the edge of the decoys on fickle/stubborn honkers that don’t like to finish in the kill hole. For spring snow goose season, I wanted an affordable, soft-shooting autoloader, and the SX3 fits that bill.

The name on a shotgun shouldn’t determine whether you buy it or not. You need to think about what you want out of the gun and the game you will be chasing with it. Here are some factors to consider before making your next purchase.

Browning’s inertia-driven Double-Auto. (Joe Genzel/)

Inertia-Driven Functionality

Cooktops for grilling anywhere. (Amazon/)

Truck camping rules. Sure, roughing it in the backcountry is megafun from time to time. But it’s hard to hate the luxury of having a vehicle at base camp—in large part because you can load in cooking gear and enjoy tasty meals while outdoors. Camping grills, as opposed to stoves or burners, are especially nice to have, since you can cook directly on them without pots or pans. We’ve rounded up four top models for your next big weekend in the woods.

An affordable, unfussy option. (Amazon/)

This 8-pound affordable propane grill puts out 6,000 BTUs of heat across a 105-square-inch grilling surface. The grill’s design is straightforward and unfussy, and, since it’s a Coleman, you basically know what you’re getting in terms of quality. Online reviews have pointed out that the closing latch tends to be a bit flimsy, but one Amazon user has found an easy DIY fix to solve the problem.

A grill with built-in propane storage and cutting board. (Amazon/)

The cooking-appliance brand Cuisinart got its start manufacturing food processors back in the 1970s. Over the past few years, it’s ventured into the outdoor space with grills, including CGG-750. The 20-pound cooker includes a built-in propane-tank storage area for easy transport, while the lid and base double as a chopping board, which will prove handy if your campsite lacks a table or flat surface.

A tabletop grill perfect for crowds. (Amazon/)

This Cuisinart tabletop model has a 12.2-by-18-by-12 cooking surface, which is larger than that of either the Coleman Fold N Go or the Cuisinart CGG-750. At that size, the CGG-180T can handle about eight venison steaks and about as many pheasant or turkey breasts, making it a better option if you plan on camping with a group. Even with its larger size, the grill is still relatively affordable, but, as with any budget grill, you’ll need to treat it with relative care, to ensure that it holds up from season to season.

An ultra-hot infrared cooker. (Amazon/)

The 15-pound SOL-EV17A will set you back more than the other options on this list. For the cash, though, you get an extra-well-built infrared grill, with 140 square inches of cooking space and 14,000 BTUs of infrared heat. Barbecue nerds of the world swear that infrared grills result in better-cooked meat, since the cookers’ radiant heat helps proteins retain moisture. So, if you want to dine like a king in camp, cease your grill search with the SOL-EV17A.

The carp spawn is almost here. And we all have more time on our hands now. Build a bowfishing deck for your boat with all this downtime, and you’ll be ready to self-isolate on the water come May, when big fish are love drunk in the shallows—and begging to be shot.

Why a Bow Deck?

Bowfishing at night is easier because fish spook less. (Michael R. Shea/)

You do not need a bow deck to shoot carp from a boat. But like saddles on horses, they make the experience much better. A deck does a couple things you can’t always accomplish pigeon-toed on the nose of a skiff, such as:

Space. Designed right, an open bowfishing deck provides more foot room for shooters. No one needs to balance on a skinny side bench and it’s easier to put more shooters forward where the action happens.

Elevation. With an elevated bow deck, the shooters can look down into the water. This is especially handy in murky, chocolate milk conditions, where fish may only surface near the hull when nudged by the boat. It also has the effect of flattening out a bowshot. The way light refracts through water means you typically have to aim under fish to connect, but when shooting straight down on them, this adjustment is lessened.

Big bore cartridges like the .45-70 are great for heavy bullets and subsonic loads, and are probably the most effective for hunting at short ranges. (Tyler Freel/)

Hand-in-hand with what could be called the suppressor enlightenment in the United States over the past decade, comes the rise of subsonic ammunition. I’m referring to ammunition specifically crafted as subsonic, to be paired with rifles outfitted with a suppressor. There is plenty of misunderstanding about subsonics, what they do, and how you should use them. So the time has come to try and clear up any confusion. Here are 10 things everyone should know about subsonics.

1. What is Subsonic Ammunition?

Quite simply, subsonic ammunition is any cartridge that propels its projectile at a velocity that is below the speed of sound—approximately 1100 fps depending on atmospheric conditions and elevation. At speeds above the sound barrier, the bullet itself creates a sonic boom, or in the case of bullets, a high-pitched crack, perceptible all along its flight path. A bullet traveling below the speed of sound does not make that distinct sonic crack.

2. Why the Hype?

Subsonic ammunition is nothing new, so why the current surge in its use? Many old cartridges, and several still in use like the .45 ACP are subsonic cartridges in their standard loadings. The movement toward effectiveness and velocity, though, has rendered many old, slower cartridges generally obsolete. This relatively recent resurgence is due completely to the rise in popularity of suppressors, and its excellent compatibility with subs. Subsonic ammo is typically extremely quiet through a suppressor, mild recoiling, fun to shoot, and useful in hunting and self-defense applications.

Keep your belongings safe. (Tim Foster via Unsplash/)

Dry bags aren’t exactly as drool-worthy or envy-producing as, say, a fancy new fast-action fly rod or a souped-up drift boat. But they’re essential gear for backcountry float and fishing trips. And the difference between a good dry bag and a bad one can mean having a bunch of soaking-wet clothes and, well, not. We’ve rounded up four top-rated models, one of which is sure to suit your next ambitious adventure.

A tough, affordable bag that can handle just about anything. (Amazon/)

The Big River is a go-to, do-it-all workhorse of a dry bag. It’s available in seven different sizes, from 3 liter to 65 liter, and made of super-tough 420D nylon, with double-stitched, reinforced, and tape-sealed seams. And yet somehow it’s still reasonably priced. If you’re paddling into the Boundary Waters for a week, this is the bag you want in the bottom of your canoe.

A dry bag ready for a land-to-water excursion. (Amazon/)

The one potential shortcoming of the Sea to Summit Big River is that it lacks optional backpack straps, which are handy if you have a long hike to the river or to camp. The Earth Pak Backpack fills the void. It’s available in 35-liter and 55-liter sizes, and, most important for our purposes, comes with padded, reinforced shoulder straps. The outer splash-proof pocket and inner cell-phone-and-keys pouch are a nice touch.

A handy, 4-liter pack perfect for day-long trips. (Amazon/)

Odds are, if you’re going on a day- or two-long canoe or kayak trip, you don’t need to haul a full-size dry bag. The 4-liter Seal Hip Pack is large enough to hold a fresh shirt and days’ worth of food, and it weighs about 2 pounds—meaning it won’t be burdensome on portages or hikes. It also includes a handy outer pocket, a perfect place to stash a cell phone and keys, along with a waist belt for easy wearing.

A king-size, wilderness-ready duffel. (Amazon/)

On the other end of the size spectrum from the SealLine Seal Hip Pack is the monster-size Unplug 155-liter duffel. It’s tailor-made for week-long backcountry trips that demand a lot of gear or food—or perfect if you have to lug equipment for kids. It has a roll-down opening, like traditional dry bags, never mind its size, along with breathable, extra-padded shoulder traps. “I packed it to the gills with over 100 pounds on a two-day drive,” one user wrote, “taking it on and off the truck with no tears.”

There are two goals here: the first is fine-tuning your turkey gun's point-of-impact; the second is testing it's pattern at a variety of ranges. (Alex Robinson/)

We live in the era of specialized turkey gear. Turkey-specific guns, loads, and chokes make it possible to cleanly kill turkeys at 50-plus yards. But here’s the catch: The super-tight patterns that these combos shoot actually work against you if you don’t put in the time before the season to pattern your turkey hunting gun and sight it in precisely.

Whether you shoot a brand-new Benelli loaded with the hottest TSS round, or an old 870 with standard lead No. 5s, patterning your gun before the season is critical to making a clean kill in the field. There are a lot of ways to miss a turkey, not understanding how your shotgun/load combination works should not be one of them. If you want a deep dive on understanding the details of pattern density and point-of-impact, check out this story on long-range shotgunning.

If you just want to make sure a gobbler tips over when you squeeze the trigger, follow the process below.

Start Close

At most turkey camps I’ve been to, patterning a shotgun means marching a turkey target (a target that show’s a gobbler’s head and neck with a 10-inch circle around it) out to about 30 or 40 yards, taking a single shot, then looking at a target full of pellet holes and saying: “yup, that’ll kill a turkey.”

Start a fire wherever you are. (Ema Villalobos via Unsplash/)

Odds are, when you’re lost or stranded in the backcountry and the temperature nosedives, you need a grand total of one thing—fire. Water and food are essential, no doubt, but the number-one killer of lost sportsmen is not dehydration or malnutrition but hypothermia, owing to a drop in body heat, which can occur in weather as warm between 60 and 70 degrees. Fire will prevent that. Here are four top-rated fire producers, all of which are sure to help you build a big blaze in the direst of circumstances.

Behold, the ideal emergency match. (Amazon/)

Through the miracles of chemistry, UCO has designed the platonic ideal of the survival match with the Titan. Sold in packs of 12 in a waterproof case, these sturdy, 4-inch matches can withstand hurricane-force winds and rain and burn for about half a minute. More remarkably, they’ll purportedly relight after being submerged in water. This is the match you want when stuff hits the fan.

An easy way to create a shower of sparks. (Amazon/)

Starting a fire with flint and steel isn’t as easy as the movies might have you believe. That’s because many kits are cheap and, well, just junk. The Friendly Swede, though, is the real deal. By all accounts, it’s among the easiest-to-use and effective striker combos, and one of the few that actually work well. It includes two 5-inch ferrocerium firestarter rods and two 2.5-inch steel strikers that generate a shower of super-hot sparks, so that you can have a blaze going in minutes.

Get a big blaze from one tiny wedge. (Amazon/)

A favorite of Field & Stream’s David E. Petzal, these pyramid-shaped emergency firestarters burst into “furious” flames when ignited, and each burn for about 7 minutes—affording you more than enough time to light kindling and build a roaring fire. Sold in boxes of 20, the Sweetfire wedges are made from sugarcane waste, so they’re a renewable biofuel, and they can be ignited with a match or lighter (not included) or the striker included on the box. Either way, they’ll help you build a fire in the gnarliest of conditions.

An everyday item with extra protection. (Amazon/)

When assembling an emergency fire kit, don’t overlook a lighter. Specifically, a run-of-the-mill Bic lighter. To be sure, if you’re in a serious survival jam, nothing can substitute for a storm-proof waterproof match, like the UCO Titan. But a Bic is easy to use, affordable, and hard to break, and will work in roughly 99 percent of outdoors and camping scenarios, including in harsh weather. Most survival lighters receive extremely mixed reviews online, whereas the Bic is a time-tested favorite. And if you’re nervous about it getting wet, you can always spring for an Exotac Firesleeve waterproof case, to ensure that it’s always ready for use.

Play a game or lay out a feast. (The Digital Marketing Collaboration via Unsplash/)

Sure, some campsites come with their own tables. But anywhere outside a formal campground won’t, and as much as we pretend stumps are just as good as tables, they’re not. Neither are most rocks. If you’re car camping you may as well be comfortable, so bring along a surface perfect for cooking, eating and playing poker. Your back and knees will thank you for not squatting to cook, and your family will thank you when they can sit and eat without food in their laps.

Drinks go under the table. (Amazon/)

Evenings can be long in camp. Bring along this table to give you and your buddies or family a place to sit and play games when the day is done. The foldable table is light—just 7 pounds—and has a convenient shelf underneath for storage and, most importantly, for beverages. The corner buckle design also gives you quick set-up and allows you to adjust the top for tautness.

All the bells and whistles. (Amazon/)

Cook on one level and chop, slice, or stir on another. With this expandable table, you can even store extra food underneath and keep the whole operation illuminated with a lantern hung from above. This table offers it all, and more. It’s called a “pack-away portable kitchen” for a reason. It really is like a kitchen in the woods. The table also folds tightly together into a compact case that fits in the trunk of a car or backseat of a truck. Why skimp on luxury in the woods?

Roll it up or roll it out. (Amazon/)

You aren’t likely to bring most tables with you on a trek into the woods or trip down the river. But this one is so light—between 1.8 and 3.2 pounds—you can strap it to a backpack and bring it along. It’s a perfect solution for a shore lunch table or backcountry spot to keep food off the ground. Made out of aluminum, it can still hold up to 55 pounds. It’s also easy to clean and is quick to assemble.

Buy what you need. (Amazon/)

Sometimes all you need is a table with four straight legs. The top rolls up on this one, and the legs fold down. No cross legs mean you and others eating can fit your knees comfortably underneath. It’s relatively lightweight and is easy to toss in a vehicle and store in your closet. Keep it around inside for nights you need more room at home, too.

Must-have gear. (Johannes Plenio via Unsplash/)

You will break something on your next fishing trip. The laws of the outdoors all but guarantee it. You’d be wise, then, to outfit yourself with some tools to make quick repairs while on the water. We’ve rounded up five top-rated products—from multi-tools to tape—that will help prevent a gear blunder from sending you home.

An easy-to-carry 2.4-ounce gadget. (Amazon/)

A tool can’t help you on the water if you leave it in the truck or, worse yet, at home. And the bulkier the tool, the less likely you are to bring it. That won’t be the case with this Rapala multi-tool. It weighs just 2.4 ounces and has a built-in carabiner clip, so you really have no excuse not to have it on your person at all times.

A complete tool kit for budding anglers. (Amazon/)

This five-piece set aims to be a complete fishing toolkit, and it’s hard to argue that includes just about everything budding anglers need to repair fishing gear or tackle: A 25-in-1 multi-tool, including long-nose pliers, standard pliers, wire strippers, lure-tuning tools, a crimper, a wire cutter, a serrated blade, a knife, a phillips screwdriver, and a slotted screwdriver. The kit also comes with two plastic waterproof tackle cases, along with a Croakie-like sunglass head-strap thing.

A top-notch, gear-fixing tape. (Amazon/)

When all else fails, turn to tape. The peel-and-stick Gear Aid Tenacious Tape, in particular, affords a sew-free fix to rips or tears in fishing waders, tents, tarps, and sleeping bags. (It’ll surely secure a busted rod guide, too.) It’s widely praised for its durability, weather resistance, and multi-purpose function.

Patches and adhesive for a water-tight seal. (Amazon/)

Gear Aid also makes a great wader-repair kit, which includes .25-ounces of Aquaseal FD and two 3-inch Tenacious tape patches.

Alaskans spoke up to save their bear season. (pixabay/)

In a time where each day seems stranger than the last, Alaska had what is probably its most notable April Fool’s Day since April 1974. That’s when Porky Bickar set a stack of old tires on fire in the cone of the dormant volcano Mt. Edgecumbe near Sitka, Alaska. Locals feared that the volcano was about to erupt. When they figured out it was all a joke, I imagine most people laughed it off.

But after the Governor’s press conference on April 1, 2020 and the subsequent announcement by the Fish and Game department, no one was laughing.

During his daily Coronavirus update, governor Mike Dunleavy announced that spring bear seasons for both brown and black bears were cancelled. I have a feeling that most hunters watching this were as taken aback as I was. He surely couldn’t have meant what he just said. He was discussing Kodiak Island and how the hunts there were soon to open and typically bring people from all over the world, flocking through the tiny town and out across the island to hunt bears. It would make sense to close bear hunting on the island to prevent potentially infected travelers from causing an outbreak. Then his final statement sounded like an afterthought. “Brown and black bear seasons are cancelled.”

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game quickly issued an order proclaiming all bear seasons were closed statewide until May 31st. There was an exception listed for subsistence hunts, but without much more explanation, no one really knew what that meant.

Most people understand that we are in unprecedented times and we need to make sacrifices to prevent the coronavirus outbreak from getting worse. But people also have a limit to what they are willing to put up with, and to tell Alaskans (at the tail end of the coldest winter in 44 years) that they would not be allowed to locally hunt bears in the spring … well, that was our line in the sand. We’ll follow stay-at-home orders, close businesses, limit our travels, but start taking away our means for replenishing our freezers and restore our mental health by cancelling hunting and fishing seasons and you’ve got a fight on your hands.

Quick, clean cuts. (Jeremy Stewert via Unsplash/)

Some fish are easy to filet. A salmon, for instance, takes a few swift slices from a sharp blade and you have beautiful slabs of pink meat ready for the grill. A burbot, on the other hand, with its extra slimy skin, is another story. But no matter what fish you’re tackling—from the easiest to the most challenging—the right knife makes all the difference. Even the sharpest standard kitchen knife won’t perform close to as well as a knife tailor-made for fish. But which one is right for you? We offer you a suggestion for every situation.

Filet then get back to fishing. (Amazon/)

Anyone who has been on a walleye fishing trip knows when the limit is six, or even a dozen, and you’re feeding a crowd, fileting that many fish can take time. That’s why this cordless, electric knife is perfect. It doesn’t have the careful touch as other finer blades, perhaps, but its utilitarian zeal for slicing will get the job done. It can also handle fish with tougher scales and can cut through bones with ease.

Open it, use it, fold it back up. (Amazon/)

This all-purpose knife is perfect for anyone on a multi-day fishing trip planning to eat what they catch. The folding knife offers perfect cuts one after another but also allows you to safely tuck it away in a pocket or backpack. The stainless steel blade is corrosion-resistant and soft enough to bend along the contours of a fish without breaking. It also offers a textured handle to prevent slipping in hands covered in fish slime.

No money? Stick with the basics. (Amazon/)

Rapala has a little something for everyone, and this blade is for the angler on a budget. With this place, you can have a sharp blade with a black sheath that will get the job done. The stainless steel blade attaches to a no-slip handle to keep you safe while gutting and filleting your catch. If you’re short on cash, or you just need a few knives to keep in your fishing boat, this is a great option.

Safely rowing down a river—and getting the anglers on fish—hinges on focus and communication. (Brian Grossenbacher/)

Every year, it seems like some company introduces a new oar-powered boat or raft. And these days, vessels capable of carrying two or more people down a river come in all shapes, sizes, and materials, many of which are affordable, giving lifelong wading anglers who could never buy a drift boat or large raft the opportunity to cover more water. The thing is, rowing in moving water safely—and in a way that maximizes your fishing success—isn’t instinctual to most new boat owners. There’s a learning curve you must get through in order for the mechanics to become second-nature. The only way to really become an expert on the sticks is with lots of practice. But if you’re a rookie on the oars, these are four critical tips to know before that maiden voyage.

1. Move in Reverse

You always have better control and steering ability when moving backward. In fact, in the vast majority of situations, you’ll want to get to where you’re going by pointing the stern—not the bow—at your desired destination, and then pulling the oars and rowing upstream. It may seem counterintuitive, but forward rowing leads to trouble. Rowing backward reduces the amount of forward momentum the current can impart on the boat, slowing you down and giving you more time to think. This is especially critical in heavier water with obstacles present. Always remember that if there’s something you don’t want to hit, point the bow directly at it, row backward, and you’ll miss it every time.

2. Don’t Get Sideways

Never let the boat get completely perpendicular to the current. This is something new rowers struggle with because it’s easy to lose focus or drop the oars just long enough that you get spun sideways to the flow. Drifting at a right angle, however, is the fastest route to disaster. A river flowing at even a couple of miles per hour is incredibly strong, and all it takes is a small rock just below the surface or grazing a canyon wall to flip or sink a boat. Even in water flowing barely 3 miles per hour, I’ve seen rafts flipped, cotter pins sheered, oars snapped in half, teeth lost, and people thrown into the water. Unless you need to take swift, evasive action to avoid trouble, keep the bow of the boat pointing downstream at all times.

You don't always have a waterfall around. (Taylor Leopold via Unsplash/)

An outdoor shower will not save your life. It will not help you prevent hypothermia, or scare off a bear, or keep you fed. But that doesn’t mean one isn’t worth packing. Because what an outdoor shower will do is make your time outdoors more comfortable. And the more comfortable you are, the longer you and your companions are likely to stay in the wilderness. So ignore the anti-shower naysayers: an outdoor spray-off is a luxury worth springing for. And, with quality options across the price spectrum, there’s one no doubt one for your budget.

An affordable battery-powered shower. (Amazon/)

Praised for both its ample water pressure and out-of-the-box usability, this reasonably priced, battery-powered shower weighs 1.8 pounds and is simple to use: You drop the shower’s pump component into a bucket, trough, or whatever water receptacle you have on hand. The pump then sucks the water up to the shower head, resulting in a steady downpour for rinsing off. And, if you want a hot shower, you just have to heat the water source from which the pump is drawing.

Turn a bottle into a way to bath. (Amazon/)

This clever rinser turns any plastic 1- or 2-liter soda bottle into a shower—and it will cost you less than a decent cheeseburger and beer. The two-ounce device has two basic components: a nozzle/shower head that screws onto the lid of a bottle, and a thin tube that prevents an air vacuum from forming inside. This allows water to pour out smoothly and with a surprising amount of pressure.

A heat-retaining hot-water system. (Amazon/)

You’ve probably seen camping showers like this before. Fill this 5-gallon solar shower with water, set it in the sun at the beginning of the day, and then, a few hours later, enjoy a strong stream of warm water. According to Amazon reviewers, the four-ply bladder holds up well and is hard to puncture, and rolls up for easy packing after use.

Enjoy a 125-degree, propane-heat rinse. (Amazon/)

OK, just you want a hot shower but you don’t want to wait around for a few hours as the sun heats the Advanced Elements Summer Shower. Your best option, then, is likely this propane-heated setup, which draws in and heats water to 125 degrees. At 13 pounds, it’s no doubt suited only for truck or RV camping. But, hey, if you’re after a steamy shower like you got at home, it seems worth hauling.

Water? Turns out it's important. (Austin Ban via Unsplash/)

We’re going to assume you already have at least one no-frills water bottle that you take on hunting and fishing trips. The four top-rated bottles we’ve compiled in this list are not that. They’re upgrades—tricked-out in one way or another for improved hydration afield. Whether you’re looking to purify dirty water or secretly stash your ID and keys, we’ve got you covered.

A no-fuss way to clean potentially contaminated water. (Amazon/)

Touted as the world’s fastest portable water purifier, the Grayl Geopress allegedly removes all pathogens from contaminated water, as well as pesticides, chemicals, and heavy metals, to ensure your drinking supply is in the backcountry. First, remove the cap-filter component and fill the bottle with water. Next, reinsert the cap-filter piece and push down, forcing water through the purifying cartridge into the inner, 24-ounce bottle. Then you drink. Like we said, easy. The cartridge is good for 350 uses, and users have verified that the Geopress has purified some sketchy water and kept them healthy.

A storage compartment will keep your keys and ID safe and dry yet close at hand. (Amazon/)

The 24-ounce, stainless-steel Bindle Bottle is a quality water bottle in all the normal ways: It keeps cold drinks cold for 24 hours and hot ones for 12, thanks to its double-wall, vacuum-insulated design. It also comes in a neat throwback camo pattern. What really distinguishes the Bindle Bottle, though, is the secret, waterproof storage compartment at the bottom, perfect for stashing keys, an ID, and a fishing license while on an all-day float or wet-wading excursion.

A camo bottle with offseason applications. (Amazon/)

Elk season approaches. Are you in shape to climb some mountains? If not, the gym is calling your name. Come ready with the Big Bertha. The camo-patterned, stainless-steel bottle not only holds 40 ounces but also doubles as a workout roller, ideal floor exercises and for stretching your calves, back, quads, and hamstrings. Which could also come in handy if you pull something while afield.

A large-capacity, vacuum-insulated bottle that won’t break the bank. (Amazon/)

There’s a mountain of different vacuum-insulated water bottles on the market. There are precious few, however, that hold 128 ounces of fluid like the RTIC—which also happens to be less than half the price of Yeti’s comparable jug offering. The 3.15-pound RTIC is designed to keep beverages cold for 24 hours and hot for 6 hours, and users have vouched that it does just that. “Filled it with ice water yesterday and there is still ice today,” one Amazon user wrote. “It’s been outside and in my truck most of the time, not in the air conditioning.”

Your hunting and hiking trips require sustenance. (Leo Foureaux via Unsplash/)

Energy bars are fine, even though some may taste a bit more like hardtack than the chocolate, hazelnut, coconut they advertise. Energy gels are tough to swallow on a good day. Sometimes you just want real food. That’s where this list comes in. Each of these items are whole foods you can throw in your pack and forget about until you realize you should’ve eaten more for breakfast. Whether you’re sitting in trees waiting for an elk to bugle or 8 miles down a trail headed to a waterfall, these snacks will be there for you.

Can’t beat the original. (Amazon/)

Sometimes you want to make your own jerky, and sometimes you just want to buy what’s easiest. Jack Links has been tried and tested for years, and they don’t disappoint. The beef links are 98 percent fat-free and provide 11 grams of protein. They’re also seasoned perfectly to satisfy the salt craving we all know will hit if we’re far enough in the woods.

Squeeze directly into your mouth, or onto fruit or bread. (Amazon/)

When it comes to simultaneous shots of protein and natural sugar, little beats peanut butter. But so often the process of digging peanut butter out of a container with a knife comes at a messy cost. It’s especially not ideal for on the go in the backcountry. That’s the beauty of these little packets. Each one is the perfect amount of peanut butter to smear on an apple or on a piece of bread or even waffle. In a pinch, eat it straight from the pouch.

Sweet snacks for you and the kids. (Amazon/)

Move over fruit roll-ups, these natural fruit bars are the fruit snacks of the future. Each bar is just fruit and chia seeds, offering two half-cup servings of fruit and no added sugar. The ingredient list has four items, letting you know you’re getting what’s natural. Imagine they’re a smoothie on the go—without the cleanup.

DIY mountain snacks. (Amazon/)

For anyone interested in making their own snack sticks, but not quite ready to branch out into their own seasoning blends, this is the perfect fit. Create a high-protein snack from game in your freezer—elk, antelope, deer, upland birds, or waterfowl—and take them with you on the trail. The original blend offers you the perfect place to start and will season up to 20 pounds of meat. Make them all at once or by the pound. The box includes everything you need.

The author fishes Montana’s Boulder River, where the banks and bed are open for wading. (Brian Grossenbacher/)

Ice and snow crunch under our tires as we pull up to one of the most popular stretches of river in Wyoming. On any given spring day, this spot on the North Platte is shoulder-to-shoulder combat fishing in front of a small dam that releases water year-round.

On this morning in early January, the temps won’t break freezing and the wind is blowing 25 mph. My husband and I are the only ones fishing the first public portion of the iconic Gray Reef section—the one that draws tens of thousands of anglers to its banks with the promise of 30-fish days. We lob streamers most of the morning without much action. By afternoon, we hit the symbol of fishing in Wyoming—a sign that reads private land: beyond this point fishing by permission only.

Welcome to wade-fishing in Wyoming. Our neighbor to the north, however, doesn’t have those signs—not legal ones anyway. Nearly every stream in Montana, whether on public or private land, is open to wade-fishing up to the high-water mark via public access. Every stream in Wyoming on private land is closed to wade-fishing without the aforementioned permission.

No Fishing, Hunting or Trespassing sign. (Brian Grossenbacher/)

Montanans say their water laws boost the economy and make anglers happy, bringing them back day after day. Wyoming says its private stretches feed a growing economy that’s able to offer exclusive fishing while also keeping the hordes from over-pressuring the resource.

At its core, the issue is as old as the American West itself: Who gets access to its natural resources? For anglers, what matters most is what the rules mean on the water. Can we walk the bank or not? Can we fish around that bend? Can we drop anchor and cast?

Late-season gobblers get spooky, so keeping calls light is the smart approach to lure in an old tom. (Lance Krueger/)

Every turkey hunt is a head trip as much as it’s a pursuit of beard and spur. Your elation lights up the dawn when a wild tom on a distant limb gobbles in reaction to your bogus owl hoot or coyote howl. As long as he keeps responding, your confidence soars like a triple jumper.

It’s natural to keep stoking the feedback loop, provoking that gobble and tickling the pleasure center of your brain. But at some point, you overdo it, and your distant correspondent goes silent. No matter how provocative your howls or how seductive your yelps, the gobbler is nowhere to be heard. As your confidence plummets, you start overthinking things, guessing that your coyote howl was a little too shrill or your owl call a little too hooty. Or that you simply haven’t called enough.

(Sign up for our free turkey calling course here. We teamed up with The Hunting Public on a seven-video tutorial)

You are now on the high sea of indecision, drifting between shutting up entirely and calling just a little more, or maybe a lot more—anything to coax just one more gobble. A response will not only confirm the turkey’s location, but also redeem your sinking self-esteem.

This is when most of us start to apply human motivations to a wild turkey. He must not have liked what he heard, you think. Or you assume the alternative, that turkeys don’t follow any prompt at all. “They’re just turkeys being turkeys,” you say to no one in particular.

A shooter in Arizona prepares to ring steel with an RDS-equipped pistol. (Yamil Sued/)

As we begin a new decade, handgunners are realizing a new normal: Miniature red-dot sights are quickly becoming the primary sighting system on virtually all pistols, whether for hunting, sport shooting, concealed carry, or service. Don’t be left behind. Getting up to speed with the latest technology always comes with a learning curve, but these tips and drills will smooth your journey to red-dot mastery and improve your handgunning skills.

Benefits

A red-dot sight increases accuracy at all ranges but is especially effective beyond 10 yards. This tech also makes shooting on the move and shooting at moving targets significantly easier. The RDS is also a blessing for shooters with aging eyes who have trouble keeping the front sight sharply in focus.

Beyond target shooting, the RDS-equipped pistol enhances situational awareness, allowing the user to observe a threat while maintaining the ability to deliver surgical shots on demand.

Trigger Control