Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

There are more than 600 species of oaks found growing around the world, and every one of them produces acorns. Acorns are different from other tree nuts because of their interesting two-part shell. The nuts have a smooth shell that is held inside a second cup-like shell called a “cupule.” This “shell and cap” structure is much different from other

Select the best tent you can afford because like most outdoor gear, you get what you pay for. (Kelty/) There are many ways to experience the backcountry, from hammock camping and tarp set-ups to simply sleeping under the stars. But for most folks, the standard shelter in wilderness travel is still the 1- or 2-person backpacking tent. A tent keeps t

For most elk hunters the end of the elk rut can be a very disappointing time to pursue bulls. With the rutting action winding down, the hunting can become unpredictable and downright frustrating at times. Fear not however, all is not lost; with the unpredictability comes some good opportunities at some of the biggest bulls in the area.  When most o

A friend of mine sent me this article recently and all I could say at the end of it was, “Dang!”  As you all know, poaching is a subject we are passionate about here at Eastmans’. A one word search on our blog for the word ‘poaching’ and a slew of results pop up that we’ve reported on over the years, and these don’t even include the ones that Mike

Hunting antelope bucks with a rifle in mid to late October is my personal preference. Many western states have hunting seasons that last well into that time frame. In fact, Montana’s antelope season sometimes runs well into November. A big advantage to hunting this late is that by the time October rolls around, most hunters have filled out or given

LED headlamps are bright, lightweight, and efficient. (Black Diamond/) Headlamps were once used almost exclusively by miners toiling away in subterranean caverns because they could keep their hands free. Eventually, mountaineers picked up on a headlamp’s usefulness and climbers started employing them while they climbed above the tree line. Now, jus

White-tailed deer, like many other hooved mammals, crave salt and other minerals. That’s why many hunters use mineral blocks, licks and other mineral-based attractants as part of their hunting plans, and why so many manufacturers make such products specifically for hunters. However, using mineral blocks and licks to attract deer to your area and ho

Finding a bull during a 7 to 14-day hunt isn’t always easy. You may only get one chance. Better have a cartridge and bullet that can take advantage of any reasonable shot angle. (Ron Spomer/) If you don’t live in moose country you might not believe this, but you can kill the world’s largest moose with your typical whitetail cartridge — even some of

You’ve invested a lot of time and money to make your crossbow accurate, so don’t let an accident set you back. (Plano/) Due to their unconventional shape, crossbows can be awkward to transport. A dedicated, form-fitting case is the best way to protect both the equipment and its tuning. Internal padding and a storage compartment for tools and access

A reliable pair of marine binoculars can help you avoid getting lost on the water. (Lindsay Lenard/Unsplash/) The marine environment is rough on equipment. When it comes to optics, a pair of binoculars that might work great for hunting could get trashed onboard a boat, especially in saltwater. But good optics are as important at sea as in the mount

Because smartphones come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, make sure a holder fits your phone before you buy. (Flow.month/) The smartphone has replaced so many devices in recent years that it’s not surprising it should add dash-mounted GPS units to the list. But in order to fully use all the navigation features of your device in a safe and hands-fr

Traditions worth chewing on. (John Burgoyne/) The best wild fish or game meal is usually a simple one: meat, fire, and maybe a little salt and pepper. Actually, the best wild-game meal isn’t really a meal at all. It’s a custom that you follow not because it tastes good (even though it does), but because it jolts you right back to the hunt—and all t

If you're going to hunt the same flock of birds all fall, you might want to take a scatter-free approach. (Federal Ammunition/) On a spring turkey hunting trip to Tennessee, the very year the first fall turkey hunt was to take place in my native Wisconsin, I asked my hosts for advice on how they hunted turkeys in autumn. They described the classic

A Winchester Model 94 Carbine in .30-30 Win. (Winchester/) Love it or hate it, over its soon-to-be 125-year lifetime, the lever-action .30-30 rifle has arguably killed more whitetail deer than any other single cartridge. And with the cartridge’s popularity still quite high, it’s doubtful it will be unseated in that category any time soon. Released

The Tongass National Forest is known as the 'Salmon Forest.' (Ian Allen/) The Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska is the largest temperate rainforest in the world and the largest national forest in the U.S. At almost 17 million acres, it's a wonderland for hunting and fishing. The U.S. Forest Service announced plans on Tuesday to open up 9.