Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

Shooting offhand is an important skill, but it's not the gold standard for marksmanship. (John Hafner/) We just might be in the golden era of rifle accuracy. New rifles, optics, and ammo have never been better. Nowadays we’re capable of accuracy (at very long distances) that was all-but-unattainable in decades past. These tools, plus more folks get

Lessons on life and hunting from my elders. (Jonathan Bartlett/) Somewhere in Utah lies a long, cliff-rimmed mesa where I learned one of life’s secrets. It’s rugged, and as hard to get to as anyplace in the Lower 48. Anasazi dwelt there a thousand years back. Fire-blackened sand, broken pottery, and arrowhead chippings are mute reminders of the Old

From top: The Winchester XPR, Ruger American Rifle Predator, and Weatherby Vanguard Select. (Bill Buckley/) We queried the leading outdoor manufacturers and had them send us their top-selling affordable big-game rifles, scopes, and ammunition and put them to the test. The goal was to showcase the best bargains for cost-conscious deer hunters and to

Breathe easy. (Unsplash/Kristjan Kotar/) In recent years, the consumer oxygen market has expanded to include anyone. It’s no longer just for pilots or professional athletes—individual oxygen canisters now offer the same benefits in a portable package for anyone after a long hike. Here’s what to look for in a cylinder of supplemental O~2~. To use th

The key to a good walk-in hunt—this WMA actually had duck blinds—is going when the weather is right. (Joe Genzel/) Many of the best duck hunters I know cut their teeth on public land, particularly walk-ins. These are some of the toughest places to kill waterfowl consistently because access is easy if you’re willing to to put in the effort. But it c

The author's Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen. (Natalie Krebs /) By the time I registered the rooster that had flushed into the air directly above me, the prairie wind had sucked him up and away. I managed to pepper his slipstream before he rode the 30-mph gust over a hill of beans to safety. I could’ve blamed the wind (which I did, a little), but otherwi

Planting seed to attract and grow bigger deer was kick-started in the offices of Outdoor Life (Jonathan Bartlett/) The amazingly symmetrical 10-pointer was a true tank, the likes of which I thought unimaginable in a country full of spikes and forkhorns. Had a trail camera picked him up in Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, or Wisconsin, he would have been des

A late-1980s vintage bino harness from Alaska Guide Creations, pictured with one of its newest models. (Bill Buckley/) More than 40 years ago, when he was a young bear guide in Alaska, Jaret Owens needed a way to protect one of his most precious possessions against the unforgiving Last Frontier environment. So he stitched together a leather pouch t

Are you one of the Elk die hards still finding yourself thinking and dreaming of hunting that big bull?  Well, the rut may be over but there are still good opportunities to chase bulls you just have to change your tactics.  The late season offers the chance to extend your season and get away from the hunting pressure. Hunting late season bulls is a

Bowhunting elk is an ever-evolving game from the start of the season to the end. Many tactics work, but many only work for a certain part of the season or just a couple days. For example, bulls are easier to call in during certain times of the season or if they are in a certain mood. You can encounter a bull one day that will not have anything to d

Spot and stalk antelope bow hunting can be as tough as it gets! Pronghorn antelope have keen eyesight that works to their advantage. Eastmans’ Jordan Breshears heads to the public lands of Wyoming to chase speed goats with a bow in this web episode of Eastmans’ Hunting TV. The post Bow hunting antelope – Spot & stalk public land pronghorn! appeared

No one wants to be the guy in a gunfight with only a knife (or a flashlight or an extra thick writing pen). But there are situations where carrying a firearm isn’t an option. Thankfully, there are more personal defensive tools in this world than guns. When coupled with situational awareness and a defensive frame of mind, these tools can still give

Sure, you can learn about deer hunting by reading articles or watching videos online. But the important lessons? The stuff that’s really worth knowing? That can only truly be gained by spending a lifetime in the woods, watching, listening, and learning (Jonathan Bartlett/) “I’m turning around.” Shaking her head, Kali Parmley eases her Toyota 4Runne

Because it’s worth the wait. (Jonathan Bartlett/) The boom comes from the southeast, and it’s loud enough to startle me in my treestand. On opening day of deer season in northern Wisconsin, the woods come alive with gunfire: soft pops in the distance, sharp cracks from the neighbors' properties, and hurried four- or five-shot strings from someone h

The gear essential you need for a truck go bag. (Seyoung Yoon/) Keeping an emergency cache and bugout bag at home is always a good idea, but what if disaster strikes while you’re out and about? Predicated on addressing the survival hierarchy of Security, Medical, Shelter, Water, Fire, Food, Light, and Communication, this expert-vetted gear gives yo