Is there really such a thing as a “tough” game animal? After all, a bullet or arrow through the vitals will do the job on anything, from squirrels to elephants, right? That’s true. But equally true is that some critters, due to the size of their vitals, thickness of hide,...
Let me start with a caveat. I hate killing snakes — even the venomous species. I can’t count the times I’ve shared a western Kentucky fishing hole with a cottonmouth, or a woodlot of squirrels with a copperhead. As long as I see them first, it’s all good. Still, venomous...
If you want to watch a fight, mention jump-shooting to a group of die-hard snow goose hunters , and then grab a cold drink, sit back and listen to the fireworks. Depending on whom you ask, jump-shooting spring light geese is an efficient, ethical way to kill a bunch of...
A talking head on outdoor TV puffs his chest and declares, “Man, the full moon is the worst time to hunt!” Sounds pretty good, and you buy it. Your daddy told you never to overhunt a spot, and you never doubt Pops. Stands to reason that if another hunter tromps...
Unless they have excess vacation time, several trailers packed with decoys and an unlimited fuel budget, most spring snow goose hunters book with a guide to (hopefully) assure a quality experience. But laying down your cash is the easy part. Before that occurs, you should thoroughly investigate outfitter options and...
Google “.30-30 for deer hunting” and up pops a million links that you can click on for information. Click the first one and you’ll read something like: “The .30-30 rifle has arguably killed more whitetail deer than any other single cartridge … with the round’s popularity still quite high, it's...
If you’re in the market for a new bow, 2021 is looking to be a good year to buy. The heavy hitters of the compound bow world continue to innovate, with new materials and features to push the envelope on performance, handling, and value. Here’s a quick look at 11...
Many waterfowlers have been on a few spring snow goose hunts and know the basics: lots of scouting, decoys and calling. But hardcore guys who chase white birds for months instead of days typically acquire Ph.D.-level chops and a knowledge base built on thousands of experiences. Their advice can help...
In a perfect world, once deer season ends, we’d all go back to our hunting land, pull our treestands, carry them home, and store them in a locked shed where they’ll stay dry and safe until it’s time to hang them again next fall. If you only use two or...
It’s a good thing my living wages didn’t depend upon my early trapping efforts . I’d have been one pitiful fur trader. When I started trapping a few years ago I caught some raccoons and opossums early on, but it took the better part of two seasons before I caught...
Spring conservation-order light-goose seasons hold few surprises for modern hunters, as folks can easily anticipate when birds might arrive at traditional hunting hotspots. However, that can lead to crowded and competitive situations in many areas (think Arkansas, northwestern Missouri and South Dakota). This spring, consider avoiding the crowds and trying...
As spring light-goose seasons rev up across the flyways, anxious hunters want to know what to expect. And although answers are difficult to find this year, reports point to a somewhat down season with a few possible bright spots. Hunting success during the spring conservation-order season (for snow, blue and...
