Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

The 2020 Archery Trade Association is the not-quite-official launch for 2020 bow models. Truth be told, there is no real standard launch cycle amongst bow manufacturers and we’ve been seeing new model releases trickling out since late summer. But the ATA show is the best opportunity to see all those models under one roof and spend a few moments shooting them. Here’s what the 2020 crop looks like.

MATHEWS VXR

Mathews VXR (Mathews Inc/)

The 2019 Vertix from Mathews was one of the most vibration-free bows we’ve ever ran through the paces of our annual Bow Test. The VXR seems poised to set a new standard for vibration-free performance at this year’s test thanks to a melding of the Vertix’s top vibration-killing features with a totally new riser design that Mathews claims increases overall bow stability while further reducing vibration. The bow is also lighter thanks to a reconfigured riser design. It’s not a huge reduction in weight (last year’s Vertix weighed in at 4.7 pounds while the VXR 28 scales 4.44 pounds) but it is noticeable. The VXR is also smartly available in two lengths – 28 and 31.5 inches. The 28-inch model will certainly be more popular but the 31.5 is a long-range shooting machine. Advertised speeds are 344 fps for the 28 and 343 for 31.5.

The VXR 28 lists for $999 while the VXR 31.5 sells for $1,099.

BEAR STATUS EKO

The Barnett HyperFlite EVO, the company's new flagship crossbow for 2020. (Barnett Crossbows/)

Many ultra-accurate crossbows have hit the bowhunting market over the last few years, and these often come in narrow, nimble packages (the R26 from Ravin, for instance). The latest flagship crossbow from Barnett was also designed with accuracy in mind. That’s not a surprising goal given their track record—Barnett bows have historically turned in some of the tightest groups in our annual test. The HyperFlight EVO is narrow with a 9-inch axle-to-axle when cocked, but it isn’t exactly nimble. The crossbow weighs a hefty 11 pounds by design, according to one of Barnett’s designers, who compared the EVO to a heavy competition rifle with low recoil and excellent groups—instead of a light-weight field gun that simply gets the job done.

The most interesting aspect of the new design is the position of the cams, which are mounted on a very stiff riser rather than at the end of the limbs. Barnett was focused on eliminating string lift, which can cause cam lean and reduce accuracy. So while the limbs still flex plenty when cocked, the cams remain level. The EVO reportedly reaches speeds of 420 fps with a 380-grain arrow. It shot well at the range, though we couldn’t test the accuracy at any real distance.

The new HyperFlite EVO from Barnett features a riser-mounted cam system. (Barnett Crossbows/)

There are plenty of thoughtful touches on the EVO, including a micro-adjustable comb and butt pad, and an adjustable stock for the correct length of pull. It also features a 3-position fold-down handle that’s hollow to accommodate a proprietary shooting stick. The 90-degree angle is suitable for shooting off-hand, the 45-degree bend allows a hunter to anchor the shooting stick on a hip, and the horizontal position folds the grip out of the way entirely. There’s also a two-gear system which makes for faster cocking with the stock-integrated, quick-detach crank cocking device. Though there’s a groove on the stock for a cocking rope, there’s currently no way to draw the crossbow if the in-stock cocking device fails. This is due to the 285-pound draw weight, which is plenty for anyone to pull with a rope, but there’s also no room on the string to place hooks on either side of the wide rail.

The crossbow also incorporates a Trigger Tech trigger and the usual anti-dry fire technology. The finish is a Mossy Oak Break Up Country, and the MSRP is $1,600, which includes the bow, three 22-inch HyperFlite arrows, a 1.5-5x32 illuminated scope, the integrated cocking device, and a quiver.

The Annihilator broadhead, a 3-blade cut-on-contact head cast from a single piece of alloy steel. (Annihilator Broadheads/)

There’s already enough gear involved in bowhunting that, when it comes to my broadheads, I just want something simple. Which is the most appealing thing about this new Annihilator broadhead: its simplicity. The three-blade head is built around a single piece of 4140 alloy steel, which somehow makes it look old-school and brand-new at the same time.

The new company, founded by hunting buddies Micah Brown and Brandon Brodie, eliminated plenty of existing broadhead conventions—there are no vents, fasteners, or detachable blades—but they also added what they call a “partial back-scoop wedge” to the head.

The Annihilator broadhead eliminates blade cut-outs and adds a scoop-design to the base of the head. (Natalie Krebs /)

The actual cutting surface is relatively small, but the Annihilator cuts on contact while the scoop design punches a hole in game, pushing and pulling tissue to create a large wound channel. (The cutting surface area on the 100- and 125-grain heads works out to .180 square inches, with a cutting diameter of .910 inches.) The fixed head is designed to gouge holes instead of cut slits. This scoop-style broadhead does introduce some drag, but this is reportedly a feature, not a bug. Brown and Brodie say that the wedge puts drag in the right places for optimal flight stabilization.

The company also claims that “the Annihilator will not warp, bend, or break when passing through an animal, no matter the shot.” Brown and Brodie kept a hole-riddled car hood in the booth to emphasize this point.

Holes punched through a car hood with an Annihilator broadhead. (Natalie Krebs /)

Three-packs of the 100- and 125-grain broadheads are already available on Annihilator’s site for $55 and $57, respectively. That’s pricier than many fixed-blades, but if you consider the hassle you’re saving with such a simple piece of equipment, it might be worth it. The two larger heads—the 125-grain XL and 150-grain XL—are coming soon, and all are made in the USA.

In the past 10 years, sportsmen have experienced an enlightenment of sorts. Suppressors (a.k.a. silencers and cans,) once widely (and incorrectly) considered illegal to possess, have grown in popularity among shooters and hunters. I learned the truth back in 2007 or 2008, and now use suppressors whenever possible.

Growing up, the only exposure I had to cans was in movies and on television, which portrayed them inaccurately and as tools suited only for secret agents, hitmen, and other criminals. If that sounds familiar, this will give you the basic run-down on suppressor functionality, how to pick the best one for you, and what it actually takes to get one.

The simplest way to mount a suppressor is threaded directly onto the muzzle. (Tyler Freel/)

1. What They Do and Don’t Do

The biggest myth about silencers or suppressors is they completely quiet a firearm. You may be surprised to discover that the iconic soft “chirp” that silencers produce in movies isn’t the case in the real world. The devices do significantly reduce the sound signature of a gunshot, but will not completely silence it. The sound signature and decibel level that suppressors produce varies depending on the cartridge and specific type of firearm. The generally accepted threshold for ear-safe impulse sound levels is 140 decibels (similar to the report of a normal .22 LR), and your average centerfire rifle or handgun will be in the 160-175dB range, or higher if using a muzzle brake. A suppressor will usually decrease that to the 110-130dB, depending on the gun and ammunition velocity. For comparison, the average BB gun is usually right around 100dB. Minimizing muzzle blast makes shooting just about anything more pleasant, especially for newer or younger shooters.

In addition to sound and muzzle blast reduction, suppressors will also reduce recoil and often boost velocity slightly by keeping some pressurization behind the bullet after it’s left the muzzle, but still inside the suppressor.

The National Park Service decided to cull invasive mountain goats with aerial gunners, but they could have turned to sportsmen. (Pixabay/)

Most of us would agree our national parks are treasures that must be protected and conserved so future generations can enjoy them as much as we do. Part of that protection is wildlife management, and although the government body in charge of the stewardship of these lands (the National Park Service) typically operates with a minimal human interference mindset, there are times when it must step in.

If you haven’t heard, by now, gunners in helicopters are swooping around Grand Teton National Park, with the goal of eliminating the mountain goat population labeled as invasive to that area. The reason for this is to protect the relatively fragile local bighorn sheep population. Bighorns are extremely sensitive to pathogens carried by domestic sheep and goats, that can also be transmitted to and carried by Rocky Mountain goats. The science and reasoning behind the extreme management is understandable, but hunters in Wyoming and other western states should be scratching their heads, wondering why we would pay for this operation (through tax dollars) when hunters could have fulfilled dreams of hunting goats and helped in this management?

Hunters have proven time and again to be one of the most valuable and affordable tools for wildlife managers. You might be surprised to find that hunting in several national parks (not just preserves) is allowed under certain circumstances. The Grand Teton NP has an elk reduction program that allows hunters to cull elk within the park boundaries so the population doesn’t get out of control. Several parks in Alaska also have allowances for subsistence hunting. So why wouldn’t they create a program for hunters to eliminate these goats?

It might help to know that both the “elk reduction program” and subsistence hunting allowances in parks created in Alaska in 1980 are congressionally mandated, not agency policy. In other words, the NPS didn’t voluntarily decide to let people continue their subsistence lifestyle in Alaska, or use hunters to keep elk numbers in check in Wyoming, Congress made them do it.

If the NPS was really looking for a win-win, in the past seven years, they would have easily been able to create a program to vet and license scores of hunters with a say-no-more attitude, willing to participate in the hunt of a lifetime, take an active role to protect a fragile species, and put meat in their freezer. This method has been used successfully to eliminate small infected populations of bighorns in other places, so why not here? Aerial population control (as most of us here in Alaska are familiar with) is sometimes a necessary tool to achieve management goals, especially with predators. Ironically, the NPS has repeatedly publicly opposed those measures when used by the State of Alaska. However, I believe that this is a prime case for hunters to do the brunt of the work. A USA Today article does make mention of “ground-based” hunters but states that it won’t happen this year. There is also a lack of specificity as to whether it would be “public” or “contracted” hunters.

Guides often downplay the physicality of hunts in order to keep their clients in the right frame of mind.

If you’ve ever been on a guided hunt or fishing trip, you know all too well that some can be more nightmare than dream. A recent hunt in Nebraska immediately comes to mind. It was November and the rut was rocking. A crisp front was pushing through from the north and the forecasted temps were perfect.

“You’ll be the first one in this stand,” the outfitter told me over dinner that evening. “It’s a great set. Been saving it all year for a special client.”

That was all I needed to hear. As the sun rose the next morning, I looked around at what I thought to be an epic set—a small patch of hardwoods jutting out into a cut cornfield. Hours went by. Nothing. My hopes faded. When I climbed down, I found cigarettes, candy bar wrappers, and some plastic baggies under my stand. Guess what? I wasn’t the first one to ever sit in the stand. In fact, I probably wasn’t one of the first 10, but my guide wasn’t about to tell me that.

The truth is that there are some great outfitters and some horrific ones. I took some time, recently, to chat with some of the best guides I know in an effort to help you spot some of the the yellow flags that might come up on your next guided trip. They were all glad to chime in on the seven things guides might not necessarily be forthcoming about.

Sometimes even stands in the likeliest of hotspots will fail to produce.

1. “We’ve Never Killed A Deer From Here”

Robinson puts Boss shotshells to the test in a Wisconsin goose field. (Stephen Maturen/)

I popped out of my layout blind shooting, dropping the lead goose and then moving back to the second bird in the flock, which was now quartering away hard with the wind at his back. I dropped that goose too, beyond the edge of our decoy spread—not winged, but stone-cold dead.

“Just what the heck are you shooting?” my hunting partner asked.

Nope, not a 10-gauge. Not 3.5-inch BB. I was hunting with the deadliest goose load available: tungsten No. 7s. There’s a new crew of custom shotshell-makers who are pushing the trend in using smaller pellets made of heavier metals. The best thing about these little guys is they offer the exact type of load you’re looking for—whether it’s for your 10-gauge or .410. I rounded up five of the top contenders and piled up ducks and geese with them all fall. When the gun smoke settled, here’s what I found.

1. Hevi-Shot Hevi-X

Load: 3-inch, No. 2 Hevi-X50-yard pattern: 59 of 115 (51.3 percent)Velocity: 1386 fpsPrice per shell: $1.90

Technically, this isn’t a custom ammo-maker, since you can usually find it on box-store shelves, but it would be a mistake to exclude Hevi-Shot from this roundup because it’s one of the OGs in the better-than-steel game. This year, the company has upgraded its Hevi-X load, which is a tungsten blend, by increasing the amount of tungsten, and therefore increasing density. When I cut the shells open, I found the pellets were unevenly formed—some looked like candy Nerds, others were two pellets globbed together. This is likely why they scored on the lower end of the percentage of pellets on target during patterning.

Mark Kenyon’s book, That Wild Country, focuses on the history and creation of America’s public lands. (Mark Kenyon/)

America’s public-land heritage didn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of more than a century of exploitation and conservation, a story as rich and complex as the American landscape itself. Author Mark Kenyon explores both America’s public lands and the history of their creation in That Wild Country. The result is a mix of family adventure, personal reflection, political chicanery and historical context. We asked Mark about his love affair with public lands.

Outdoor Life: Your followers know you best as an upper-Midwest whitetail fanatic. What attracted you to writing about public lands?

Mark Kenyon: While whitetails are on my mind 12 months a year, I’ve also harbored a long-running love for hiking, camping, fishing and other outdoor pursuits. Over the last decade, my wife and I have been embarking on annual pilgrimages to the public lands of the West. These exploits have become the central star of our calendars.

In 2015, the “land transfer movement” was picking up steam and I came to see just how at risk these places were. … An understanding of these issues seemed more important than ever.

OL: You note that many Americans don’t understand— let alone appreciate—the value of our national forests and other public lands. Why is that?

There’s nothing that helps you become a better hunter than time spent afield. (Joe Genzel/)

We live in a truly incredible age. A man like myself only has occasion to wear a tie maybe once every five to seven years, and when that rare occasion arises, I can get on YouTube for a quick lesson. If I need to replace a throttle body on my wife’s car, or learn what a throttle body is, there’s more YouTube and the glorious internet to save me. I can learn to bake cookies, decorate cakes, play nearly any type of musical instrument, solve a Rubik’s cube, or wrap a gift.

The internet is full of actual, applicable hunting information as well, and part of what we try to do here at Outdoor Life is provide good, useful information that will help hunters out. That being said, it’s easy to get sucked into the digital vortex of information and miss some valuable lessons that can only really be learned first-hand. You can’t replicate decades of field experience with a video or article. In many cases, you just have to go and do this stuff. It will make you a better outdoorsman, and make the experience more meaningful.

Practice mounting your rifle properly to avoid getting “scoped.” (Joe Genzel/)

Scope Check

Almost everyone will get nailed across the nose or brow with a riflescope once in their life, often resulting in profuse bleeding. I say once, because usually that’s all it takes to learn that lesson, any more is purely user error. It’s totally understandable, and usually in the heat of the moment on your first bull or buck, you forget to tighten your shoulder against the buttstock, or maybe you’re shooting slightly uphill. That star-spangled aftermath—the ringing in your ears from being struck between the eyes with a hammer—is something that is usually profound enough to be a life-long reminder not to let it happen again.

Survival Fire

As duck season gets deeper into January, you have to change the way you hunt mallards. (Joe Genzel/)

Years ago, I was in Arkansas spring snow goose hunting, and it was damn miserable, as snow goose hunting tends to be. After a sufficient amount of suffering, a friend with a private timber hole suggested that we take the morning off, and motor out to the flooded oaks to watch the remaining mallards flutter through the canopy of budding tree limbs.

Many of us had never been to such a heavenly place where wood ducks masterfully weaved in and out of the trees in the darkness, hitting high-pitched squeals that reverberated amongst the hardwoods. Then mallards lit all around us, so close you could hear each individual wingbeat. It was magnificent; made even more so, because we didn’t have shotguns in our hands as the season had long been out. I was hooked.

Every season since we’ve swapped hunts with our old Arkansas buddies. They always wanted to field hunt and I always want to get back into that magical timber.

Whether you’re in flooded timber or a frozen corn field, chasing late-season mallards requires a special set of tactics. And over the years, we’ve developed some rules to live by. They are not all hard and fast, but most will put a few birds on your strap as long as the refuge is full of greenheads.

Don’t burn your duck hole by over-hunting it. (Joe Genzel/)

Big Water

Black bear hunting opportunities—both over bait or spot-and-stalk—abound. (Tyler Freel/)

Hunting The Last Frontier can be the most phenomenal episode of your hunting lifetime and while a successful hunt is attainable, there are a few baseline things to understand that will make the difference between an amazing experience and heartbreaking disappointment. Alaska is huge, opportunities are extremely diverse, and logistics are the name of the game. Some species (Dall sheep, mountain goats, brown/grizzly bears) require hiring a registered guide, so in that case, this planning process is significantly abbreviated. Even for other species, using an outfitter isn’t a bad idea. They usually already have all the components in place to give you a fantastic hunt. But what about a DIY hunt?

While contracting the services of a professional hunt planner can be an excellent alternative, there are some who want the entire endeavor to be self-planned and executed. This information is for you.

1. Pick a Species

Although there are many regions of Alaska in which multiple big game species can be found, it’s best to focus on one—especially on a DIY hunt with limited logistics. If your heart is set on a chance at multiple species, it can muddy the waters by pigeon-holing you into a spot that might only be mediocre for each. Narrowing down to a primary target animal will also open up more territory options since regulations might not allow for the multiple species you’re looking for. If you have your heart set on taking two or even three different animals, it can be done, but you must select your area carefully. There are areas where you can realistically get a moose and a caribou, but there’s just as many where you’ll only see moose, or only see caribou.

2. Pick A Hunting Method

Portioning cuts of wild game meat is a lot of work, but it’s rewarding. (Mossy Oak/)

Of all the stages a hunter goes through, none is more important or rewarding than learning how to turn the labors of the field into healthy, organic meals. Processing your own game is a time-honored tradition that not only instills a greater respect for the animal, but also ensures that you know exactly what you are getting at mealtime and that the game was properly handled from field to table. To get started, here are a few tools that will make learning to process your own game easier and more professional.

Field-dressing Kit

Having a selection of sharp blades nearby is critical for processing meat. (Mossy Oak/)

Field dressing big game really doesn’t require anything more than a sharp pocketknife. That said, the job is one heck of a lot easier when you have a specialized kit of blades engineered for specific tasks across a wide range of game species, from elk and deer, to squirrels and upland birds

Gambrel and Hoist

Using a gambrel to hoist meat while you process it makes the job cleaner and easier. (Hunter's Specialties/)

Sure, you can use a limb and a short rope to hoist big game for cleaning, but investing in a commercial gambrel will save a lot of time and effort. Look for a gambrel with an integrated block and tackle to give a mechanical advantage when lifting heavy game.

You’ll need a few greenheads to make this delicious meal. ( Joe Genzel/)

For a long time, I thought the only way to cook duck was with a jalapeno, some cream cheese and lots of bacon. The popper is an old duck camp standby that gets a bit overdone. There’s plenty of room for it of course, but also a world of waterfowl cuisine that goes far beyond hot cream cheese and undercooked bacon. Don’t get me wrong, we still do our own version of the popper with wood ducks and teal during early season, but when it comes to mallards, there’s such a variety of opportunity that exists to make greenheads into phenomenal tablefare, it’s almost criminal not to take advantage.

The thing is, there are so many recipes to create a darn good duck meal, and we’ll be bringing you more of them from hunters and chefs across the flyways. We’re starting with my younger brother, Chef Carl—you can find him on Instagram @microwavespecialist. He came up with that IG handle after I incessantly needled him for reheating real chef’s food. He’s actually a trained chef and can cook just about anything you want him to: from steak for 500 to beef Wellington (an all-time favorite) at Christmas. His palate has turned a little high-falutin’ but he still thrives in the place where he cut his teeth: mom’s kitchen.

Every fall we hit the road for at least one trip to get the hell out Illinois and hunt a state with drivable roads, affordable gas, and ducks. This year, we headed to Kansas to chase greenheads and honkers with my buddy Drew Palmer. We stayed with his parents, and every ingredient you’ll find here, Carl found already stocked in the kitchen cabinets—or on a quick trip to Walmart.

There were only a few duck hearts left by the time we got home from scouting. (Joe Genzel/)

The Appetizer: Duck Hearts and Toast

First, we start with duck hearts and toast, which I will say, I have always been a bit skeptical of, because I’m not usually a big organ eater. But they were so good our hunting buddies devoured all but three by the time we were done scouting. You might think a heart would be chewy or have a rubber-like texture, but it’s an absolute delicacy when cooked right. It’s like biting into the most succulent piece of meat you have tasted, just as long as the temperature is on point. I’ve eaten plenty of deer heart that has been overdone and that’s more like chewing on a spare tire. It’s all about the cook time. You want high heat and fast cooking. Keeping it rare is the key.

If you don’t know how to sharpen a knife, or simply don’t want to take the time to give a blade an edge, a replaceable-blade knife might be just what you need. (Outdoor Edge/)

Knowing how to sharpen a knife is an essential skill for any outdoorsman, chef, security professional, craftsman, or any activity where carrying a blade is part of the job. But it’s not always convenient to lug around sharpening stones or other devices, and that’s where replaceable-blade knives stand out. With surgically sharp spare blades that nest in the sheath, you can get as many as a dozen blade changes out of one handy package. They take seconds to swap out, ensuring that you always have a razorlike edge on hand when it counts.

Always Sharp

To get more life from a replaceable blade, run it over a ceramic rod or give it a light sharpen when you’re home. (Outdoor Edge/)

Thin, stainless-steel blades are easily changed in the field, eliminating the need to sharpen. However, to really get the most life out of a single blade, store it back in the sheath after removal and then re-sharpen once or twice on a ceramic rod or diamond stone at home before finally disposing of it.

Lightweight

A replaceable-blade knife handle is usually light and easy to grip. (Havalon/)

Replaceable-blade knife handles are usually made of thermoplastic rubber or some other synthetic material that is both lightweight and durable. They are so light that it’s easy to carry one as a back-up blade reserved only for critical slicing functions while packing a more robust knife or multi-tool for the more demanding tasks.

The magic of Africa. (Ron Spomer/)

Maybe your African safari is just a dream at this stage, but you can make it a reality. In fact, I recommend you do. The cost is much less than a guided North American mule deer or elk hunt. So why not edge closer to your dream safari by deciding which African cartridge/rifle you’ll shoot?

Perhaps the most famous African cartridge is the .375 H&H Magnum, but a couple of its offspring, the .416 Remington Magnum and .458 Winchester Magnum, offer more power and heavier bullets. Which would be best? Let’s examine each in depth and then you can pick your winner.

.243m, .30-06 and .375 H&H. (Ron Spomer/)

.375 Holland & Holland

This belted magnum of 1912 was not the first belted magnum cartridge, but it was and remains the first and most enduringly successful one. Created by the British gunmaking firm of Holland & Holland, it holds enough smokeless powder (about 78 grains or 20 grains more than a 30-06) to drive 300-grain bullets 2,500 fps (feet per second) from a 24-inch barrel. That’s fast enough to grind out about 4,200 ft-lbs (foot pounds) of kinetic energy, roughly 1,300 ft-lbs more than the .30-06 will churn out with a hot 180-grain bullet. Recoil of this .375 H&H load will be around 45 ft-lbs in a rifle/scope weighing 9 pounds. Thanks to all that powder, brass, and bullet, .375 H&H rounds sell for $1.60 to $2.60 each.

When released, the .375 was offered with 270-grain and 235-grain bullets, too. The lighter slugs were designed to shoot faster, flatter and farther for reaching smaller plains game species. All three proved to shoot so close to point of aim inside of sensible hunting distances that they could be fired interchangeably without re-sighting the rifle. Today 253-grain loads are rare, but many ammo brands offer 250-, 260, and 270-grain .375 H&H ammo. Trajectory with Federal’s 260-grain Nosler Accubond load is identical to the Federal 180-grain Nosler Accubond .30-06 load to 400 yards, making it a great option for smaller antelope.

The field version of the new Savage Renegauge during a hunt in Maine. (Alex Robinson/)

Seven years ago, Savage set out to build a semi-automatic shotgun that would handle well and function flawlessly with both light target loads and magnum loads. Also, the gun could be neither offensively heavy nor overpriced.

“I killed the project three times because the cost was too high and the gun was too heavy,” says Al Kasper, Savage’s president and CEO.

Eventually, engineer John Linscott—the lead engineer behind the A17—took over the project. He designed a patented dual-valve gas system (more on this later) and fluted the shotgun’s barrel, which reduced weight by 10 percent. So now, at 7.9 pounds (in the 28-inch barrel version) and with a MSRP of $1,449, Savage is bringing its Renegauge to market.

Savage rep Megan Harten hunting with a camo version of the Renegauge. (Alex Robinson/)

I got to field test a pre-production version of the gun on a December sea duck hunt in Maine before meeting with the engineers at Savage’s factory in Westfield, Massachusetts, where the gun is being made. The Renegauge pointed beautifully on eiders, longtail ducks, and divers, it ran Boss 2 ¾-inch No. 5 shells without fail, and it handled hard-recoiling 3-inch Remington Supersonic No. 2s without bruising our shoulders or cheeks. The synthetic stock and Melonite-coated barrel (inside and outside) sustained three days of abuse in the saltwater without showing any rust or wear. Here’s a closer look at this futuristic shotgun.

The Renegauge's D.R.I.V. system is designed for fast, consistent cycling. (Savage Arms/)

Dual-Valve Gas System

Hardwater anglers know the drill, so to speak, when it comes to picking a target species to chase through the ice. It’s probably going to be pike, walleyes, or panfish. It’s true, those species comprise the bulk of the fishing opportunities across the ice belt, and no matter where you live in the northland, it’s likely that you won’t have to drive too far to find a reasonable opportunity to set tip-ups for northerns, jig for walleyes along a weedline, or drop a crappie jig in pursuit of a midwinter fish fry.

If variety is indeed the spice of life, then changing up your ice fishing game to include some of the more overlooked wintertime species can help end the tedium that comes with catching the same old thing each day. But variety doesn’t necessarily have to mean targeting perch instead of crappies, or sauger instead of walleyes. Indeed, a number of unique ice fishing opportunities scattered across the ice belt can breathe excitement back into predictability. Here are five compelling ways to spice up your ice season.

1. Channel Catfish

Schools of winter catfish are highly mobile – keep drilling until you find them. (Dr. Jason Halfen/)

It’s hard to imagine a fish that evokes the dog days of summer more than the catfish. Generations of anglers have wiled away a lazy afternoon on the banks of a slow-moving river with a long rod and a pail full of nightcrawlers, a stringer of feisty channel cats at their feet. Yet, in some lakes and reservoirs in the northland, catfishing doesn’t end when the leaves fall from the trees. Indeed, catching channel cats through the ice can be just as much fun as fishing them in the summer, with one big added benefit: no mosquitoes!

Where to find them: Winter channel cat locations are often associated with deep holes and adjacent flats, frequently in depths of 25 to 40 feet. However, hardwater cats – at least the active, catchable ones – are rarely bottom-oriented in this deep water. Rather, channel cats form large, mobile schools that will suspend within the water column, often as high as just a few feet beneath the ice. In fact, once you locate a school, it’s not uncommon to have dozens of fish on your ice fishing sonar’s display at a single time. Because the schools are so mobile, it’s important to remain on the move when searching for cats; drill and check lots of holes, and don’t settle into any particular spot until you see consistent sonar activity from suspended fish below.

In Game of Snipers, Hunter focuses heavily on today’s hyper-accurate long guns. (Penguin Random House/)

No one describes firearms, and gunfighting, with the same level of passion and technical accuracy as author Stephen Hunter. On the pages of his novels, the guns he writes about come alive. It doesn’t matter whether he’s discussing the slick, oily action of a well-used 1911, the recoil of a Tommy gun in the hands of a skilled gangster, or the stupefying effect of touching off a big-bore revolver in a small, dark room.

In good news for fans, Hunter recently published another installment in his saga of the Swagger family. This one, Game of Snipers, summons Bob Lee Swagger away from his Idaho ranch to help track down and confront a sniper who’s as skilled as he is. Swagger’s foe is a battle-hardened mercenary who has snuck into the U.S. to take out a high-profile political target.

In Game of Snipers, Hunter focuses heavily on today’s hyper-accurate long guns. And brace yourself: Even Swagger has fallen under the sway of the 6.5 Creedmoor. The star of the show, however, is an Accuracy International chambered in .338 Lapua that is being tweaked to make one hell of a long shot. There’s plenty of other good stuff in this novel, too, though true riflemen will no doubt shed a tear when a reloading room full of H-1000 powder and boxes of match bullets from Sierra, Berger and Swift goes up in flames.

I got a chance to catch up with Hunter to talk about Bob Lee’s future, why Hollywood doesn’t (totally) suck, and what fires up his imagination.

Outdoor Life: Bob Lee is getting on in years. How many more adventures does he have in him? Will there be a next generation of characters for you?

The twenty-teens have come to a close. Before we speed forward to all of the new gun introductions of 2020, let’s take a look back, because it has been a hell of a decade for hunters and shooters. Here’s a list of 23 firearms that made a lasting impact over the last 10 years.

Ruger American

Ruger American (Outdoor Life/)

The trend in dirt-cheap rifles that shoot lights-out started with Savage under the leadership of Ron Coburn. Other companies took notice, but none ran with the concept like Ruger, which set a new threshold for the category with the Ruger American. Ruger took a hard look at how to combine accuracy-enhancing elements with efficient manufacturing techniques and created the American, a three-lug bolt action with an innovative bedding system that creates an extra-solid lock-up between the receiver and stock. Combined with a quality factory barrel, a good trigger, and a smooth-running action, you get a rifle that performs better than any other deer rifle at this price point. —JBS

Barrett Fieldcraft

Barrett Fieldcraft (Outdoor Life/)

The Fieldcraft has established itself as one of the finest production rifles for big-game hunting, but when it first came out it created some confusion. After all, Barrett was better known for making humongous .50-caliber rifles that only a muscle-bound jarhead would consider portable—and not svelte bolt-guns that would be ideal on a mountain sheep hunt.

Winter ice should never be taken lightly. (USFWS/)

Falling through thin ice is a wintertime hazard that claims many lives each year. Before you head out for ice fishing, trapping or any other activity on frozen bodies of water, make sure you plan ahead for this kind of winter crisis and make sure you know exactly what to do if it happens to you or someone near you. Sometimes the wrong decision or delayed action can cost lives.

7. Understanding Frozen Water

Most of the liquids on earth have a very logical behavior. The colder they get, the more they shrink and condense. This is not the case with water. Water crystalizes as it freezes, expanding approximately 9 percent. This means that its solid form is less dense than its liquid form, allowing frozen water to float on the top of liquid water. While no patch of ice should ever be considered 100 percent safe, we can assess the ice and make a guess about its safety. Take a drill with a long paddle bit and a tape measure out to the waterway (and a snow shovel to get down to the ice, if needed). Check the ice thickness at the edge of the waterway, before setting foot on it. If thick enough, then go out further onto the ice. Drill several test holes and use your tape to measure the ice thickness. When the ice is two inches (or less) in thickness, don’t leave the shore. Three inches is your bare minimum for ice thickness. Four inches (or more) is recommended for walking, skating and ice fishing on foot. Five inches (and thicker) is generally safe for ATVs and snowmobiles. When the ice is eight to 12 inches thick (or better), small cars or light pickups might dare to cross. Keep in mind, however, that any ice sheet can have thinner areas. Likely causes of thin spots are underwater springs and geothermal activity. If in doubt, stay on the shore.

6. Always Carry Some Ice Rescue Tools

Ice rescue tools are one of the most important things to carry. (Tim MacWelch /)

The biggest problem with hauling yourself out of the water is grip. Once the slick ice around an ice hole gets wet, there’s not much to grab onto (unless you plan ahead for this unfortunate accident). By purchasing or making a set of ice rescue spikes, a victim can self-rescue by using these moveable handheld spikes to crawl away from the ice hole and back to solid ice. One easy way to make a set is to purchase two ice picks with buoyant wooden handles and about six feet of strong cord. You’ll also need a hacksaw and a drill. Use the hacksaw to cut off half of the metal on each pick. Make your cut on an angle, so the resulting spike has a sturdy beveled point. Use the drill to make a hole in each handle. Fasten each end of the rope to each of your ice picks. Test the set for its ability to float, before you trust your life to them. You don’t need your trusted tool set to slip into the dark water and be lost. You could also make the spikes from scratch, drilling out dowels and fitting them with sturdy metal spikes. For transporting the set, it’s also nice to use a little chunk of wine bottle cork as a “cap” for each spike, so you don’t stab yourself or your clothing by carrying these spikes in your pocket. Keep these lifesaving tools in an outer coat pocket or somewhere they could be quickly grabbed, if needed. Make sure you carry these tools for every trip onto the ice.