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A pair of bills that address widely-ranging and disparate outdoors priorities passed Congress this week and are expected to receive a favorable reception at President Biden’s bill-signing desk. The omnibus bills, which cover everything from ensuring access to shooting ranges on federal lands, improving broadband connectivity in national parks, and relaxing restrictions on commercial filming …

Congress Passes Two Outdoor Bills That Include Better Shooting Range Access, Implications for Lead Tackle Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › When most duck hunters think about Italian semi-auto shotguns, they think Benelli or Beretta. Fair enough, those two gunmakers have produced superlative waterfowling shotguns for many years and they own the top end of the market. …

 Breda B3.5SM Review: The Italian Shotgun You Haven’t Heard of, But Should Know About Read More »

Dec. 7 was a gloomy, windy, 35-degree overcast day in northwest Illinois. But when Teddy Robbins departed the funeral home where he works, he headed right to the woods. “I had a place in a small 18-acre woods on a friend’s farm that I could hunt for a few hours before dark,” Robbins tells Outdoor …

Illinois Hunter Shoots 184-Inch Buck While Sitting in a Lawn Chair Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › At this point, the Ruger LCP is a self-defense classic. It has its detractors, but there are also a whole lot of people who trust their personal safety to this compact .380 ACP carry gun. And …

Save 15% on a Ruger LCP at Cabela’s Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › The Gerber StrongArm Camp Knife makes this an instant campground must-have. The full-tang 420HC high-bevel plaid-edge blade makes this a finely honed general-use knife. Take hold of the grippy diamond-texted, glass-filled handle to make easy work …

Pick Up a Gerber StrongArm Camp Knife for Under $70 Read More »

For the last few seasons, I’ve been keeping an eye out for a special bird. It could be a wild long-tailed rooster, or a big greenhead, or maybe a nice drake wood duck. Mostly, I just wanted to mount a cool bird that I shot and my dog retrieved. So when I knocked a blue …

How to Handle and Freeze Birds You Plan to Mount, According to a Taxidermist Read More »

Earl Bentz, the prolific boat builder and founder of Caymas Boats, his third boat company. Courtesy Tillman Studio Earl Bentz had set up an enviable retirement. He was living in a nice place in Stuart, Fla., with a new fishing boat on the dock and a golf course nearby. “I had planned to fish or …

“Fishing Is My Passion” Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Fly fishing waders are one of the most intimidating purchases an angler can make. They’re a critical safety element when fishing in lower temperatures and can make or break a day on the water. Even at …

The Best Fly Fishing Waders, Tested and Reviewed Read More »

As a supply-chain analyst, Ethan Bruce is accustomed to creating detailed spread sheets to better process piles of data. So it wasn’t a stretch to put one together to help pattern the Indiana buck he’d been chasing for two years. “I had so much information about the deer that it made sense for me to …

Indiana Bowhunter Used a Spreadsheet to Help Kill This 184-Inch Buck Read More »

Almost every deer on the farm is on its feet. Bucks and does of all ages are hammering food sources. They’re hungry after the rut, but there’s also a snowstorm incoming. Temps are dropping, and there’s a flurry of snowfall — and activity. Even though the entire herd appears to be on its feet, one buck …

9 Ways Old Bucks Behave Differently Than Younger Deer Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › The lineup of best motion duck decoys is much more interesting than it used to be. Old timers used jerk cords, spinning wing decoys (which everyone just called “Mojos”), and whatever homemade contraptions they could rig …

The Best Motion Duck Decoys, Field Tested and Reviewed  Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › The Savage M110 Trail Hunter Lite embodies what hunters have always valued in the enduring Model 110 series: accuracy, utility, and value. There have been many variations of the M110 through the decades but for the …

Savage M110 Trail Hunter Lite Review: An Accurate and Affordable Hunting Rifle Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Lancaster Archery Supply has a great deal on the USA-made TenPoint Turbo S1. It normally sells for $1,400, but you can get it for just under $1,000 on sale. Save $400 on the TenPoint Turbo S1 …

Get a TenPoint Crossbow Package for Under $1,000 Read More »

Mark Yoder of Wooster, Ohio was at work in early November when he went into a co-worker’s office and saw a nice 10-point hanging on a wall. “I looked at that deer and said, ‘I think I’ll take up deer hunting and get one bigger than that 10-pointer,’” Yoder, 33, tells Outdoor Life. “My co-worker …

Rookie Crossbow Hunter’s First Buck Is a 200-Class Nontypical Monster Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Getting $40 off this Cabela’s brand Deluxe Shooting Bench is a darn good deal while it lasts. The ability to be able to plop a sturdy, tricked out shooting bench in any field on anywhere on …

Save $40 On This Portable, Folding Cabela’s Deluxe Shooting Bench Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › If you have a hunter in need of a gift, or if you need something for yourself, this BOG DeathGrip tripod would be a welcome piece of gear for any hunter. And right now, you can …

Save $30 on a BOG DeathGrip Tripod at Cabela’s Read More »

It’s easy to forget that many of the people whom we consider legends were indeed just that: people. Iconic stories from the likes of Fred Bear have been told and retold, but much of the pith gets lost over time — and our heroes become more myth than human. This particular story is one I’d …

Fred Bear Took His World-Record Stone Sheep with the ‘Best Shot I’ll Ever Make’ Read More »

Jeff Sturgis has the unique experience of living through dozens of deer seasons all at once. As the founder of Whitetail Habitat Solutions, he works with clients around the country to improve their deer hunting and private land habitat.  But before ever stepping foot on a property, Sturgis does in-depth interviews with these hunters to …

Podcast: What We Get Wrong About Whitetails, with Jeff Sturgis Read More »

On Dec. 9 a black bear fell out of a tree in Lunenburg County and struck a 58-year-old man, who was hospitalized. He died from his injuries four days later, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources confirmed to Outdoor Life. The hunter was identified as Lester Clayton Harvey, Jr. of Phenix. A VDWR spokeswoman said …

‘He Was Just Getting His Dog.’ Virginia Houndsman Dies After a Black Bear Falls on Him in Freak Hunting Accident Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › There’s still time to take care of Dad this holiday season, and Bass Pro Shops still has awesome deals. Here’s a few ideas to help lighten your last-minute shopping burden.  Leatherman Rebar Multi-Tool Every dad can …

Deals on Gifts for Dads Read More »

Cross country skiing may be one of the most versatile winter sports, accessible to everyone from 90-year-olds with wood skis and three-pin bindings to Olympic gold medalists, first timers on fish scales through fresh snow in city parks to elite skiers flying up and down winding trails in the Colorado Rockies. And its popularity in …

What You Need (And Need To Know) To Start Cross Country Skiing Read More »

The rolling farmlands and cottonwood creeks of Kansas produce some of the biggest whitetail bucks in America. And Coffey County, located in east-central Kansas, is a well-known hotspot for oversize bucks. A half-hour before a 30-degree, bright dawn on Nov. 30, Kansas farmer Ben Spencer headed to a lock-on stand. After getting nearby trail camera …

Kansas Farmer Tags What Could Be One of the Top 5 Archery Bucks Ever Taken in the State Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Most runners feel some sense of mourning when winter fully sets in, and long days and easy temperatures are gone. Early evenings, snowy days, and frigid winds are generally no great recipe for an enjoyable run. …

The Best Winter Running Gear: Trail, Pavement, and Gravel Tested Read More »

The clock’s ticking — you’re running out of gift-buying days before the holidays. But don’t freak out. Bass Pro Shops still has plenty of deals on items that will bring real smiles when the wrapping paper is torn, not just polite ones. And if you can save a few bucks, all the better. Important Shipping …

There’s Still Top Deals on Great Gifts from Bass Pro Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Kwikfish, Lazy Ike, Flatfish, Mag Lip. All these lures are essentially the same in design and function. If you’re a salmon angler in the Pacific Northwest or a big-water walleye chaser, you’re probably familiar with them. …

Quick Strike Podcast: Why the Flatfish Is the Ultimate Winter Bait Read More »

One of the top fishing YouTubers and Bassmaster Elite angler Ben Milliken was arrested last week in Nacogdoches County, Texas, and charged with freshwater fishing tournament fraud over a 13-pound largemouth he caught in February.  Milliken, 35, of New Caney, Texas, turned himself in to law enforcement at 9:27 a.m. Thursday, according to an emailed …

Pro Angler and YouTuber Ben Milliken Says His Arrest Was a ‘Massive Misunderstanding’ Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › We found three great gifts for the hunter, angler, or a future outdoorsman on your shopping list. The good news is that all of them are discounted and under $100. The bad news is that tomorrow …

Three Great Gifts Under $100 Are on Sale at Cabela’s Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › You can get a solid discount of $300 on a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 FFP rifle scope from Cabela’s, for a final price of just $299. This scope would make a great gift for a predator …

Save $300 on a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 FFP Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Know someone who is excited for hardwater season? If you still need to get them a gift, here are two deals on awesome ice shelters. They also make great gifts to yourself. Save $100 on the …

These Ice Fishing Shelters Make Great Gifts for Anglers and They’re on Sale Read More »

This story, “Quest for the Desert Sheep: Ram Beyond the Rampart,” appeared in the December 1975 issue of Outdoor Life. The desert bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis nelsoni, is one of the most coveted game animals on earth. This isn’t because they inhabit particularly remote crevices of the globe or because they’re all that hard to …

Carmichel in Arizona: How to Hunt an Inaccessible Desert Bighorn Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Hi Joe. I want to get [INSERT NAME HERE] some fishing stuff for Christmas. Can you tell me what he needs or what he would like? Thanks!! I can’t even begin to guess how many times …

A Fishing Gift Guide for Shoppers Who Know Nothing About Fishing. Plus, 3 Gift Items You Should Never Buy Read More »

Deer hunters in the Pacific Northwest got a boost this month with the announcement that the new Blacktail Deer Foundation will leverage membership, chapters, and sponsorships to conserve forest habitat from California to Alaska. The new organization is a subsidiary of the Mule Deer Foundation, which will share its board and staff with the new …

The New Blacktail Deer Foundation Aims to Conserve These Underrated Deer Subspecies Read More »

The excitement that comes with a shot opportunity is something any seasoned hunter can relate to. Along with that, just about every hunter has experienced what I like to call hunter amnesia in one form or another. The dump of adrenaline that surges through your body when your target buck steps into a shooting lane, …

Hunter Amnesia: What It Is, and How You Can Avoid It Read More »

Whether you call them bark burners, tree rats, or limb chickens, squirrels are good for more than frustrating you during deer season. They make delicious table fare when properly skinned, cleaned, and cooked.  The flavor and texture of squirrel meat falls somewhere between rabbit and chicken. It has a super mild flavor that isn’t at …

Best Squirrel Recipes Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Right now you can save $120 on a Vortex Ranger 1300 rangefinder. That’s a sweet discount for a compact laser unit that can range targets from 9 to 1,300 yards.  Vortex See It The display on …

Get $120 off a Vortex Ranger 1300 from Cabela’s Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Right now, you can save $1,200 on a Humminbird HELIX 15 CHIRP GPS G4N Fish Finder/Chartplotter from Bass Pro Shops. That’s an impressive deal for this tricked-out deck.  Humminbird See It Intuitive soft-key controls operate the …

Save $1,200 on the Humminbird HELIX 15 CHIRP Fish Finder Read More »

Lying on a gravel bar in the middle of a tiny creek in remote Alaska, I brought a brown bear into focus through a telephoto camera lens. It was neck-deep in water, head resting on a fallen tree limb, searching for sockeye salmon. The bear scanned the stream, looking for an opportunity to grab a …

I Fought Off a Brown Bear with My Fishing Rod, and Other Close Calls While Living in Remote Alaska Read More »

It was cold, rainy, and windy in west-central Pennsylvania on Dec. 3. Ashley Matchett knew the conditions were poor, but she still wanted to get a hunt in with her husband, Chad Janeski. “Chad was leaving the next day to hunt in Illinois, and I wanted to spend some time hunting with him,” Matchett tells …

On Her First Successful Deer Hunt with Her Husband, Hunter Shoots a Super Wide Pennsylvania Buck Read More »

A monster 14-point buck killed in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, early this month could be the new state-record typical whitetail. Although the rack would need to be officially scored after a drying period to qualify, there is no doubt that Tyler Jordan’s buck is exceptional. Jordan, who hosts a hunting TV show and is the son …

Tyler Jordan Tags a 200-Class Louisiana Buck That Could Be the New State Record Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › If you spend significant time in the outdoors, then a personal locator beacon or satellite messenger should be in your pack. While these devices vary from single-use distress signals to full-blown phones that can be used …

The Best Personal Locator Beacons of 2024 Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › At the end of a tumultuous 2.5-year bidding and approval process, a collection of five iconic ammo brands were sold to the Prague-based Czechoslovak Group (CSG) in November. Under the umbrella of The Kinetic Group the …

Federal and Remington Ammunition Were Sold to a Czech Company. Here’s Why the CEO Says That’s a Good Thing for American Hunters and Shooters Read More »

The saga of CJ Alexander, the now-infamous Wilmington man who poached one of the biggest bucks in Ohio history and spun a vast web of lies to cover it up, has officially come to a close. Alexander was sentenced yesterday in Clinton County court, and he will serve 90 days in jail for his leading …

CJ Alexander to Serve Time, Pay $43K for Poaching Giant Ohio Buck and Trying to Cover It Up Read More »

Before bow season opened in the Sooner State, Carson Heskett was getting consistent trail camera photos of a massive buck in Central Oklahoma’s Logan County. Heskett had been watching the deer grow for three years, and he knew the buck was in its prime. He just had to wait for the season to open in …

An Oklahoma Bowhunter Heard Rumors That the 180-Class Buck He’d Been Hunting for Years Had Been Hit by a Car. They Weren’t True Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Fish finder technology is one of the best investments to upgrade your angling, and catch more fish. Right now you can save up to $100 on Garmin and Lowrance with Bass Pro Shops fish finder deals. …

Up to $100 off Garmin and Lowrance Fish Finders at BPS Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › If you’re a hunter, you probably own a pretty knife or two, but most of your blades are functional. They’re tools that get used a lot, and that means you have to keep them sharp. While …

Works Sharp Ken Onion Sharpener Cabela’s Deal: Save $40 Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Wingshooters across the country are in the thick of it right now. We wait all year for this, we put in lots of miles and effort to find birds and, after all that, we still miss. …

Podcast: How to Miss Fewer Birds Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › You’ve seen the person who’s an unorganized mess at the range. The one who has magazines strewn about on a bench and loose ammo in their pockets. Or perhaps you’re the person who makes multiple trips …

The Best Range Bags, Tested Read More »

In October 1995, bowhunter Albert J. Daniels shot a massive 200-inch Kansas buck in Franklin County. But there’s a very nontypical story behind this typical 12-point. Daniels’ buck wouldn’t make it into the record books for almost 25 years, and it was only just rediscovered with the help of his son. Daniels, who was far …

Son Finally Tracks Down His Dad’s Long-Lost Buck. It’s the Biggest Typical Whitetail Ever Killed in Kansas Read More »

The Boone and Crockett Club’s Records Committee last week agreed to classify javelina as the conservation group’s newest big-game trophy category. It’s the first new records category in nearly 25 years, and once specific measurement protocols are established, the club will accept entries from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Mexico. B&C last approved categories for non-typical Columbia …

Boone and Crockett Accepts Javelina as the Continent’s Newest Trophy Species, the First Addition in Nearly 25 Years Read More »

Last month Jordan Felumlee, 25, had seen a number of great bucks where he hunts. But there was one deer in particular that he focused on. “The rut was rocking, and I saw a giant buck I wanted two evenings in a row chasing does on a little bench of timberland above where I was …

Bowhunter Tries a Closer Setup, Draws on a Huge Buck While Surrounded by Does Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › I would never classify myself as a “gadget gal.” I prefer a minimalist approach to hunting and often head into the woods carrying little more than my gun, a pocket knife, and a dragging rope. My …

Ozonics HR600 Review: Field Testing a High-Tech Scent Eliminator Read More »

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed Tuesday adding the iconic monarch butterfly to its list of federally endangered species. Public comments will be accepted through mid-March on the proposal to classify both Eastern and Western populations of the monarch as threatened. USFWS noted that the continent’s Eastern population of the migratory insect has declined …

Feds Propose Listing the Monarch Butterfly Under the Endangered Species Act Read More »

Mishaps are a part of hunting. We’ve all experienced a few. Some of mine have been deadly serious, but most I can chuckle about now. What matters is that each misstep has taught me something. And though some of the lessons have been painfully frustrating, all have made me a better hunter. Here are some …

The Biggest Mishaps of My Deer-Hunting Career, by Jim Zumbo Read More »

Nov. 30 was the day before Austin Amacher’s 29th birthday, and he spent it hunting with his family in Pennsylvania. The group of four got started at daybreak on a tract of state game land in Elk County. “We’d had some success [on a deer drive] that morning, with my 17-year-nephew, TJ, getting a 10-point …

Pennsylvania Hunter Tags a 170-Class Public-Land Buck on a Family Deer Drive Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › It’s the rifle many of us learned to shoot with, and it’s still regarded as one of the best, if not the best semi-auto rimfire rifle ever made. Of course, it’s the Ruger 10/22, and right …

Save $50 on a Ruger 10/22 Carbine Combo with Scope and Hard Case Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › When it comes to semi-autos for bear protection, the Glock G20 has been the king of the hill for quite a spell. Many shooters, including me, gravitated to the G20 when searching for an alternative to …

Bear Gun Shootout Video: Sig P320 X-Ten Comp vs. Glock G20 Read More »

Beaten, bruised, and a bit smarter than it was on opening day, the old buck slowly moves from his bed. The sun just set, but he’s not anywhere close to a big field yet.  Keeping it in low gear, the deer alternates between taking a couple steps and scanning its surroundings. On pins and pine …

Tips for Patterning and Hunting a Late-Season Buck Read More »

Markaya Ashley traveled to Indiana during the height of the rut this November. On Nov. 22, she climbed into a tree stand she’d never hunted out of before, but it was surrounded by choice whitetail habitat. She’d hung the stand over the summer after getting permission from a friend to hunt on the farm. “I …

Bowhunter Tags the Biggest Buck of Her Life in Indiana While Hunting a New Spot Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › There’s one piece of gear I always double check is in my kit before I head into the backcountry: instant coffee. As an unapologetic caffeine addict, the morning doesn’t get going until I’m on my second …

The Best Instant Coffee for Backpacking: Buzzed & Reviewed Read More »

Being a fisherman is great any time of the year. During the holidays, however, it’s even better.   If you’re like me, the fact that you’re a fisherman is the go-to adjective that motivates how people shop for you. To help all of the folks who have anglers on their holiday gifts list, here’s a breakdown …

Holiday Gifts for Anglers Read More »

This story, “I’ll Never Hunt Ducks Again,” appeared in the March 1982 issue of Outdoor Life. One of the greatest ordeals of my life began on a bleak, heavily overcast day, with a strong north wind and temperatures never rising above 22°. Dr. George Dahnke and I, both of Memphis, had decided to hunt ducks …

It Should’ve Been the Best Mallard Hunt of Our Lives. Instead, We Almost Died Read More »

Southern Ohio’s Pike County is prime whitetail ground, with rolling hills and hardwoods, brushy draws and plenty of farmland. That’s where Dale Cooper, of Chillicothe, found himself on Dec. 2, the opening day of gun season. Sitting 15 feet off the ground in a ladder stand, he waited patiently for a buck that he’d only …

Ohio Rifle Hunter Makes His Second Shot Count, Tags a 22-Pointer on Opening Day Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Right now, you can save a cool $200 on these top-of-the-line Leupold BX-4 Range HD TBR/W Rangefinder Binoculars. They won best overall at our 2023 optics test. Read our best rangefinder binoculars review to learn more …

Save $200 on Leupold BX-4 Rangefinder Binoculars Read More »

College freshman Jase Tarter got out of class around midday on Sept. 23. With the weather forecast calling for a 20-degree drop in Southeast Kansas that evening, Tarter knew just where he was headed. “I knew it was a great time to get in a tree, so I got my bow gear and headed to …

College Student’s First Bow Buck Is a 17-Point Kansas Slammer Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › It’s a worst-case scenario for anyone in the outdoors: your partner was caught in a slide, and now it’s up to you to dig them out from under the snow using an avalanche shovel. Every second …

The Best Avalanche Shovels of 2024 Read More »

While Colorado ranchers seek government compensation for cattle killed by reintroduced wolves, Swiss shepherds have a more direct protest: They have dumped carcasses of sheep killed by wolves in front of regional government buildings to signal their frustration with depredating canines. A continent-wide spike in livestock predation blamed on wolves prompted the European Union this …

European Union Relaxes Protections for Livestock-Killing Wolves as Shepherds, Others Demand Action Read More »

The AGM Rattler series are one of our favorite thermal scopes for the money. The Rattler prices vary with their resolution, and the TS35-640‘s 1024×768 resolution is on the upper end. That means you’ll be able to detect and identify animals well beyond 100 yards. The identification portion of a thermal scope is a huge …

Thermal Scope Deal: AGM Global Vision Rattler TS35-640 Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › The Bowie knife is truly America’s knife. There are towns named after it, and it’s namesake, it’s Arkansas’ official state knife, it has appeared in iconic movies, and a variation of the classic design, the Ka-Bar, …

How the Bowie Became America’s Knife Read More »

A man in Fort Severn, Ontario, is recovering from injuries he received Tuesday morning, when he fought off a polar bear that was attacking his wife in their driveway. Authorities with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service released the basic details around the incident later that same day. Around 5 p.m., the press release states, the …

“Now I Know My Husband Would Die for Me”: Man Fights off Polar Bear that Attacked His Wife in Their Driveway Read More »

This story, “Ghosts by Night,” appeared in the December 1952 issue of Outdoor Life. It is still legal to hunt rabbits at night in Indiana during most of the season. It was the last week in December. The lakes in northern Indiana were freshly frozen, and big bluegills were schooled up and biting like blackflies …

How Not to Hunt Rabbits After Dark Read More »

I ate a lot of venison when I was a kid. Any recipe that could be made with beef, my mother made with deer meat — hamburgers, spaghetti sauce, pot roast, and more. However, she didn’t ever get too creative with venison backstraps. Although she realized they were a prized piece of meat, she mostly …

The Best Venison Backstrap Recipes Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › A sturdy ladder stand can be a deer season game-changer. These semi-permanent treestands provide a safe, stable, elevated vantage point. They are also far easier to access than hang-on or climbing stands, and as a bonus, …

The Best Ladder Stands on a Budget Read More »

Nick Smith knows Vermont turkeys. The Groton resident is the son of a taxidermist, and he’s been a devout turkey hunter all his life. Smith, a professional forester, also contracts regularly with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department to work on turkey habitat projects, and he’s on a first-name basis with the state’s upland game …

Vermont Hunter Ends 4-Year Chase for Rare Smoke-Phase Turkey Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › If you haven’t spent all of your holiday budget on Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, you might want to check out this sweet sale at Cabela’s on the Penn Spinfisher VI spinning reel for up …

Save 36% on a Penn Spinfisher VI from Cabela’s Read More »

On Nov. 10, 15-year-old Parker Laleman was ready to go deer hunting on his grandfather’s 900-acre farm in Southwest Minnesota. It was warm and sunny out with a mild wind, and he planned to spend the afternoon with his grandpa in a ground blind. There was just one problem.   “He fell asleep while watching …

Teen Tags ‘Unicorn’ Buck on His Second-Ever Solo Hunt Read More »

Come hang out with your best fishing friends and learn plenty while doing it. In 2025, there are eight seminar locations along the Gulf and Atlantic. Salt Water Sportsman Join George Poveromo and teams of top national and regional pros for a one-day learning experience like no other when the 2025 Salt Water Sportsman National …

Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series 2025 Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › If you’re struggling to stay warm in even the heaviest down jackets, you might need to add another layer to your arsenal: puffer pants. After spending hundreds of nights in the backcountry, from summer alpine to …

The Best Puffer Pants: Tested and Reviewed Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Hunting essentials like guns, ammo, optics, trail cameras, and more are on sale for Cyber Week at Cabela’s. We’ve tested some of the best discounted products and you can find our reviews below. This guide will …

It’s Cyber Week at Cabela’s: Save on Guns, Ammo, and More Read More »

Like many distinctive bucks that wander across property lines, several hunters have targeted a legendary whitetail in Southeast Kansas over the years. Local bowhunter Dallas Birk, who lives in Burlington, is one of them. He’s been after the giant buck for three seasons in a row. “I nicknamed him ‘Linebacker’ because he was so big …

Kansas Bowhunter Arrows 200-Class Buck That Was a Local Legend Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Black Friday and Cyber Monday are gone just like shorts and t-shirt weather. But, that doesn’t mean you missed out on a chance to save serious money on fishing gear. Here 12 amazing deals still available …

Last Minute Fishing Deals at Bass Pro Shops Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › The Daiwa Tatula is one of the best all-around baitcasting reels. I own several that I use for worm and my versatile rods. Now until December 4 you can save $60 on Tatula SV TW, which …

Save $60 on the Daiwa Tatula SV TW Baitcasting Reel Read More »

A new map that identifies every state-owned parcel in Montana confirms that nearly a third of the state’s school-trust lands are inaccessible to public recreationists. Montana’s Department of Natural Resources and Conservation announced its new Trust Lands Public Access Map and mapping tools this week. It confirms, and visually represents, data compiled and released in …

1.5 Million Acres of Montana State Trust Land Is Inaccessible, New Map Shows Read More »

I once asked my grandfather where all the fish go in winter. “They bury in the mud on the bottom until it gets warm again,” he told me. I realize now that he either didn’t really know the answer or he just gave me that one because he knew if I thought there was a …

Podcast: The Cold Truth About Winter Fishing In Skinny Saltwater Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › The JetBoil Flash has long been considered one of the most efficient backpacking stoves around. Unlike other, smaller options, which are vulnerable to wind, rain, and snow, the integrated design of the JetBoil Flash connects the …

Backpacking Stove Head to Head to Head: JetBoil Flash, MSR Windburner, and Primus Lite Plus Read More »

It was cloudy and mild on Nov. 23, the opening day of Wisconsin’s firearms season, with temperatures around 40 degrees. The wind was light, and Alexander Welk was settled in a treestand on 40 acres of private land in northeast Wisconsin. Welk had seen a couple deer earlier that morning as they walked along the …

After 200 Hours of Bowhunting, Wisconsin Hunter Finally Sees His Target Buck on Opening Day of Gun Season Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › When I’m squared up to a buck or a bull, most of my shots are behind a bipod or kinked up in an improvised shooting position, usually some variation of prone. The demands on my rifle …

First Look at the New Zeiss V8 NA 2.8-20×56 Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Now’s the time to score sweet deals on all those things you’ve been eyeing and adding and removing from your cart over and over, and this hunting rifle deal from Cabela’s is that kind of deal. …

Save $200 on this Cabela’s Exclusive Browning X-Bolt Speed Rifle Read More »

The area where Mitch Gaines hunts in central North Carolina is sparsely populated, but its deer population is large and the bucks are big. And for hunters who know how to find the right piece of hunting property, it isn’t necessary to own or lease hundreds of acres to tag good bucks in the Tar …

Hunter Tags Two Back-to-Back Bucks from the Ground in North Carolina Read More »

Firecrown has acquired Active Interest Media’s Marine Group, adding top boating titles and events like Sail, Power & Motoryacht, Yachts International, Passagemaker, Soundings, Anglers Journal, Trade Only, Boaters University and Trawlerfest to its portfolio. This acquisition strengthens Firecrown’s position as the leading media platform for affluent enthusiasts in the marine industry. Firecrown Firecrown, the largest …

Firecrown Acquires Active Interest Media’s Marine Group Read More »

Yellow jack have gained a reputation as an excellent tasting member of the jack family. Courtesy Reed Brand If you’ve ever dined at a sushi restaurant, you’ve likely encountered Hamachi, Kanpachi, or Hiramasa on the menu. What you may not realize is these are all members of the jack family. Jacks in the South Atlantic …

How To Catch and Clean a Yellow Jack Read More »

Learning (or remembering) how to field dress a deer can feel overwhelming, but if you have a sharp knife and a reasonably strong stomach, you’ll be able to figure it out. If you manage to do so without nicking the guts or yourself, that’s ideal. Removing the guts is the bare minimum required for dropping …

How to Field Dress a Deer, Step by Step Read More »

Most sport fish love eating squid and octopus, including this California spotted bay bass. Courtesy Nomad Squid and octopus are ­famous for changing color to match their surroundings. They adapted this camouflage because almost every sport fish loves to eat them.  Of course, squid and octopus are great natural baits, but imitating them requires lures …

Tech Innovations Produce Lifelike Squid and Octopus Lures Read More »

Alternatives such as biofuels are one of Yamaha’s paths toward sustainable boating. Courtesy Yamaha In late 2023, the International Council of Marine Industry Organizations released a report about what it will take to reduce carbon emissions in recreational boats worldwide. The findings were clear—“the research shows there is no universal, one-size-fits-all approach”—as was the suggestion …

Leading With Purpose Read More »

When they were first introduced to the national hunting community, these novel methods for bringing in bucks were considered unconventional at best, and harebrained schemes by most. Now deer hunters everywhere use these tried-and-true tactics. We take a look back to when these trusty standbys were still considered downright bizarre. 1. Rattling in Deer This …

3 Totally Normal Deer Hunting Tactics We Used to Think Were Bogus Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Michael Eugene Stock Sr. is memorialized by a granite headstone in a Midwestern cemetery and the name he passed down to his son, along with his love of deer hunting. Michael Ellis McKean shares that very …

An Old-School Western Mule Deer Hunt, in Memory of Two Midwestern Dads Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › This is a hot deal on one of the best pistol red dots out there, so don’t wait. Right now you can get a Vortex Defender-ST Red Dot from Bass Pro Shops for just $179. That’s …

Bass Pro Has Vortex Defender-ST Red Dots for Under $180 Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › If you’ve been waiting to upgrade your electronics to the latest from Garmin, now is your chance to grab an Echomap finder and LVS34 transducer as a package and save $1,150. If you’re a Bass Pro …

Black Friday Deal: Garmin ECHOMAP Ultra 2 with LiveScope Plus LVS34 Transducer Read More »

Redfish are among the most popular and widely available inshore fish in the United States. From Texas to Virginia, and most anywhere in between, you’ll find redfish and people who enjoy catching them. One of the most common and effective ways to target redfish is by using live shrimp. Many consider live shrimp to be …

How to Catch Redfish on Live Shrimp Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Last year Outdoor Life launched a line of knives and you can score a few of the models on sale this Black Friday. Save $40 on the PLX Lock Folder The crossbar lock (AXIS Lock) was …

Outdoor Life Knives on Sale for Black Friday Read More »

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › The CIVIVI Yonder was designed by Zac Whitmore (Zac in the Wild) and has exploded in popularity since its release. I’ve just started testing the Yonder and it is a fantastic, small EDC knife. And it …

One of the Hottest New Knives Is on Sale for Black Friday Read More »