HUNTING
Trying to write a brief introduction to hunting is like trying to explain life itself. Hunting isn't a hobby so much as a calling. It's not what we do; it's who we are. We walk, we sing, we love, we dance, we hunt. Certainly we hunt for food, but we also hunt to nurture our souls, to become one with the Natural world, to touch it in ways non-hunters cannot understand. It seems that most hunters are born with that instinct, but many don't discover it until late in life, perhaps from lack of opportunity, perhaps peer pressure, perhaps self-denial. Sitting Bull captured the reality of the hunter's passion when he reportedly said "When the buffalo are gone, we will hunt mice, for we are hunters and we want our freedom." Aldo Leupold, early 20th century conservationist, described this instinctive love of the hunt in A Sand County Almanac, when he wrote "There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot."I am one who cannot. Perhaps you are, too.In this section we will share adventures, but we'll primarily address the practical side of hunting and leave the personal, spiritual side where it belongs – inside you. Here you'll find advice, tips, tricks and tactics that should help you become a more effective hunter.
Big Game | Small Game | Upland Birds | Waterfowl | Predators | Varmints
The 6.5x57, Paul Mauser’s take on the 6.5mm caliber, preceded todays 6.5mm mania by more than 120 years, yet this “antiquated” cartridge outperforms many of today’s 6.5mm darlings and runs neck and neck with others.
The .28 Nosler might be one of the most useful cartridge inventions of the 21st century. This powerful .284 cartridge is heavy and perfect for long-range shooting. It also doubles as an ideal choice for countless hunting scenarios around the globe. Everything shy of dangerous game will inevitably fall to a properly placed bullet of appropriate construction. All that out of a standard length cartridge with steep shoulders and minimal body taper to increase powder capacity.
I think I have an incurable knife fetish. I’m not happy unless I have a knife in my pocket. I feel incomplete unless I have a sharp fillet knife in my tackle box when fishing. I always carry a folding knife on my belt and a fixed blade knife in my pack if I’m hunting. Keeping my knives sharp is a year-round job.
The little know 338 Federal is a short-action, surprisingly powerful, flat-shooting cartridge suitable for deer, elk, moose, caribou, bear hunting.
We were making our way deep into the Chugach Mountains in pursuit of the Alaskan Dall sheep. It was our fourth day of hiking, the opening day of hunting season, and my first official sheep hunt. It rained all night, but we woke to clear skies and clear minds.
11th Hour Success! Don’t give up. A late season turkey hunt could put a gobbler on your plate. Here’s how.
Choosing a hunting partner is a lot like choosing a marriage partner. Both could end in divorce. Or bliss. Yes, a hunting partnership can be as challenging as any marriage. Pick the wrong person and you will fight frustration, delays, setbacks — or abandonment when the going gets tough.
We were making our way deep into the Chugach Mountains in pursuit of the Alaskan Dall sheep. It was our fourth day of hiking, the opening day of hunting season, and my first official sheep hunt. It rained all night, but we woke to clear skies and clear minds.
“Almost there”, I reassure myself, catching my breath before continuing on to the appointed meeting spot. Having just completed the steepest part of the trek, I note that I’m making good time, despite the vertical challenge. I am eager, of course, to reach my husband, Chris, and see the buck he just shot. But the other part of my eagerness stems from a desire to prove my worth as a packer. After all, Chris could have called his football-player-built buddy to help haul out his deer; instead, he called me: his barely-five-foot-tall, eighty-nine-pound wife.
Covey goes to School. Ethan Pippitt of Standing Stone Kennels is training our 2.5-year-old English setter to hold points and retrieve birds. His progress in this video is impressive.
Women are taking up arms and heading outside for multiple reasons. Mental health, physical health, and spiritual health are big reasons. Family is another; women know that when their children sit in front of the TV or iPad it leads to obesity, ADD/ADHD, and so many other negative effects. Conscious eating has turned from fad to lifestyle
Public-land DIY archery elk hunting is taxing enough without knowing where to find elk. I find them by antler hunting in spring. You can too.
For me, elk scouting is a year-round activity, but spring is one of the most revealing times because it gives me a head-start on fall elk success.
Getting a novice, small framed, and/or recoil shy hunter properly outfitted with a good hunting rifle takes a bit of extra effort and care, but the rewards are worth the effort. Take the time to do it right. Then spend plenty of time practicing before actually going hunting.
We brought Sage home on a frigid February evening.
She was an undocumented border collie from a nearby Montana ranch, but destined to become my coyote hunting partner.
Deer season had just wrapped up. Fur hunters were out and about. Not only had the local coyotes felt the sting of several near misses from anxious deer hunters, but now they were hearing sounds of wailing wildlife every weekend. Even fur hunting pros were out calling my area.
Hunting mule deer in hell is no joke. Hell’s Canyon in western Idaho is the deepest canyon in North America. And it hides some big mule deer. Join us as we look for them.