Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

Whenever our family went on vacation when I was a kid, my mother dragged me to museums. She loved to stare at priceless paintings for hours. I never much cared for them. What was the point of looking at ancient artifacts or pieces of art encased in glass? I wanted stuff I could touch and feel. That’s probably why I’ve never had much use for old, beautiful shotguns that hang on the wall and do nothing else. Yes, they are cool, and I appreciate the engineering behind all of them. But if I can’t shoot a shotgun, then I don’t see much point in owning it (maybe that will change as I get older and wiser).

Since I’m into killing birds with shotguns, not staring at them while they collect dust, there are a few out-of-production autoloaders, pump-actions, and one over/under I want to add to the gun closet. If I come across any of these workhorse shotguns—and have enough money in my bank account—I’m buying them. And you should, too.

1. Ithaca Mag-10

Remington later produced the Ithaca Mag-10 as the SP-10. (icollector/)

I used to hunt the Illinois River with an old codger who shot the Mag-10. He always kept his finger just outside the trigger guard, ready to shoot. Behind his back, we called his 10-gauge “the sandwich maker” because he killed any duck—mostly ruddy ducks and buffleheads—with it at unfathomable distances, breasted out the birds, deep fried them, and put the meat between two slices of white bread. I tried to buy the gun from him once, thinking his duck career was about over, but he’s still hunting with that Ithaca every day of the season. Ithaca made an absolute tank when it built this gas-operated 3½-inch gun—it’s more than 11 pounds with a 32-inch barrel, and the gun is around 4½ feet long. You would never hunt anywhere but a permanent blind with the Mag-10, but it’s a stone-cold goose slayer, and I’d love to pit-hunt big greasy honkers with it. It was produced from 1975 until 1989, when Remington bought the design and used it to build the SP-10, which isn’t a bad option either. Just be careful what load you shoot if you buy the Mag-10, because some of the models have barrels that cannot handle steel shells. You’ll have to use tungsten or bismuth.

2. Beretta A390 Gold Mallard

The Lupien clan with Lacey’s giant Minnesota elk. (Lacey Lupien/)

Lacey Lupien’s Minnesota bull elk was always a long shot. Even though the licensed practical nurse and mother of two lives within the range of the state’s elk herd (in the far northwestern corner), it’s tough to draw a tag. More than 4,000 applicants put in for only 42 licenses in 2020. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime tag.

“I’d been putting in for about 10 years,” says Lupien. “One day in early July as I was taking out the trash, I spied something that caught my eye in what had been in the junk mail pile. I checked I again. The word “ELK” appeared through the window. It was an elk license! I had finally drawn!”

The scouting

Scouting, planning and preparation immediately kicked into high gear for Lupien’s hunt period, which was to begin September 5, 2020.

The countryside in Kittson County, is remote, vast and flat. Crop fields intersperse with grasslands, brushlands, wetlands, and woodlots. People are few and far between. Elk have a lot of room to roam.

It's time to take your fish fry game to the next level. (Jack Hennessy/)

Few meals foster such a sense of community as a fish fry. Whether its gathering in a church basement on a Friday night or at a picnic table after a spring morning of slaying crappie, a perfect fish fry brings people together. A few baskets of fried fish fillets are usually the precursor to some good laughs, storytelling, and a little B.S.ing.

Unfortunately, those gatherings have been few and far between during a year of coronavirus. But on the upside, even a small fish fry with your family can be more of an event than just a meal. In this guide, I discuss everything you need to know on how to fry fish, from what oil to use, the differences between beer-battered and flour-coated fish, and more. Want to take your fried fish to the next level? Read on.

The Best Fish to Fry

Most restaurants serving fried fish often opt for haddock or Alaskan cod. Both do well in terms of texture after a deep fry and offer a fresh-tasting fish most every time. You can likely find these fish at most grocery stores.

But anglers can do better. For anyone looking to serve up his or her catch, there are many options and opinions of course vary on what is the best-tasting fried fish. My only criteria: No bones. That means if you like the taste of northern pike like I do, make certain to fillet and fry in such a manner that zero y-bones appear in the fried loaf. For walleye, depending on the size of your catch, this could also mean being diligent to “zipper” the fish to remove bones.

Vermont is proposing a special moose hunt to curtail its winter tick population. (Pixabay/)

To reduce the number and impact of ticks in northeastern Vermont, the state’s Fish and Wildlife Department is proposing a special, limited moose hunt in Wildlife Management Unit E in the northeast corner of the state.

“Moose density in WMU-E remains well above one moose per square mile, significantly higher than any other part of the state,” said Nick Fortin, Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s biologist in charge of the moose project. “Moose densities greater than one per square mile support high numbers of winter ticks which negatively impact moose health and survival.”

Sixty either-sex and 40 antlerless hunting permits would be issued in the WMU-E zone for the October season. The department estimates a harvest of 51 to 60 moose, about 5 percent of the more than 1,000 estimated to live in the zone. The proposal was made in February to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board. The board’s next scheduled meeting is March 17.

Vermont VWD researchers believe reducing the number of moose in WMU-E will decrease the number and winter impact of ticks and help moose survival. That may sound convoluted — kill more moose to help moose survive. But based on research of the Vermont FWD and the University of Vermont, winter survival of adult moose is poor as are birth rates. The research with GPS-collared cows (36) and calves (90) showed that less than half of the calves survived their first winter. These impacts are due to the high tick population seeking warm bodies for winter, with moose being the biggest and most prevalent mamals in the area.

“Research has shown that lower moose densities, like in the rest of Vermont, support relatively few winter ticks that do not impact moose populations,” Fortin said. “Reducing moose density decreases the number of available hosts which in turn decreases the number of winter ticks on the landscape.”

Polaris just teased it's new electric Ranger. Hunters should be excited. (Polaris/)

Today Polaris teased its plans to launch a full-size electric UTV under its popular Ranger line. This will be the first electric vehicle Polaris developed through its partnership with Zero Motorcycles, an American manufacturer of electric street bikes and dirt bikes. The new EV Ranger is expected to debut in December, according to a Polaris press release. Check out the video teasing the launch here.

Who should be most excited about this new EV? Nope, not hippies or electric vehicle nerds, it should be hardcore deer hunters. A UTV or ATV can be immensely useful on a deer property. But if you’re not careful, ripping around on a quad can also make it immensely difficult to kill mature bucks. Big bucks pattern hunters’ movements just as well as we pattern theirs. In pressured hunting areas it doesn’t take long for deer to learn that the roar of a four-wheeler is a dead giveaway that a hunter is in the woods.

Some of the best private-land deer hunters I know never use four-wheelers during the actual hunting season, unless it’s to haul out a deer. They’re convinced that mature bucks avoid them. The late Craig Dougherty, one of the wisest and cagiest old deer hunters I’ve ever met, drove an electric golf cart around his deer hunting property and killed a cabin full of mature bucks in Upstate New York, of all places.

Now it seems Polaris is set to introduce a vehicle to make those electric carts obsolete.

“As our top-selling off-road vehicle brand, RANGER has continually set the benchmark as the hardest working, smoothest riding UTV, leading the market in rider-inspired innovation,” Steve Menneto, president of Polaris Off Road said in a press release. “The new electric powertrain will elevate the RANGER platform to a whole new level of capability, durability, and performance.”

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve managed to uphold the hunting and fishing traditions of the region while also getting top billing as a tourist destination. (Nick Kelley /)

The last time I visited the New River, it was deserted. My buddies and I had planned a multi-day fishing trip, and we set off without bumping into anyone at the put-in. We camped where we wanted, brought a duck dog, and caught a mess of fall smallmouth. So when I heard the New River George had been designated as our 63rd National Park in the latest spate of National Park Service changes, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. I wondered about dog bans, a permit system for non-commercial boaters, and the end of hunting on the roughly 70,000 acres public land surrounding the gorge.

Happily, none of that seems to be the case.

Credit for this victory goes to the West Virginians who worked hard to turn their favorite place into a national park—without compromising the sporting and paddling traditions that make it so special. But how, exactly, do you turn a piece of public land into a national park? And better yet, why would you want one in your backyard?

Meet Our Newest National Park

If you didn’t realize we added yet another national park to our ranks, you’re forgiven. The bipartisan proposal from three West Virginia lawmakers was included in the massive 2020 year-end coronavirus relief package. Once former President Trump signed the bill into law, the New River Gorge’s promotion from National River to National Park and Preserve came and went on Sunday Dec. 27, 2020, during that hazy time between Christmas and New Year’s when no one’s paying much attention to anything.

Your point of impact will change once you add a suppressor to your rifle. (Tyler Freel/)

Suppressors are more popular than ever for hunting (where legal) in the U.S. They tame the volume from the blast of rifles, making guns safe to shoot without hearing protection. They also reduce recoil. There is a fantastic variety of suppressors and attachment systems on the market, with options for just about every caliber imaginable. For a new user, there is one key thing to understand before heading afield, and that is that a suppressor will change your rifle’s point of impact. If you attach your new suppressor and head afield to hunt, you stand a good chance of missing or wounding the animal you are after.

The POI may only be slightly different with a suppressor, but it can also have a dramatic impact on bullet trajectory. The suppressor’s weight, rigidity, and diameter, as well as the material of your barrel, can all affect where the cartridge impacts. With some rifle-suppressor combinations, this might be just an inch or two. But on hunting rifles, it’s common to see your POI move several inches at only 100 yards.

Attaching a suppressor adds a downward leveraging force to your barrel. It will alter the harmonics and change how your barrel can move during the shot. With some combinations, you may see as much as a 10- to 12-inch difference in impact at 100 yards between suppressed and unsuppressed rifles.

The act of passing through a suppressor can change a bullet’s POI as well. You will often see slight changes in velocity when you add a suppressor and take it off. Sometimes, you will see a difference in POI between the first round fired through a suppressor and subsequent rounds when the suppressor heats up and still contains warm gasses. This seems to be more pronounced with some rimfire suppressors than high-power rifles, but there can still be some variation.

If you plan on hunting exclusively with a suppressor on your rifle, this doesn’t really affect you too much, aside from needing to re-zero your rifle once you attach the suppresser. You want to check your velocity if you are using a dial turret, but for most practical hunting purposes, sight-in your rifle just as you would without the suppressor. Once zeroed, let your bore and suppressor cool completely, and allow all the gas to dissipate from inside the can. Shoot again to check the POI for a cold bore/cold suppressor, and adjust your zero if necessary.

This is a strange year for new rifle introductions. Most gun manufactures are hustling to fill back orders. Many consumers rightly wonder, Why would I buy a new gun when I can’t get ammo for it? And yet, guns of all types continue to fly off the shelves. Even amid the chaos, there are some exciting new hunting rifle introductions this year. We have an American-made straight pull rifle and an iconic gun maker introducing its first bolt-action rifle. These 10 best new rifles, which are not listed in any particular order, deserve a look even during a very odd year.

Browning is pushing its venerable X-Bolt into semi-custom territory with the new Mountain Pro editions, in Tungsten (pictured) and Burnt Bronze finishes. (Browning/)

1. Browning X-Bolt Mountain Pro Tungsten/Burnt Bronze

Browning is pushing its venerable X-Bolt into semi-custom territory with the new Mountain Pro editions, in Tungsten and Burnt Bronze finishes. This top end of their production X-Bolt rifle is packed with features that push it right up to what you’d expect to see on a custom rifle. Averaging about 6 pounds depending on chambering, they’ve been able to shave nearly a quarter pound compared to previous models, and the rifle features a foam-filled carbon fiber stock and Cerakote finish. It also features a threaded, spiral fluted barrel using a new lapping process designed to enhance accuracy and reduce fouling and break-in time, as well as a fluted bolt, and oversized, fluted bolt knob. You’ll immediately notice Browning’s new Recoil Hawg muzzle brake, a more effective option than the classic radial brakes, and especially handy in some of the larger chamberings. The Mountain Pro chamberings run the gamut from 6.5 Creedmoor to 28 and 30 Nosler, 300 PRC, and 300 RUM, including the new 6.8 Western. MSRP: $2,399 to $2,459

The Kimber Hunter Pro Desolve Blak is a great option for a hunter who wants a lightweight, controlled-feed action rifle without paying flagship price. (Kimber/)

2. Kimber Hunter Pro Desolve Blak

At about 5 ½ lbs, the Hunter Pro Desolve Blak is a great option for someone who wants to get into a lightweight, controlled-feed action hunting rifle without paying flagship prices. This extension of the Hunter line uses the same stainless steel Kimber 84M action that many hunters and custom rifle builders love. It features the classic Mauser-style extractor, almost universally trusted for feeding dependability. It’s notable that the Hunter Pro uses a detachable box magazine rather than internal magazine, making for quick and easy loading and unloading. The stainless steel barrel comes with a radial muzzle brake, and sits inside a fiber-reinforced, laminate stock with the Desolve Blak camo pattern. Overall, this is a lot of rifle for the money, and available in .308, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .280 AI. MSRP: $992

Waterfowl hunting is one of the most species-driven pursuits in the hunting community. From mallard purists to pit blind honker hunters, our favorite bird species often dictates our hunting style. But every type of waterfowler wants to shoot a hybrid.

A hybrid bird is the result of two different duck (or goose) species mating. This results in a combination of different characteristics from the two species. The most common duck to mate with other species is the mallard. Greenheads will often breed with pintails, black ducks, wigeon, and teal.

But as cool as it is to shoot a “pintallard,” hybridization does pose a threat to waterfowl populations. When two different species mate, it typically results in infertile offspring. Waterfowl crossbreed more than any other bird—more than 400 combinations of hybrid waterfowl have been recorded. The mallard/pintail is the most common.

There are few (if any) game laws that pertain to hybrids. I spoke with multiple game wardens and put in a request into the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for comment, but could not get a definitive answer on how hybrids contribute to a hunter’s daily limit. It’s ultimately at the discretion of the local warden to decide if you are operating within the law. So, if you already have your mallard limit and shoot a mallard/pintail cross, it’s possible that if you are checked, you could be fined for shooting over the mallard limit. And if you are hunting during the spring conservation order and shoot a snow/specklebelly hybrid, a warden may determine that you have shot a bird that is out of season.

With so many different hybridizations possible it’s tough to catalog them all, but here are eight unique waterfowl hybrids that have been taken across North America.

Fly fishing is graceful and artistic—and a very effective method of catching fish. (Glen Rushton via Unsplash/)

Fly fishing is often considered an art as well as a sport. From the moment Brad Pitt cast a line over the Gallatin River in the cinema version of Norman McLain’s famous A River Runs Through It, fly fishing has been likened to a dance on the water. But it can also be frustrating, confusing, befuddling and just plain difficult. Even choosing the best fly fishing rod and fly fishing gear is tough, because new fly rods are coming out all the time. What is the best fly rod length? What is the best all-around fly rod weight? How much should I spend on a fly rod?

Those are all common questions, and we will break it all down for you. We’ll also explain the mystery behind the Spey rod and tenkara rod. It doesn’t matter if you’re freshwater fishing or you want a saltwater fly rod, we have the best fly rod for you.

Scroll through, find what fits you best, and head out to the water.

BEST SALTWATER FLY ROD: Sage Salt HD Fly RodBEST ALL AROUND TROUT FLY ROD: Orvis Helios 3F 5-Weight 8′6″ Fly RodBEST SPEY ROD: Echo Full Spey Two Handed Fly Rod (13ft 8wt)BEST FLY ROD FOR BEGINNERS: Tenkara USA Sato RodBEST BUDGET FLY ROD: Redington VICE Fly Fishing Rod with Tube

Features to consider when shopping for a fly rod

Before even looking for a fly rod, the first thing you need to decide is where you’ll use it. That will help determine the size of the fish you’ll be going after, and hence the length, weight, and strength of the fly rod. If you’re just starting out, there’s a good choice for that too.

The Wisconsin wolf hunt was called off early as hunters quickly exceeded the harvest quota. (John Hafner/)

Wolf hunters in Wisconsin exceeded the state’s harvest quota just three days into their first wolf hunt since 2014. The hunt was supposed to last a week, but it was called early because of the fast and furious harvest. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said non-native hunters had checked in 182 wolves as of 3 p.m. Wednesday when the state closed the season. The quota for non-native hunters was 119 wolves; native Ojibwe Tribes were also allocated 81 tags, in accordance with treaty rights ceded to the United States in the 1800s. The total number of harvested wolves stood at 216 (in non-native zones) as of noon on Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

Gray wolves were removed from Endangered Species Act protections in January, and the Wisconsin DNR estimated in April 2020 that the state had about 1,195 wolves. Its management goal is 350 wolves on non-tribal reservation land. Proponents of the hunt and state management say the high population of wolves — more than triple the management goal — is a clear sign of recovery, and they also point to declines in game animals due to wolf predation.

Despite the healthy wolf population in the state, the harvest goal of 200 wolves is not supposed to be met if the tribal hunters do not meet their harvest quota. There are no requirements to fill a tag. Native hunters have expressed disdain for the late-winter hunt, citing it as “especially wasteful and disrespectful,” the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission said in a statement to the Wisconsin State Journal.

DNR spokeswoman Sarah Hoye told the State Journal that the quota was set with a goal of keeping the population stable.

“The wolf population in Wisconsin is healthy, capable of sustaining harvest, and remains well connected to neighboring wolf populations in Michigan and Minnesota,” she said.

Get your favorite camper something they’ll use for years to come. (Unsplash/Dominik Jirovsky/)

Campers may be more familiar with gear and gadgets than any other type of outdoorsy people. It’s a hobby that requires tents, jackets, sleeping bags, and a whole other boatload of gear. We cover great camping gear regularly, but this top 10 list is chock-full of unique and fun ideas tailored to specific types of campers and adventurers. As an avid outdoor enthusiast myself, I handpicked each one of these products. Keep reading to find the best camping gifts around.

Unique camping gifts: Mini Plastic Spice JarsBest camping gifts for her: REI Trailbreak Sleeping BagBest camping gifts for him: Klymit Static SL Sleeping PadCool camping gifts: Camping Mess Kit Personalized camping gifts: YETI Rambler 14oz Custom MugBest camping chairs: Bass Pro Shops Eclipse Magnum ChairBest camping tents: REI Trail Hut 2-Person TentBest gifts for campers who love hiking: TrailBuddy Trekking PolesGift ideas for backpackers: Jetboil Zip Cooking SystemBest camping gear under $20: Alpine Start Instant Coffee

Get the Best Gifts for the Campers in Your Life

The best gifts for campers are things they’ll use over and over again. I kept that in mind while making these picks, from cooking gear to hiking accessories, these are the best camping gifts.

Unique Camping Gifts: Mini Plastic Spice Jars

Make better meals in the backcountry with spices from home (Cornucopia Brands/)

Many campers leave the best spices at home when they venture out into the woods. With these mini plastic jars, you can plan out your meals and fill up the jars with the necessary spices. They’re lightweight and barely take up any room in the pack. It’s an easy and simple way to make backcountry meals tastier. This set is a 12-pack of 1 fluid ounce containers and is a great, unique gift for campers. Throw as many as you need into your backpack and look forward to your next camp meal.

Every savvy survival gardener knows that the key to better produce is in the dirt. Plant based compost is a great addition to most garden soils and an obvious amendment that most folks know. But some of the best natural fertilizer comes from the parts of fish and wild game anglers and hunters don’t eat. If you want to build a better garden there are a variety of leftovers from the fish you catch and critters you kill to utilize. Here are eight items you might otherwise discard that will make your garden grow.

1. Find a New Use For Fur

Fur, hair and hide scraps are more valuable than you think. (TIM MACWELCH/)

Nitrogen is necessary for healthy greenery, like leaves and stems. Phosphorus is required for flower and fruit growth. Potassium is one of the keys to a plant’s vigorous root growth. When you buy fertilizer at the garden center, the label will provide an NPK number. This shows the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, in that order. A common commercial product might be something like a 10-10-10 fertilizer. This provides equal and generous amounts of the three main plant nutrients. You can also get a large dose of slow-releasing phosphorus from hair and fur. These animal materials can still be on the hide, or they can be loose. You might have loose animal hair as a result of scraping hides for “hair off” tanning, or you may soak hides in a bucket of water for a few days until the hair falls out naturally. When blended and buried into garden soil, animal hair will break down slowly over a period of years. This offers your vegetables a prime nutrient for flower growth, which leads to fruit growth. I know you’re trying to grow food in a survival garden, not pretty flowers, but the fruit can’t form if the flower isn’t there to be pollenated. To be a successful food grower, you need to become both a dirt and a flower grower.

2. Pluck a Bird

Similar in nutrient profile to hair and fur, feathers can also be buried in the garden or tossed into the compost pile. (TIM MACWELCH/)

Killing a spring gobbler can be beneficial for your garden. Feathers are very similar in composition to hair. These can be plucked from the bird (a quick dip in scalding water will help significantly), or you can skin the bird. Bury whole skins in strategic garden spots, like under new fruit trees. Loose feathers can be dampened and tilled into the garden soil (don’t try to run the tiller over dry feathers, as they’ll all blow away). However you get them into the ground, feathers will slowly decompose and enrich the dirt. Like hair, feathers provide phosphorus and a few other trace minerals (like magnesium).

Help your favorite outdoorsman do more of what he loves most. (Unsplash/Kalen Elmsley/)

Outdoorsmen love new gear and gadgets to help them out in the field and on the water. Even if it means the slightest advantage to catch one more fish or stay out in the cold for one more hour.

As an avid outdoorsman myself, I always look for products that are useful, durable, and versatile. I want to make sure everything I bring on a hunt, hike, or fishing trip has a use. There’s never room for extra dead weight on your back. I need my gear to be durable and be able to withstand harsh conditions. Finally, I like my gear to be as versatile as possible. Some things only serve one purpose and that’s okay. But finding a gift your favorite outdoorsman can use in multiple situations is a bonus.

Outdoor maniacs always look for ways to be more efficient and effective in whatever their pursuit may be. I’ve got some great ideas for outdoor gifts—things I would love to receive myself. Check out some of the best gifts for outdoorsmen, here!

Best classic gift for outdoorsmen: Leatherman Wave Plus Multi-ToolBest adventure gifts for outdoorsmen: GoPro Hero 9Best gifts for hunters: Browning trail cam with SD cardBest gifts for camping: Coleman LED LanternBest gifts for fishermen: Buff Solar GloveBest gifts for hikers: Permethrin Tick RepellentBest gifts for backpackers: Icebreaker Collingwood JacketBest outdoor gifts for boys: Columbia Youth Hiking ShoeBest gifts for outdoorsmen—under $100: TETON Sports Explorer BackpackBest gifts for outdoorsmen—under $50: Waterproof Speaker

Your guide to getting the best gifts for outdoorsmen

I chose these picks to cover a wide range of outdoor activities. You will find various gear and ideas that I find useful when I’m in the woods or on the water that I think make good gifts for hunters, gifts for fishermen, birthday presents, and more.

Show him you love him back with the perfect gift. (Unsplash/Juliane Liebermann/)

Are you looking for unique gifts for dads who the outdoors? There are so many different pursuits and hobbies to choose from that it can become overwhelming. But all it takes is that one gift to stand out from the rest and make his day. As an avid outdoorsman myself, I chose these ideas and products based on usefulness, practicality, and effectiveness.

Whether you’re starting your shopping early or looking for that last minute gift for dad—this guide has the answer. It’s filled with a variety of options and choices for all the fathers out there. From hunting and fishing gifts for dad, to barbecuing and camping gear—I think this gift guide has the right ideas.

Cool gifts for dad: Car Phone MountBest last minute birthday gifts for dad: Portable ChargerPersonalized gifts for dad: Customized YETI Rambler Can InsulatorUnique gifts for dad: Carhartt Seat CoversBest tech gifts for dad: Fossil Hybrid Smart WatchBest useful gifts for dad: Meat ThermometerBest hunting gifts for dad: onX Hunt SubscriptionBest fishing gifts for dad: Simms Rain JacketBest gifts for dads who love barbecuing: Charcoal SmokerBest camping gifts for dad: Reusable Water Bottle

Get the best birthday gifts for Dad this year!

The following picks offer a wide range of interests and hobbies. Many fathers spend their time outside fishing, camping, and barbecuing—but I realize not all do. So I included some unique and fun ideas that are useful indoors, outdoors, or wherever he might be. Check out the full list of the best birthday gifts for dad below!

Cool Gifts for Dad: Car Phone Mount

A properly sized shelter will retain heat and provide protection from the wind while you fish and monitor tip-ups. (Unsplash/)

Once bulky and challenging to transport, contemporary ice fishing shelters are light, portable and extremely functional, keeping anglers and their equipment in the game and on fish—even when the snow flies, the winds howl, and the temperature plummets.

Pop-up ice fishing shelters are often referred to as hub shelters. These are generally lightweight, portable shelters that fold down into a compact package and fit into a convenient transport and storage bag. A framework of poles inserted into rigid hubs provide rigidity to the structure. Once inside, anglers enjoy access to considerably more fishable area than might be available in a flip-over shanty or ice fishing tent.

The best ice fishing shelters have a durable, waterproof exterior to keep the cold, snow, and sleet at bay, and often a quilted, insulated interior to retain heat. A quality ice fishing hub shelter has abundant ventilation to allow moisture to escape and allow anglers to safely use portable propane-powered heaters. On the outside, large flaps that extend away from the shelter allow anglers to bank snow along the sides, while robust anchoring systems prevent the shelter from being carried away by a strong gust of wind. Abundant creature comforts on the interior, including coat hangers, rod holders, lights, and even insulated floors make it easy to fish while remaining warm and dry.

Best Basic Ice Fishing Shelter: Eskimo Quickfish2Best Ice Fishing Shelter for Two People: Frabill Fortress 260Best Ice Fishing Shelter for Four People: Eskimo Outbreak 450iBest Ice Fishing Shelter for a Big Group: Clam C890 Thermal ShelterBest Hybrid Ice Fishing Shelter: Eskimo Evo SeriesBest Cheap Ice Fishing Shelter: Frabill HQ 200

Are you looking for a basic ice fishing shelter?

A basic ice fishing shelter should have a waterproof finish on the outside and provide sufficient ventilation to remain comfortable and safe on the inside. Many basic ice fishing shelters won’t be insulated, but that makes them lighter and easier to carry by one person. Typically, these shelters will have a smaller footprint, accommodating two to perhaps three anglers. Look for windows on all four sides of the shelter to provide good natural light and help you monitor tip-ups while inside. It should come with a storage bag and the tools needed to anchor it to the ice.

Wipe down your bolt and spray it with brake cleaner to ensure it runs properly in the cold. (Tyler Freel/)

With advancements in coatings and corrosion-resistant components, our hunting rifles are better-equipped now more than ever to hold up in foul conditions. But there are still steps you need to take to keep a bolt gun or semiauto working reliably, particularly in cold weather. Modern rifles often require a little less TLC, but being subjected to the abuse—moisture, saltwater, and other natural contaminants—that come with hunting inclement conditions can plant the seeds for problems down the road.

We lubricate our guns after the hunt to prevent corrosion, and keep them in good working order. But in extreme cold, that gun oil can turn to syrup and cause your rifle to malfunction.

There’s no exact temperature that can cause a “wet” rifle to gum up, but many hunters venturing out in below-freezing or subzero temps have run into a myriad of rifle issues. The most common is a misfire, or a soft firing pin strike when the trigger is pulled. Even from the factory, the firing pin and firing pin spring are typically coated in a healthy dose of oil, and accumulate more as a shooter oils and cleans the rifle.

As the temperature drops, this oil becomes thicker and stickier. Rather than lubricate as intended, the cold can cause the oil to impede the firing pin, slowing it down to the point that it sometimes won’t ignite the primer. Any dust or fouling that has accumulated around the firing pin and spring can make matters worse. I learned this the hard way hunting coyotes as a kid with a dirty, oily 10/22, losing several coyotes because I was cycling the bolt furiously trying to get one of the cartridges to go off.

Every year on a local winter caribou hunt here in Alaska, I hear of rifles misfiring, bolts that feel like they’re stuck in molasses, magazine catches that won’t engage, and other similar issues. I’ve even heard of a hunter who had his rifle fail to fire, opened the bolt, and pulled it completely free of the rifle while trying to chamber another round. Apparently, the bolt release had been accidentally depressed, and it had enough viscous oil in the mechanism to prevent the spring from returning it to its correct position.

Careful choice of bird seed will bring specific species to your feeder. (Unsplash/)Best Winter Bird Seed: Wagner’s Black Oil Sunflower SeedsBest Bird Seed for Finches: Nyjer Seed 10-Pound BagBest Bird Seed for Cardinals: Safflower Seed Wild Bird FoodBest Bird Feed for Woodpeckers: Health Outdoor Suet CakesBest All-Around Bird Seed Mix: Deluxe Wild Bird BlendBest Cheap Bird Seed: Classic Blend Wild Bird Feed

Features to consider when shopping for the best bird seed

Shopping for bird seed can be confusing, especially if you are new to the world of feeding backyard birds. That’s because there are a wide variety of bird species, and each has its own dietary wants and needs. Learn what your favorite birds like, and you can draw more of them to your backyard feeder for both their and your enjoyment.

Do you want to draw a variety of birds to a winter bird feeder?

If you were going to select one kind of bird seed and feed it exclusively to birds in your backyard in winter, black oil sunflower bird seeds are the ones to choose. High in both protein and fat, they are readily available and loved by nearly every kind of bird that will visit your yard. Compared to striped sunflower seeds, black oil seeds are meatier and have a higher oil content, giving birds more nutrition and calories in every bite. They also have thinner shells, making them easier for small birds to crack.

That said, many birds like a variety of seeds in their diet, especially during the winter months when bugs, worms and other small creatures aren’t readily available. Interestingly, some prefer tiny seeds like thistle, and others love seeds as large as shelled peanuts. And some that have great appetites will eat any and all of the above!

The author and his grandpa after a successful Wisconsin deer hunt. (Alex Robinson/)

Wisconsin deer hunters are traditionalists. I know this because I am one, and I’ve written about it proudly. I’ve hunted the state’s 9-day gun season every year since I was 12. In the Robinson family, opening day is our favorite holiday (Christmas is a distant second). And still, I know that some traditions need to evolve in order to be preserved. It seems that many of my fellow cheeseheads disagree.

In a survey last spring, the majority of Wisconsin residents opposed making changes to major hunting regulations, like expanding the 9-day gun season to increase hunter participation. A majority also opposed enacting a state-wide ban on baiting to help prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease.

“Wisconsin’s sporting community are traditionalists,” Larry Bonde, chair of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress told the Wisconsin State Journal. “They want that traditional nine-day Thanksgiving deer season, and they’re not going to let go.”

This dedication to tradition would be fine, if deer hunting in Wisconsin was thriving. But it’s not.

Wisconsin hunters took 188,712 whitetails during the 2020 9-day gun season, which is up 12 percent from the previous year. But that harvest is down nine percent from the state’s 10-year average, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

While we know the Arctic blast that crippled much of the Southwest and Southeast last week caused unprecedented damage to cities and homes, the full extent of its impact on wild game and fish populations remains unclear. State wildlife officials are still conducting surveys to assess the situation.

Mortality is expected in big and small game and non-game animals, game birds, songbirds, and fish due to the storm itself, as well as continued freezing temperatures, ice, snow, and frozen waterways. Quail in Texas and Oklahoma likely took a hit, and other reports note dead songbirds, including purple martins, Eastern phoebe, and wrens, and shorebirds like pelicans and cormorants.

We’re receiving reports of large bat fatalities under bridges due to winter storm. To help us track this, please share your observations on or iNaturalist project at https://t.co/zmMNFvllQY. Please include photo and estimate of fatalities.

⚠️Never handle bats, dead or alive. pic.twitter.com/xK8HgyZNHb

— TX Parks & Wildlife (@TPWDnews) February 24, 2021

Exotic and unusual species, such as nutria in Louisiana and blackbuck, axis deer, and others on ranches in Texas, could take a hit, state officials say. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department doesn’t manage or regulate exotic species such as axis or blackbuck, but the agency is gathering information about how they fared during the storm.