John McAdams

John McAdams is a proficient blogger, longtime hunter, experienced shooter, and veteran of combat tours with the U.S. Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition to his work for MultiBriefs, John started The Big Game Hunting Blog and Big Game Hunting Adventures in order to help others fulfill their hunting dreams. Be sure to subscribe to his show: the Big Game Hunting Podcast.

Articles by John McAdams

• An oldie but goodie for hunting: Remington Core-Lokt ammo

  Wednesday, December 09, 2020

  Selecting the appropriate bullet for a particular hunt doesn’t necessarily have to be an expensive or time-consuming process. Indeed, sometimes the older and/or less glamorous choice is the best one. For instance, the Remington Core-Lokt uses a really old design that first hit the market all the way back in 1939. However, it has proven to be extremely effective when used in a variety of hunting situations over the years. Featuring a tapered copper jacket that’s mechanically “locked” to a solid lead core shaped like an hourglass, Core-Lokt bullets deliver rapid, yet somewhat controlled expansion and good weight retention.

• How Nosler’s Trophy Grade ammo will help you hunt game this season

  Tuesday, December 01, 2020

  As ethical hunters we owe it to our quarry to do everything in our power to quickly and cleanly kill the game we’re pursuing. For this reason, it’s important to select the appropriate bullet for the task at hand. Fortunately, the vast majority of hunters do not require extremely specialized ammunition unless they’re looking for optimum performance at extended range or hunting thick-skinned dangerous game. So, you have lots of options if you’re among the many hunters who do not fall into either of those categories. Nosler’s Trophy Grade line of ammo is one of the many good options that’s well suited for those hunters.

• A close look at Federal Premium’s Terminal Ascent ammo

  Friday, November 13, 2020

  The big ammunition companies are continually refining their ammo and bullet offerings in search of better overall performance at the range and afield. In particular, the rising popularity of long-range shooting has resulted in increasing demand for hunting ammunition capable of getting the job done at extended range on elk- and deer-sized game. This ammunition must be extremely accurate and must also still deliver the terminal performance necessary to ethically harvest game at longer range. At the same time, this ammunition must also not sacrifice performance at short range, either. Designing ammunition that checks all of those boxes can be a pretty tall order.

• What to know about the best ammo for hunting thick-skinned, dangerous game

  Thursday, October 29, 2020

  Bullet selection is always an important consideration when preparing for a hunt. However, choosing the appropriate bullet literally becomes a matter of life and death if you’ll be hunting dangerous game like cape buffalo. The good news is that most of the big ammunition companies now offer several different lines of ammunition that are specifically designed for hunting thick-skinned, dangerous game. In particular, Nosler manufactures its Safari Ammunition line specifically for those hunters.

• A record hunting season could be on the horizon in Texas, other states

  Thursday, October 15, 2020

  2020 has been an extremely unique year in many respects. Among the other significant occurrences that we’ve seen in this year, it’s quite possible that the state of Texas may set a hunter participation record as well. We’ll have to wait a few months to see exactly how things shake out, but data gathered so far this year indicates that 2020 has already seen a massive jump in hunter participation. For one thing, many states have reported gigantic increases in hunting license sales this spring for turkey season. Other states saw record numbers of applicants entering the lottery for drawn hunts and had leftover hunting licenses and tags snapped up in record time.

• A look at 2 alternative cartridge options for the AR-15

  Friday, October 02, 2020

  While the majority of rifles built on the AR-15 platform still use the ubiquitous .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO cartridges, hunters and shooters do have a couple of other options if they want to use a different cartridge in their AR. Today, we’ll discuss two in particular: the 6.5 Grendel and the 6.8 Remington Special Purpose Cartridge.

• What would you use if you were a one-rifle hunter?

  Thursday, September 17, 2020

  As the old saying goes, you should beware the man with only one gun because he knows how to use it. A person who shoots hundreds or thousands of rounds through a particular rifle and spends countless hours carrying that same rifle afield becomes intimately familiar with it. That sort of familiarity quite often means that the rifle almost becomes an extension of the hunter, which usually translates into good results afield.

• What to know about protecting yourself in the outdoors

  Wednesday, September 02, 2020

  While the vast majority of sportsmen will never need to protect themselves from a predator of any sort while afield, this is an area where it’s especially important to heed the Boy Scout motto and prepare for the worst. After all, while it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll ever need to use a weapon in self-defense, you’ll be really glad you were appropriately prepared if that time ever comes.

• 3 classic books for outdoorsmen

  Friday, August 21, 2020

  As Robert Ruark once wrote: "The old man used to say that the best part of hunting and fishing was the thinking about going and the talking about it after you got back." I certainly see where both Ruark and the old man were coming from on that point. It’s also tough to go wrong with a good book about hunting or fishing. Fortunately, some of America’s greatest literary icons have produced some outstanding works on the subject over the years. Here are a few of my favorites.

• Optimism beckons for 2020-21 deer hunting season in Texas

  Thursday, August 06, 2020

  It’s always nice to get a little bit of good news, and that’s especially true with everything that’s been going on lately. Though 2020 has been an eventful year to this point, hunting season is fast approaching in the Lone Star State and things are looking great for both whitetail and mule deer. Spring rains came just in time to provide plentiful food for wildlife, which should bode well for both fawn recruitment and antler growth.

• TPWD now accepting drawn hunt applications for 2020-21 season

  Monday, July 20, 2020

  It's that time of year again: the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is now accepting applications through the Texas Public Hunt system for the 2020-21 season. This year, the state is offering over 9,000 permits on nearly 100 different hunting areas in Texas to hunt a variety of different big game, exotic, small game, upland bird, and waterfowl species.

• 3 things to do before hunting with a muzzleloader

  Thursday, July 09, 2020

  Have you decided to hunt with a muzzleloader this fall/winter? There are number of advantages involved with going afield with muzzleloader, but there are also some unique challenges associated with doing so. Here are some important things to do prior to hunting season to ensure that you’re ready to go on opening day.

• A look at the most popular cartridges for deer hunting

  Wednesday, June 24, 2020

  Whitetail deer are by far the most popular species of big game pursued by North American hunters. When their blacktail and mule deer cousins are factored in, millions of American hunters go afield after deer each fall and winter. Archery hunters make up a significant chunk of that number, but the remainder hunt with an incredible array of different shotguns, handguns, centerfire rifles, and muzzleloaders. While those hunters carry a wide assortment of different firearms afield, most hunters tend to use one of a handful of different cartridges for hunting. Here are a few of the most popular.

• How to prepare for hunting season during the summer

  Tuesday, June 09, 2020

  While the current weather conditions make it feel like we’re about as far away from hunting season as we can get, fall is just around the corner. So, now is actually a great time to be preparing for the upcoming hunting season. This is especially true if you’ll be trying out a new rifle or scope this fall. Even if you haven’t made a big change to your equipment, though, it’s still important to spend some time at the range over the next few weeks to make sure you’re prepared to hit the woods when hunting season opens up.

• A brief history of modern .30 caliber rifle cartridges

  Monday, April 27, 2020

  At least among American hunters, .30 caliber reigns supreme for all-around big game hunting in terms of raw popularity. This is not meant as a slight to fans of the other popular rifle calibers out there. Indeed, there are a bunch of outstanding rifle cartridges for hunters, including 6mm, 6.5mm, .270 caliber, 7mm, and .338 caliber (among others). However, .30 caliber cartridges are still far and away the most commonly used for hunting virtually all species of big game around the world short of cape buffalo.

• What to know about Texas’ turkey hunting season

  Thursday, April 02, 2020

  Spring is a special time of year for many reasons that differ from person to person. However, this time of year is particularly important to many hunters for one reason: turkey season. Hunters in many parts of Texas are especially fortunate to have both fall and spring turkey seasons, but hunters who enjoy the incredible excitement of turkey calling especially relish being out in the woods during the peak of turkey breeding season in April and May.

• Comments are open for proposed hunting, fishing changes in Texas

  Tuesday, March 17, 2020

  The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) Commission is considering a number of changes to hunting and fishing regulations in 2020. However, prior to making any decisions, the Commission wants input from constituents in Texas. Among other things, TPWD is looking at implementing rules to administer an automated process for issuing pronghorn and antlerless mule deer permits, decreasing the daily bag limit for scaup and goose, and changing the hunting seasons for goose and snipe.

• A look at some of the best new handloaded bullets to use on your next hunt

  Wednesday, March 11, 2020

  In addition to all sorts of new firearms and loaded ammunition, hunters and shooters who handload also have some expanded options for bullets in 2020. In particular, Barnes, Hornady, and Nosler all recently announced expansions to several of their popular bullet lines. Today, I'm covering a few especially noteworthy new bullet choices that handloaders can use to develop some custom loads to take afield this year.

• 3 of the most interesting firearms to debut at the 2020 SHOT Show

  Thursday, February 20, 2020

  The major outdoor brands typically unveil their new ammunition lines and even new cartridges (like the 27 Nosler) at SHOT Show each year. Not surprisingly, they also like to feature their new firearms at the show as well. Fortunately, the gun industry did not disappoint this year and there’s certainly a lot for hunters and shooters to like about the new crop of rifles and handguns hitting shelves this year. Here are three especially interesting new firearms that made headlines at the 2020 SHOT Show.

• The most intriguing ammo lines from the 2020 SHOT Show

  Friday, February 07, 2020

  The 27 Nosler was far from the only new product unveiled at the 2020 SHOT Show. Indeed, just like in 2019, the major outdoor brands had several new ammunition lines to show off this year as well. Today, I’m covering three especially intriguing ammunition lines that made a big splash at the SHOT Show this year.

• 27 Nosler cartridge debuts at 2020 SHOT Show

  Tuesday, January 28, 2020

  While January and February are usually slow months for actually going hunting, this time of year can be pretty exciting for other reasons. Many big outdoor shows occur during this time of year. Not only are these shows great opportunities to find and evaluate prospective hunting outfitters, but most of the big outdoor companies also like to unveil their new products at these shows as well. Similar to how Winchester formally released its 350 Legend cartridge at the 2019 SHOT Show, Nosler just unveiled its brand-new 27 Nosler cartridge at the 2020 SHOT Show.

• What are your hunting goals for 2020?

  Friday, January 10, 2020

  Now that hunting season is (for the most part) in the rearview mirror, this is a good time to think about your hunting goals for the new year. Specifically, application season is rapidly approaching for most Western states. This is also the prime time of year for booking outfitted hunts in the United States and overseas. As far as hunts out west go, it’s important to understand that getting a good tag in many Western states isn’t as simple as going out and buying a hunting license at a sporting goods store. In contrast to most of the Eastern states, most states out west issue the majority of their deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, mountain goat, and sheep tags through some sort of a random draw.

• 3 great Christmas gifts for hunters

  Tuesday, December 10, 2019

  With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror and the turning of the calendar to December, people are now holiday shopping. Unfortunately, hunters can be really tough to shop for. This is especially true if the person doing the shopping isn't a hunter. Here are three gift ideas for the hunter on your gift list (or that you can offer as suggestions to loved ones shopping for you).

• Hunting with modern sporting rifles

  Thursday, November 21, 2019

  Modern sporting rifles are very likely among both the most commonly used and most misunderstood firearms in the United States. While some hunters and shooters simply prefer more traditional wood stocks and/or a bolt, pump, or lever-action design, semi-automatic rifles are gradually becoming more popular with many other gun owners. This includes an increasing number of hunters for several reasons. For one thing, many of the most popular modern sporting rifles have a modular design that’s easy to customize to the exact specifications of the user.

• The best ammo choices for deer season

  Monday, November 11, 2019

  It's November now, and that means we're right in the middle of one of my favorite times of year in most of the United States: whitetail deer season. Forget pumpkin spice lattes or Thanksgiving: when I think about fall, the general deer season in Texas is the first thing that comes to mind for me. I know I’m not alone in that regard, either. Since deer season is upon us, we should talk about the sort of ammo you’ll be taking afield deer hunting this year.

• Be mindful of these common violations as deer season begins

  Tuesday, October 29, 2019

  The turning of the calendar from October to November means that the start of the general deer season has arrived in most of Texas. However, especially when taken in combination with all the recent changes to hunting regulations, the start of deer hunting season on Nov. 2 also means that game wardens will probably be very busy for the next few weeks. Here are a few hunting violations hunters commonly get in trouble for. Keep these things in mind to ensure that you don’t inadvertently run afoul of the law while you’re out hunting.

• Lessons learned from pronghorn hunting

  Tuesday, October 15, 2019

  If you’ve never hunted pronghorn before, they’re a really fun animal to pursue. Those hunts certainly provide a very different experience from hunting whitetail deer out of a tree stand. Pronghorn have incredible eyesight and can cover ground faster than any other North American mammal. These reasons, along with the fact that they usually live in relatively open country, mean that finding pronghorn is usually much easier than getting close enough to take a shot at one.

• Texas’ fishing quirks on display with 2 recent news stories

  Tuesday, October 01, 2019

  Texas is a very large state with a unique and colorful heritage. The gigantic state also offers hunters and anglers some incredibly diverse hunting and fishing opportunities. Not surprisingly, there are some especially interesting hunting and fishing stories that emerge from various parts of the state from time to time. Today, we’ll talk about two particularly noteworthy stories involving fish and fishermen in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston metropolitan areas that recently made the news.

• What you should know about Texas’ newest gun laws

  Wednesday, September 18, 2019

  Sept. 1 was the effective date for most of the new pieces of legislation passed by the Texas Legislature in its most recent session. Among other changes, hunters no longer need to possess a valid hunting license to shoot feral hogs on private property with landowner permission. But there are also several new gun laws that just went into effect that you need to be aware of. These include House Bill 1143, which allows people with a valid License to Carry a Handgun (LTC) to store a firearm or ammunition in their vehicle on school grounds.

• Updates for the 2019-20 hunting season in Texas

  Tuesday, September 03, 2019

  Though it still feels like summer in most of Texas, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and hunting season is getting closer. Hunting and fishing licenses for the 2019-20 season went on sale on Aug. 15, and the new license year started on Sept. 1. Texas Parks and Wildlife also recently released its Outdoor Annual Hunting, Fishing, and Boating Regulations, which contain a number of interesting updates.

• Underrated gear to buy for your next hunt

  Tuesday, August 20, 2019

  When most people think about hunting gear, certain items probably immediately jump to mind: a rifle, bow, binoculars, ammo, arrows, knife, backpack, boots, etc. Those things are certainly important, but there are a couple of other items you should probably consider taking afield that don’t get quite as much attention. However, don’t discount their value. They can help you stack the odds of success in your favor as much as possible by enabling you to take better care of yourself and your equipment while you’re out hunting.

• Interesting notes from recent TPWD law enforcement reports

  Tuesday, August 06, 2019

  The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department publishes some of its more interesting events compiled from TPWD law enforcement reports each month or so. These reports are usually good for a laugh and sometimes even provide a good lesson or two. As I noted in a previous article, usually those lessons contain good advice on what not to do, though. Interestingly enough, neither of these episodes involve any social media mishaps or alcohol use, which makes them somewhat unique among noteworthy game warden encounters.

• TPWD’s drawn hunts offer a variety of opportunities for sportsmen

  Tuesday, July 23, 2019

  The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) recently began accepting applications through its Public Hunt drawing system for the 2019-20 season. Completely separate from the Big Time Texas Hunts that hunters may also apply for, the hunts offered through the Texas Public Hunt System are great opportunities for sportsmen and women to hunt big game, small game, waterfowl, and upland bird species at over 70 different hunt areas in Texas. Just like the types of game offered on these hunts, the locations the drawn hunts take place at are extremely varied.

• Applications for TPWD’s ‘Big Time’ hunts are now open

  Tuesday, July 09, 2019

  Hunters may now apply for the "Big Time Texas Hunts" that are sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). This year, the program is offering 10 hunting packages for various species within the Lone Star State. Available hunting packages this year include the Nilgai Antelope Safari, the Texas Grand Slam, the Ultimate Mule Deer Hunt, the Premium Buck Hunt, the Whitetail Bonanza, the Exotic Safari, the Waterfowl Adventure, the Big Time Bird Hunt, and the Wild Hog Adventure. Of these, the Texas Grand Slam is the crown jewel.

• Interior Department announces proposal for hunting, fishing expansion

  Tuesday, June 25, 2019

  Hunters and anglers received some good news earlier this month when Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced plans to further expand hunting and fishing opportunities on dozens of properties managed by the National Wildlife Refuge System all over the United States. You're right if you're thinking you've heard news like this before: then-Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke made a similar announcement expanding public access for hunting and fishing on National Wildlife Refuges a year ago. The plan announced by Secretary Bernhardt opens additional public lands to hunting and fishing on top of those opened last year.

• The final word on what the legislative session meant for outdoorsmen in Texas

  Tuesday, June 11, 2019

  The 86th Session of the Texas Legislature is in the books. As previously discussed, there were two pieces of legislation under consideration that were of particular concern to sportsmen and women. One pertained to hog hunting in the Lone Star State while the other involved a sales tax holiday on firearms, ammunition, and hunting supplies. First, we’ll start with the news on the hog hunting front. SB 317 was passed by the Texas Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott on May 31. The bill takes effect on Sept. 1 and amends state law to permit hunters to take feral hogs on private land without possessing a hunting license.

• What hunters in California need to know about the state’s lead ammo ban

  Friday, May 31, 2019

  If you plan on hunting in California at any point in the foreseeable future, you should be aware that a total ban on hunting ammunition containing lead is about to take effect within the state. Things have been trending that direction within the Golden State for many years now, and the state began a gradual phase-in of lead-free ammunition after Assembly Bill 711 (AB 711) was passed by the California State Legislature and subsequently signed into law by then-Gov. Jerry Brown in 2013. AB 711 requires a complete implementation of the lead ammo ban by July 1, 2019.

• Texas game wardens have curious stories to tell

  Monday, May 13, 2019

  While game wardens spend a bunch of time doing thankless work, every now and then they also have some interesting experiences that result in entertaining stories. Texas Parks and Wildlife publishes a few of the more noteworthy events from game warden notes each month, and I've summarized a couple humorous happenings from the notes released in the February 2019 edition. As you’ll see in a minute, both cases involve men that essentially broadcasted their activities for the world to see,

• Texas legislative update: Bill would create tax holiday for firearms, hunting supplies

  Tuesday, April 30, 2019

  Though this is not an extremely busy session of the Texas Legislature in terms of legislation directly related to outdoor activities, there are still some noteworthy events coming out of Austin. Specifically, there are now two pieces of legislation to keep an eye on: Senate Bill 317 and Senate Bill 457. SB 317 passed the Texas Senate with overwhelming support by a vote of 31-0 on April 11. This is a particularly interesting piece of legislation that would create a state sales tax holiday on firearms and hunting supplies for one weekend each year.

• US outdoorsmen to contribute more than $1 billion to conservation in 2019

  Tuesday, April 16, 2019

  Men and women who shoot, hunt, and fish will provide over $1 billion in conservation funding across the United States during fiscal year 2019 through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration and Federal Sport Fish Restoration Acts. Better known as the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts, respectively, those programs fund fish and wildlife conservation efforts through excise taxes placed on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing tackle, and boating equipment.

• New bill looks to alleviate Texas’ feral hog problem, but will anything change?

  Tuesday, April 02, 2019

  The Texas Legislature is back in session for the first time since 2017. Compared to the furor surrounding the use of poison to control the feral hog population in Texas during the last session of the legislature, things are relatively quiet regarding legislation directly related to outdoor activities this time around. However, two identical bills in the House and Senate might look interesting for residents concerned about the feral hog problem in Texas: House Bill 3550 and Senate Bill 317. Introduced by Rep. John Cyrier and Sen. Bryan Hughes, HB 3550 and SB 317 would remove the existing requirement to possess a hunting license to kill feral hogs on private land in Texas.

• 3 interesting hunting ammo lines from 2019 SHOT Show

  Tuesday, March 19, 2019

  The major outdoor brands traditionally unveil all sorts of new products at the SHOT Show each year. 2019 was no exception, and I’ve highlighted Winchester’s .350 Legend cartridge along with a couple of new firearms built specifically for hunters in previous articles. Today I'm covering three particularly interesting ammunition lines that were also introduced at the SHOT Show this year.

• Professor claims cure for CWD, but others aren’t sure

  Tuesday, March 05, 2019

  The United Sportsmen of Pennsylvania (USP) turned a lot of heads in the hunting community during a press conference at the state capitol in Harrisburg in February when they announced that a cure to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) may be close at hand. The group declared that Dr. Frank Bastian of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center has made a breakthrough in his research of the disease. USP is partnering with Bastian to help support his continued research. However, many people are understandably skeptical of Dr. Bastian's conclusions.

• 3 new guns that hit the target at 2019 SHOT Show

  Wednesday, February 20, 2019

  The brand-new .350 Legend cartridge from Winchester was far from the only cool new product released at the 2019 SHOT Show. Indeed, the list of merchandise unveiled is far too long to list here. However, below are three particularly interesting new guns introduced at the show that might be worth checking out this year. For example, while the Remington V3 is not a new shotgun, Remington made some tweaks to the basic design and released two new models for 2019: the V3 Turkey Pro and the V3 Waterfowl Pro.

• Winchester unveils .350 Legend at 2019 SHOT Show

  Wednesday, February 06, 2019

  The big outdoor companies quite often announce their new products at the major trade shows in January and February. While it was far from the only significant announcement at the 2019 SHOT Show, Winchester made a big splash when it rolled out the brand-new .350 Legend cartridge this year. Using a modified, straight-walled .223 Remington case that's 1.71 inches long, the .350 Legend pushes a 150 grain .357 caliber bullet at a velocity of 2,325 feet per second using a 20-inch barrel. That works out to about 1,800 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle.

• Want to hunt in the Western states next season? Apply for your tags soon

  Wednesday, January 23, 2019

  Even though deer season remains open in some parts of the country, it’s not too early to start planning for next hunting season. Specifically, application season is rapidly approaching for most of the Western states. So, if you'd like to hunt deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, mountain goat, or bighorn sheep next fall in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, or Wyoming, then pay close attention to the upcoming application deadlines to make sure you don't miss out on the chance to draw a tag.

• It’s not too late to hunt deer in Texas

  Wednesday, January 09, 2019

  The general whitetail deer season ended on Jan. 6 in over 200 counties in Texas, but interested hunters can still get outdoors and fill the freezer with venison during most of January and early February. Though they don’t get nearly as much publicity as the archery or general deer seasons, most counties in the state have some combination of a youth season, a special late season, or a muzzleloader deer season that provide a couple weeks of additional time afield for whitetail deer hunters.

• 4 invasive species you can hunt

  Tuesday, December 18, 2018

  People have been moving wildlife to new locations for various reasons over the course of virtually all of human history. Some species have adapted well to their new homes with very few problems. Others have been incredibly destructive and have caused irreparable damage to native flora and fauna. Regardless of how those species first got there or the sort of impacts they have had on ecosystems, there are lots of opportunities to hunt various non-native species all over the world. Here are a few of the most notable examples of invasive species that may be hunted.

• The origins of store-bought wild game

  Wednesday, December 05, 2018

  It’s December now and we’re right in the thick of hunting season. For that reason, a lot of people have venison and other wild game meat on their mind. However, the wild game meat you can buy in a store or eat in a restaurant probably doesn’t come from where you think it does. Commercial hunting of wildlife for meat, hides, and feathers greatly contributed to the massive decline of wildlife populations in the United States during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Laws like the Lacey Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, and a whole host of legislation at the state level effectively outlawed market hunting.

• 3 gifts for hunters this Christmas that won’t disappoint

  Tuesday, November 27, 2018

  With the holiday season now upon us, people are starting to think about buying Christmas presents for their friends and family. Hunters are notoriously difficult to shop for and it’s tough to find gifts that they’ll find useful but don’t already own. Don’t despair, though. Here are a few gift recommendations that should fit that bill nicely.

• New ammo gives hunters unprecedented options

  Wednesday, November 07, 2018

  It wasn’t that long ago when hunters really only had two ammo choices: Remington or Winchester. However, we’ve come a long way in a short period of time and we now have a staggering number of choices when it comes to factory hunting ammo. The sheer number of options can make it tough to make a decision on which load to carry afield. Fortunately, the good news is that the major ammunition companies have made tremendous advances in bullet technology in recent years.

• Another hunter gets in hot water over African safari photo

  Wednesday, October 24, 2018

  Well, it happened again: another mini-scandal has erupted due to some photos an American took during a hunt in Africa. However, this incident is noteworthy for two reasons. First, though anti-hunters are certainly getting involved as well, some of the most intense criticism of the man in question is coming from fellow hunters. Second, the hunt took place in Namibia where the government is urging hunters to refrain from posting photographs of dead animals on social media.

• The most common violations committed by Texan hunters

  Wednesday, October 10, 2018

  Aside from a few bad apples, most hunters are honest and law-abiding citizens. That being said, game wardens in Texas still cite countless hunters for various hunting violations each year. Some of these hunters slip up in the heat of the moment and unintentionally commit a game violation. Others are truly ignorant of the law. Regardless, it is up to us as hunters to know the law and act in a responsible and ethical manner while we’re afield. With that in mind, here are a few of the most common violations people get cited for each year that you should pay close attention to.

• Hunters for the Hungry helps feed those in need

  Tuesday, September 25, 2018

  While hunters go afield in pursuit of game for all sorts of different reasons each year, meat is always at or near the top of the list of reasons people give for hunting. That’s perfectly understandable. After all, appropriately prepared wild game meat is both healthy and delicious. At the same time, harvesting your own meat is incredibly satisfying, and sharing a meal of wild game meat is a great way to make new friends. What if I told you that you could also help the needy with the fruits of your harvest?

• How to find a new, affordable place to hunt in Texas

  Thursday, September 13, 2018

  I think we can all agree that finding a quality place to hunt at a reasonable price in Texas can be a pretty challenging endeavor. Since upwards of 97 percent of land in the state is privately owned, there aren’t many public land hunting opportunities in Texas. So, if you or someone you’re close to is not a landowner, then you probably only have two choices: either hunt out of state or shell out some serious cash for a hunting lease or a guided hunt on private land. What if I told you there was another option, though?

• Texas wildlife commission finally approves air guns for game hunting

  Tuesday, August 28, 2018

  After months of meticulous consideration and debate, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission recently issued a final decision regarding hunting with air guns and arrow guns (the new term for air bows) at its recent commission meeting in Austin on Aug. 22-23. Starting this fall, air guns and arrow guns that meet certain minimum requirements will be an approved method of take for hunters pursing small and big game in the state of Texas. The commission also approved some changes to the restrictions on archery and crossbow equipment.

• Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission nears a decision on air guns

  Wednesday, August 15, 2018

  After initially approving air guns and air bows as a legal method of take for big game during a meeting back in March, some members of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission apparently had second thoughts about their decision and delayed final rulemaking on the issue. Since then, the question of using air guns for hunting big game has been in limbo. However, the Commission again has the issue on its agenda for an upcoming meeting in Austin on Aug. 22-23, so we may finally be nearing a resolution on that subject.

• Should you refrain from posting your hunt on social media?

  Tuesday, August 07, 2018

  It’s the same story over and over again: a hunter posts a photo on social media of an animal that he or she harvested, someone with a large social following expresses condemnation of the hunt, and then a firestorm of disapproval ensues for the next few days. Then, the whole process repeats itself a few weeks later. Regardless of where the hunt took place, the end result is never good: the hunter is the object of harassment, and the hunting community in general gets a lot of negative publicity in the media. So, what can be done to break this cycle?

• TPWD now accepting drawn hunt applications for 2018-19 season

  Tuesday, July 17, 2018

  The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is now accepting applications to its drawn hunts program for the 2018-2019 season. All told, TPWD is offering more than 9,000 permits in nearly 50 different hunting categories and more than 100 different geographic hunting areas within the Lone Star State this year. In addition to native big-game species, hunters may also apply for permits to hunt exotic species like feral hogs, axis deer, sambar deer, gemsbok, and scimitar-horned oryx.

• Guadalupe County, Texas, institutes bounty to address feral hog problem

  Thursday, July 05, 2018

  Faced with a growing list of problems caused by feral hogs, commissioners in Guadalupe County recently voted to institute a hog bounty. When the program officially begins, the county northeast of San Antonio will pay a $5 fee for all hog tails turned in at designated check stations. Home to an estimated hog population north of 2,000, Guadalupe County commissioners were besieged with the same issues as government officials and wildlife biologists all over Texas in recent years.

• Is there a market solution to the feral hog problem?

  Tuesday, June 19, 2018

  Texans have been struggling with the feral hog problem in the state for years now, and it’s pretty clear that traditional hunting and trapping methods aren’t enough to contain their growth. What if, instead of using poison (regardless of whether it’s warfarin- or sodium nitrite-based) to control hog numbers, there was a market-based solution to the problem? That's what some researchers from Texas A&M University-Galveston are trying to do with invasive numbers of lionfish in the Gulf of Mexico.

• Texas to test mule deer antler restrictions starting this fall

  Wednesday, June 06, 2018

  The overall health of the mule deer population in the Texas Panhandle has been in decline for the past few years. In an attempt to reverse this trend, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has instituted antler restrictions for mule deer season in six Panhandle counties starting this fall. At the same time, TPWD also decided to open up a new mule deer season in Lynn County.

• Hunting, fishing opportunities to expand at National Wildlife Refuges

  Thursday, May 24, 2018

  ​In another bit of good news for hunters and anglers, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke just announced plans to expand hunting and fishing opportunities at dozens of National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) all over the United States. If all goes as planned, these changes would open or increase outdoor recreation opportunities on over 248,000 acres of land managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in time for the 2018-19 hunting season.

• Texas reconsiders air guns for big-game hunting

  Friday, May 11, 2018

  Though the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission originally approved air guns and air bows as a legal method of take for big game during its previous meeting in March, some members of the commission appear to be having second thoughts regarding that decision. For that reason, the commission plans on readdressing the issue at its next public meeting on May 24 in Lubbock. Current regulations only permit hunters to use air guns and air bows to harvest squirrels and nongame animals like feral hogs.

• Texas set to make public land acquisitions

  Thursday, April 26, 2018

  Public land open for hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation activities only makes up a tiny percentage of all land in Texas — especially when compared to other western states. However, a couple of property acquisitions set to move forward on opposite sides of the state will increase the amount of land available to use by the general public in the near future.

• Can air guns ethically take down deer?

  Thursday, April 12, 2018

  ​The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) Commission recently approved a rule change that classifies certain air rifles and air bows as a legal method of take for hunting multiple species of game starting during the fall of 2018. Will you be one of the deer hunters hitting the woods this November with an air rifle?

• Texas hunting changes: Air guns are in, longer deer season is out

  Friday, March 30, 2018

  ​The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) Commission approved a few changes to hunting and fishing regulations at the recent Commission Meeting on March 22 in Austin. As discussed in a previous article, the TPWD Commission was considering numerous changes to the hunting and fishing regulations ranging from lengthening the whitetail deer season in Texas' North Zone, to allowing air guns and air bows for hunting big game, to adjusting the dove season dates in the state.

• Spring floods bring hunting opportunities

  Thursday, March 22, 2018

  ​Has your favorite hunting area flooded due to spring rains? Depending on how high the flood waters got and what sort of equipment you have access to, a flood might just result in some great hunting opportunities.

• Texas hunters, anglers invited to comment on regulation changes

  Thursday, March 15, 2018

  The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) Commission is considering a number of significant changes to hunting and fishing regulations in 2018. However, the Commission wants input from stakeholders and constituents in Texas before making any final decisions regarding these possible regulation changes. TPWD has posted details regarding all of these issues on its website and is accepting public comment on them until 7:00 a.m. on March 22.

• The most influential big bore hunting cartridges

  Tuesday, March 06, 2018

  ​Few hunters will ever truly need a big bore cartridge, but when you need one, you really need one in the worst way possible. After all, sometimes bigger really is better. However, since most of the biggest rifle cartridges were primarily used in the specialized role of stopping a charging buffalo or elephant at short range, relatively few hunters have ever shot, much less owned a big bore rifle.

• Notable poaching cases this hunting season

  Wednesday, February 21, 2018

  ​While the vast majority of hunters obey the law, there are always a handful of people that do the wrong thing. Here are a few of the more notable cases of poachers getting busted that hit the news during the 2017-2018 hunting season.

• How can hunters help slow the spread of ​chronic wasting disease?

  Thursday, February 08, 2018

  ​Chronic wasting disease has been in the news a lot so far in 2018 for all the wrong reasons. Unfortunately, the deadly disease continues to spread in North America, and scientists still don't have any means of treating or curing it.

• Texas looking at new antler restrictions for mule deer

  Tuesday, January 23, 2018

  ​In an effort to improve the overall mule deer herd composition in the Texas Panhandle, Texas Parks and Wildlife officials are considering making changes to the mule deer hunting regulations. Specifically, TPWD is looking at implementing antler restrictions in order to reduce the harvest of younger mule deer bucks.

• Send-A-Vet helping wounded veterans

  Thursday, January 11, 2018

  There are a ton of groups out there that do great work for veterans, but there aren't many that organize hunts for wounded vets. That's the primary thing that makes the Send-A-Vet Foundation different: They attempt to harness the healing power of the outdoors by organizing outdoor adventures for wounded and disabled veterans.

• Texas eyes changes to deer hunting season

  Thursday, January 04, 2018

  ​Partly due to demand from the general hunting community, officials in Texas are looking at adjusting the dates for deer season in most of the state. If they go through with the changes, some hunters in the Lone Star State might get to enjoy a longer rifle deer season when the 2018-19 hunting season rolls around.

• How to keep your feet warm while hunting

  Thursday, December 14, 2017

  ​I love deer hunting in cold weather late in the season. While the hunting can be outstanding this time of year, low temperatures also really increase the odds of getting cold feet out in the stand.

• Set your taxidermist up for success with these trophy care tips

  Thursday, December 07, 2017

  Everything came together for you on the hunt of a lifetime, and you've got the buck of your dreams down on the ground in front of you. If you're planning on getting it mounted, your actions over the next couple of hours can help you get a beautiful mount that preserves the memory of a magnificent animal and a fun hunt. Here are a few trophy care tips to ensure that you take good care of your trophy and set your taxidermist up for success.

• Should Texas allow hunters to use air rifles?

  Tuesday, November 21, 2017

  ​When most people think of air rifles, they probably picture something along the lines of the BB guns many of us grew up shooting. However, several different companies have developed much more powerful big bore air rifles better suited to hunting big game in the past few years.

• 4 tips for great-tasting deer meat

  Tuesday, November 07, 2017

  Even though deer meat may have a reputation for tasting "gamy" in some circles, it doesn't have to be that way. Depending on their age, sex and diet, certain deer will taste better than others. More often than not, though, poor-tasting venison is a result of improper meat handling.

• Why ‘monster’ hogs keep appearing in the news

  Thursday, November 02, 2017

  While it's rare to shoot a wild hog heavier than 250-300 pounds, bigger hogs do occasionally turn up. And these encounters with massive feral hogs seem to be getting more and more common in the United States as their numbers continue to grow. For instance, several hogs with confirmed weights of more than 400 pounds have made news headlines during the last few months.

• Hog-Gone it! There’s a new pig poison in Texas

  Thursday, October 12, 2017

  ​Even though efforts to authorize use of the controversial warfarin-based hog poison commercially known as Kaput met with stiff resistance and ultimately failed, that has not stopped scientists from looking for other tools to use for hog control in Texas. For instance, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is currently experimenting with a sodium nitrite hog poison known as Hog-Gone.

• How does Trump stack up on hunting issues?

  Wednesday, September 27, 2017

  ​Shortly after President Donald Trump was elected in November 2016, we published an article trying to predict how his election would impact hunters in the United States. Well, with the start of hunting season upon us, it's worth reviewing how sportsmen and women have fared politically during the first eight months of the Trump administration.

• Outdoors community steps up to help in Harvey aftermath

  Thursday, August 31, 2017

  ​Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who suffered a loss of any kind due to Hurricane Harvey. However, the dedication, generosity and bravery of everyone helping their neighbors in their time of need are some of the few bright spots during Texas' darkest hours.

• 3 of the best ammo options for hog hunting

  Wednesday, August 09, 2017

  ​In my last article, I discussed why I don't think it's necessary to use specialized hog hunting ammunition when pursuing wild boar. Here are a few alternative ammunition choices to use instead next time you're out in the woods after hogs.

• Is hog hunting ammo merely a gimmick?

  Wednesday, July 19, 2017

  ​Over the past few years, gun and ammunition manufacturers have attempted to capitalize on the growing hog problem in the United States by selling products designed and marketed specifically for hunting hogs. Now, there's nothing wrong with that. After all, that's how capitalism works. However, the question remains: Is it necessary to use special hog hunting ammunition when you're afield after feral swine? Or are these types of ammo just a marketing gimmick?

• Taking a step back from the Texas hog poison debate

  Thursday, June 22, 2017

  Now that the dust has started to settle from the monthslong fight over Kaput, it’s worth taking a step back and examining where we stand with the feral hog problem in the Lone Star State. After all, the hog population did not go away or even slow in its growth while we debated the pros and cons of using poison as a hog-control mechanism. In many respects, we’re pretty close to where we started when Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller approved the warfarin-based poison commercially known as Kaput back in late February.

• Hog poison fight in Texas ends — for now

  Wednesday, June 07, 2017

  Ever since Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller approved Kaput for use on hogs back in February, supporters and opponents of the poison have fought a fierce battle in the forum of public opinion, in the courts and in the legislature. Despite the best efforts of those opposed to the use of the warfarin-based hog poison, efforts to ban it in this session of the Texas legislature proved fruitless.

• Hog poison bill may go belly up in Texas Senate

  Wednesday, May 17, 2017

  ​​H.B. 3451 passed by a wide margin in the Texas House of Representatives a month ago, but we still don't have a definitive end to the controversy in Texas raging over the hog poison known as Kaput. If anything, the situation may be even more inflamed now than it was back in April.

• Is Texas hog poison drama finally kaput?

  Thursday, April 27, 2017

  After a couple of stunning legal and legislative reversals threatened plans to permit poisoning hogs in Texas, Scimetrics — the company that manufactures the warfarin-based hog poison known commercially as Kaput — just announced that it has withdrawn its registration with the Texas Agriculture Department to sell Kaput in the state.

• Texas House votes to halt feral hog poison

  Tuesday, April 18, 2017

  As predicted in a previous article, the battle has intensified over the use of Kaput, a warfarin-based hog poison recently approved by Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. Both sides have brought out the heavy artillery and scored a couple of notable successes in recent weeks, but opponents of the hog poison look like they're getting the most traction in their efforts, particularly with a big win in the Texas Legislature this week.

• Opponents of feral hog poison moving rapidly

  Wednesday, March 29, 2017

  Though there haven't been any major new headlines in the news lately about the controversial hog poison approved by Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller back in February, that doesn't mean the issue has gone away. On the contrary, this may very well be the calm before another storm breaks regarding the hog poison in Texas.

• District judge pulls pork poison plan in Texas

  Tuesday, March 14, 2017

  Feral hogs in the state of Texas just got a reprieve from the new and controversial hog poison recently approved by Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller in the form of a temporary injunction issued by a Travis County District Judge. Will this be the end of the road for the warfarin-based hog poison known as Kaput? Or will another shoe drop in the near future?

• Has Texas gone hog-wild in its plan to use poison?

  Wednesday, March 01, 2017

  ​In a highly controversial decision, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller just approved the use of a new poison developed specifically for use on hogs. Will this be a decisive step on the road to victory in the war on hogs? Or will it lead to a bunch of unintended consequences down the road that are even worse than the damage hogs are causing to the state of Texas?

• Lawmakers working to silence regulations on suppressors

  Thursday, February 16, 2017

  ​As predicted in November, the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, combined with the fact that Republicans continue to control both houses of Congress, means that we're likely to see some pro-Second Amendment legislation passed at the federal level. So far, lawmakers have put their money where their mouths are.

• Army aims for biodegradable ammunition

  Friday, February 03, 2017

  Will U.S. Army soldiers soon start using biodegradable training ammunition? According to a new solicitation the Department of Defense made with the Small Business Innovation Research Program, that is a goal the organization is hoping to achieve in the near future.

• Will a national concealed carry reciprocity law get passed in 2017?

  Wednesday, January 18, 2017

  Will 2017 be the year a national concealed carry reciprocity law gets passed? With Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress and Donald Trump in the White House, it's quite possible that promises by gun rights groups to "go on the offensive" may bear fruit in the near future.

• 4 New Year’s resolutions for hunting

  Wednesday, January 04, 2017

  ​With 2016 now in the rearview mirror, this is a good time to look back on our hunting experiences for the year and see how we could have done things better. The fact of the matter is that, no matter how well we might have done afield last year, there are always things we can improve upon. Here are my hunting New Year's resolutions.

• 5 most dangerous animals in Texas

  Wednesday, December 07, 2016

  ​Though Texas does not have extremely large and deadly predators like you'll find in Alaska or Africa, there are all sorts of dangerous critters that you might run across in the Lone Star State. Most of the time, they will leave you alone if you don't mess with them, but hundreds of people still run afoul of these animals each year, so it really pays to be careful. These are the five most dangerous animals you're likely to encounter in Texas.

• What policies does Trump have in store for hunters?

  Monday, November 21, 2016

  Well, the 2016 elections are behind us, and Donald Trump is now our new president-elect. Regardless of what you may think of the man, we can all agree his election will have many far-reaching impacts on the United States. So, what does his victory mean for sportsmen and women? This article is a tentative attempt at answering that question.

• 5 tips for introducing children to hunting

  Tuesday, November 08, 2016

  ​​As discussed in my previous article, hunters are a small minority in the United States. We also have a demographic problem. According to the 2010 Census, approximately 39.5 percent of the overall U.S. population is over the age of 45. At the same time, more than 55 percent of the hunters in the U.S. are over the age of 45.

• The future of hunting is in our hands

  Friday, October 21, 2016

  As hunters and conservationists, we have a responsibility to protect and preserve the hunting opportunities available to us for future generations to enjoy. While protecting habitat and game populations are important, there is more to protecting our hunting opportunities than just those things. Considering the nature of the hunting scandals that have erupted over the past few years, it is absolutely essential that we ensure hunting remains a legal and socially acceptable pursuit.

• 4 best guns for hunting hogs

  Friday, September 30, 2016

  ​In light of the large (and growing) hog problem in the United States, there are plenty of hog hunting opportunities all over the country. Though they are indeed tough animals, they are by no means bulletproof and an appropriately armed hunter should have no trouble bringing down even the largest hog.

• Solving the hog problem in America: Part II

  Thursday, September 15, 2016

  As I read through responses to my previous article (Solving the hog problem in America), one of the most common themes I saw over and over again was that there is a big disconnect between those who understand the severity of the situation and those who don't. Specifically, many people are lamenting the fact that they are perfectly willing to help landowners deal with an ongoing hog problem, but they do not want to pay for the privilege of doing so.

• Solving the hog problem in America

  Tuesday, August 30, 2016

  Feral hogs are a significant (and growing) problem for land owners all over the United States. It's tough to determine a precise number, but it's estimated that there are at least 5 million feral hogs present in 39 states. Each year they cause tens of millions of dollars of agricultural damage and have a significant negative impact on the populations of other animals, like white-tailed deer and ground-nesting birds.

• The 9.3x62mm Mauser vs. the .375 Ruger

  Tuesday, August 02, 2016

  ​The ​9.3x62mm Mauser and the ​.375 Ruger are perhaps the two most popular standard-length cartridges suitable for hunting thick-skinned dangerous game all over the world today. While the two cartridges are similar in some ways, there are some notable differences between them that we'll discuss in this article. Continue reading to learn all about how these two cartridges measure up to each other.

• The mighty (and unsung) .50-110 Winchester

  Thursday, July 14, 2016

  Today let's discuss a relatively unsung, yet still capable cartridge that just arrived too late to achieve fame in taming the American West: the .50-110 Winchester. Similar to its little brother, the .45-70, the .50-110 began life as a black-powder cartridge and fires big bullets at a slow to moderate velocity. Though the .50-110 may have fallen out of favor in comparison to newer, high-velocity cartridges, it still delivers bone-crushing power and was one of the most powerful cartridges in North America when first introduced.

• Testing which .22 Magnum ammo works best

  Tuesday, June 28, 2016

  I recently got a new Henry Small Game Rifle chambered in .22 Magnum that I plan on using while small game hunting this fall. Since this is the first firearm chambered for that cartridge that I've ever owned, I decided to do a little experimentation to find out which ammo works best in it.

• How to transport a firearm on an airline

  Wednesday, June 15, 2016

  While the hassle involved with airline travel — particularly the security screening process — seems to be getting worse and worse each day, transporting a firearm on an airline actually isn't as complicated as you would think. This is great news if you want to take a firearm on an airline with you for a hunting trip, shooting competition or just for self-defense. However, there is a right and a wrong way to do it.

• Canned shooting is not hunting

  Wednesday, June 01, 2016

  ​Canned shooting is a controversial and commonly misunderstood topic that is often confused with tro​phy hunting. While they may seem similar to the uninformed, they are actually two completely different activities without much in common.

• Can the .375 Ruger supplant the .375 H&H?

  Wednesday, May 18, 2016

  ​The venerable .375 H&H Magnum has been the most popular dangerous game cartridge in the world for more than 100 years. During its long reign, there have been many cartridges developed and marketed as competitors to the legendary .375 that just didn't quite measure up and eventually fell by the wayside.

• Giving public land back to the states is a really bad idea

  Friday, April 01, 2016

  There is a battle currently raging over what the future will hold for our public lands. At this moment, one campaign is arguing that the vast majority of all federally managed public land should be transferred to the states. At first glance, it seems like the states should be able to do a better job of managing public land than the federal government. However, things aren't quite so simple, and transferring federally managed public lands to the states could result in the general public losing access to these lands. In this article, I will discuss why I think this is a bad idea.

• Tips for hunting on public land

  Friday, March 11, 2016

  ​I've done quite a bit of hunting on public land all over the United States over the years. While I've had a few bad experiences, by and large I've been pretty successful on public land hunts. That being said, even during the best times, hunting on public land is different from hunting on private property, and you must adapt your hunting strategies to the appropriate situation. Below, I'll share some of the things I've learned along the way.

• Slug or buckshot? Weighing the pros and cons of shotgun load

  Monday, February 29, 2016

  For those who hunt big game with a shotgun, it is important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of using a slug or a load of buckshot. This debate has been raging for many years, and I probably won't settle it for during the course of this article.

• 5 ways you can prepare for next deer season

  Thursday, February 11, 2016

  ​While deer season is over for most of the United States, it's never too early to start preparing for next deer season. Regardless of how successful you were (or weren't) this year, work put in now can really pay off once next deer season rolls around.

• How to film your hunt

  Monday, February 01, 2016

  With the proliferation of inexpensive and easy-to-use video equipment, it is becoming more and more common to see hunters film their own hunts. The days are gone where only the extremely wealthy or people with their own hunting shows could film their hunts. I wouldn't say that taking video of your hunt is easy, but it is probably not nearly as difficult or expensive as you would think.

• Listen up: The Hearing Protection Act just makes sense

  Thursday, January 14, 2016

  Introduced by Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.) in October, H.R. 3799 — better known as the Hearing Protection Act of 2015 — is a bill that could completely revolutionize life for hunters and shooters in the United States. Read on to learn all about the proposed law and why you should urge your elected representatives to support it.

• 5 great military surplus rifles for hunting

  Thursday, December 10, 2015

  Military surplus rifles have been popular among hunters for many years, especially in the United States. Generally speaking, they are rugged, reasonably priced and relatively easy to obtain. They are also usually chambered in high-powered cartridges suitable for hunting most species of big game.

• A friend’s first deer

  Monday, November 30, 2015

  ​Movement caught my eye from across the clearing. I whispered to David, "Go ahead and get ready." As he quietly readied his rifle, a group of five does exited the woods and made a beeline for the feeder, with its bounty of corn on the ground beneath it. They moved with little caution and seemed unconcerned with anything other than eating. We could hear crunching through the cool, crisp morning air as the does rapidly consumed the corn. Satisfied that they were completely focused on eating, I again whispered, "Take the shot when one gets clear."

• Despite the rain, Texas deer season opens with a bang

  Tuesday, November 17, 2015

  ​I just got back from a trip to Texas to visit my family. Fortunately, I was able to catch the opening weekend of the 2015 Texas deer season and enjoy a hunting trip with my father. Though the weather was terrible, we did not come home empty-handed.

• Deer hunting in eastern Washington

  Thursday, October 22, 2015

  I've been waiting for deer season all year long, and last week I was ecstatic to finally be able to go on my long-awaited deer hunt in eastern Washington. I bagged my first blacktail deer in western Washington last year, and I was excited to take a mule deer or a whitetail on the other side of the state this year.

• Choosing the right muzzleloader bullet

  Monday, October 05, 2015

  When preparing to hunt with a muzzleloader, it is extremely important to choose the right bullet for the job. A good bullet must shoot accurately out of your muzzleloader and offer acceptable terminal performance. While there are a number of high-quality muzzleloader bullets currently on the market, they are not all created equal and some bullets are better choices than others. Here is how to choose the right muzzleloader bullet for hunting.

• 4 pieces of essential deer-hunting gear that won’t break the bank

  Monday, September 21, 2015

  ​Having good equipment can sometimes make the difference between success and failure on a hunt. While it's really easy to spend a bunch of money on gear these days, it's not necessary to break the bank to have a successful deer season.

• 6 guns every hunter needs to own

  Tuesday, September 08, 2015

  At their most basic level, guns are tools for hunters. Like tools in a tool box, some guns are better at various hunting tasks than others. Depending on the animals you plan on pursuing and the location where you hunt, it is often necessary to own several different guns to ethically and legally hunt the animals you are after.

• How to make the most of a guided hunt

  Wednesday, August 26, 2015

  Hunting with an outfitter or guide can be a great way to have the hunt of a lifetime. However, paying a guide or an outfitter does not guarantee success on a hunt. There are a few things you as the client should do that will both make your guide's life easier and increase your odds of success.

• How to avoid the next Cecil the Lion scandal

  Monday, August 10, 2015

  ​The unfortunate story of Walter Palmer and Cecil the Lion has been all over the news during the last couple of weeks. While the exact details of the hunt are still somewhat murky, it certainly appears that Palmer and his guides made several avoidable mistakes that could have prevented this fiasco from happening.

• How to gain access to hunt private land

  Thursday, July 30, 2015

  One of the biggest obstacles to most hunters these days is finding a good place to hunt. Some people have access to family-owned land, a hunting lease or even some high-quality public hunting land. However, getting access to hunt private land is another good option that can lead to some great hunting opportunities. Read on to learn how to gain access to hunt private land.

• Clearing up the confusion around rifle caliber

  Thursday, July 16, 2015

  Caliber is the approximate diameter of the inside of the barrel on a firearm or the diameter of a bullet, and is usually expressed in inches or millimeters. In addition to using different units of measurement, different countries sometimes use different methods of measuring caliber. Because of these factors, deciphering the actual diameter of a bullet or the bore size of a firearm can be bewildering. However, I'm attempting to clear up some of the confusion in this article.

• .577-450 Martini-Henry: The right arm of the British Empire

  Tuesday, June 23, 2015

  Adopted by the British Army in 1871, the .577-450 Martini-Henry was a modification of the .577 Snider Cartridge that was reduced down to .45 caliber. Specifically designed to be used in the new Martini-Henry rifle, the .577-450 Martini-Henry cartridge was used by soldiers and hunters in the British Empire for many decades. Though the cartridge is now obsolete and has since fallen out of use, the .577-450 can still be an effective hunting cartridge under certain circumstances.

• 5 simple tools to find a place to hunt

  Tuesday, June 09, 2015

  ​Finding a place to hunt can be really tough these days, especially if you aren't fortunate enough to own or lease some high-quality hunting land. However, public land is another good option that doesn't cost much to hunt on.

• Increasing your odds of success during deer season

  Wednesday, May 27, 2015

  ​In the United States, the majority of big-game hunters use centerfire rifles during the general deer hunting season. While there are many advantages to hunting with a centerfire rifle, the general deer-hunting seasons are often the shortest and most crowded. Luckily, there is a way around these hurdles: hunting during the archery or muzzleloader seasons.

• A successful bear hunt in Washington

  Thursday, May 14, 2015

  I just got back from an awesome spring bear hunt on the Quinault Indian Reservation of western Washington. Though this was not my first bear hunt, I hoped that it would be my first successful bear hunt in the state of Washington. Fortunately, everything came together and I had a successful hunt.

• Pros and cons of using the Taylor Knock-Out Factor

  Tuesday, April 28, 2015

  Developed by the legendary ivory hunter/poacher John "Pondoro" Taylor in the mid-1900s, the Taylor Knock-Out (or KO) Factor is one of many methods used for comparing the relative stopping power of big-game hunting cartridges.

• The 7 best cartridges for hunting deer

  Tuesday, April 14, 2015

  ​Deer are the most sought-after big game animal in North America, and many hunters take the sport seriously. Discussions about the best deer-hunting cartridges have been occurring around campfires all over the world for decades.

• The .32 Remington: An obsolete cartridge from a bygone era

  Tuesday, March 31, 2015

  Introduced by Remington in 1906, the .32 Remington was marketed as an alternative to the .32 Winchester Special. Hunters seeking a good bullet for hunting deer and bear that could be found in an auto-loading rifle were presented with a nice choice in the .32 Remington.

• How to choose a gun for small-game hunting

  Tuesday, March 17, 2015

  Most hunters have their first hunting experiences pursuing small game such as rabbits, squirrels or grouse. In addition to being lots of fun, it is also a great way to introduce new hunters to the sport and teach them some of the basic tenants of hunting.

• What exactly is trophy hunting?

  Tuesday, March 03, 2015

  Trophy hunting is a misunderstood topic these days, even among hunters. The many misconceptions and myths that surround trophy hunting have helped turn it into a controversial subject. Some of these misconceptions are probably the result of anti-hunters deliberately looking to misconstrue the true benefits of trophy hunting and use it to divide the hunting community in general.

• How to zero backup iron sights on an AR-15

  Tuesday, February 17, 2015

  ​Though many shooters these days use some sort of optic on their AR-15 as their primary sight, having a good set of backup iron sights is still a really good idea. However, though they are similar in many ways, the backup iron sights on an AR-15 are slightly different from iron sights on many other rifles.

• The .30 Carbine: A light but useful cartridge

  Monday, February 09, 2015

  Designed by Winchester for the military in the early 1940s, the .30 Carbine cartridge was designed to be "more than a pistol, but less than a rifle." Used by the United States military in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, the .30 Carbine also became very popular among civilian hunters and shooters. Though it is a great cartridge under the appropriate conditions, the .30 Carbine is probably one of the most underrated light rifle cartridges in the United States.

• How to prepare for deer season in January and February

  Monday, January 26, 2015

  Right now, deer season is over for virtually every hunter in the United States. Some of us were fortunate enough to bag a deer this year. For others, well, there's always next year. Regardless of whether you were successful this deer season, now is not the time to rest — quite the contrary.

• How to take a good trophy photo

  Thursday, January 08, 2015

  ​Congratulations! After investing a great deal of time, energy and money, you finally bagged the trophy of a lifetime. The best way for you to preserve the memories of this hunt forever, while at the same time paying proper respect to the animal, is to take a good trophy photo.

• Tips for cold-weather muzzleloader hunting

  Tuesday, December 09, 2014

  Hunting big game with a muzzleloader can be an extremely fulfilling experience. As a result, muzzleloader hunting is becoming more and more popular among hunters these days. However, hunting with a muzzleloader can also be extremely challenging and frustrating.

• Don’t believe what you see on TV: Adjust your hunting expectations

  Monday, November 24, 2014

  In this age of social media and hunting television shows, many new hunters have pretty unrealistic expectations of how successful they will be during their first few hunting seasons. While there is nothing wrong with having high hopes, many of these new hunters end up discouraged and frustrated because they did not shoot a monster buck (or anything at all) in their first couple of hunting seasons.

• How to protect your hearing while shooting

  Tuesday, November 04, 2014

  ​A good sense of hearing is important during day-to-day living. However, your hearing is also vulnerable to damage from extremely loud noises, which makes hunters and shooters especially vulnerable to hearing loss.

• Washington’s I-594 represents a flawed attempt at gun control

  Monday, October 27, 2014

  The upcoming election in November is shaping up to be an important one for gun owners in Washington state. In addition to the normal elections for candidates running for public office, there is another important measure on the ballot: Initiative 594 (I-594).

• 5 essential deer-hunting tips to help you fill your tags

  Wednesday, October 15, 2014

  Deer season is here in some parts of the country and is just around the corner in other places. Here are a few helpful deer-hunting tips that will hopefully help you close the deal and fill your tags this hunting season.

• How to clean a bolt-action rifle

  Tuesday, September 30, 2014

  A good rifle is one of the most important (and expensive) pieces of equipment for many hunters all over the world. Hunting, especially in extremely rainy or snowy weather, can really put a rifle to the test. The last thing a hunter wants is for his or her rifle to fail at a critical moment on the hunt of a lifetime.

• The best shooting positions for hunting

  Monday, September 22, 2014

  ​Unfortunately, many hunters do the vast majority of their shooting from a bench rest, which is not the best practice for taking shots under typical hunting conditions. Now I don't know about you, but I've never taken a shot at a deer or any other big game species from a bench rest.

• Pros and cons of the wadcutter bullet

  Wednesday, September 03, 2014

  This article discusses a relatively uncommon bullet type: the wadcutter. Though the wadcutter is not extremely rare, it is still a relatively specialized bullet type that is only utilized in a few different cartridges. Like most highly specialized bullets, the wadcutter is great at the job it was designed for: competitive shooting. However, it struggles in applications outside of its primary use.

• How to properly sight in a rifle with a scope

  Monday, August 18, 2014

  Although it's still summer, hunting season is just around the corner for some parts of the United States. In fact, fall bear season has already started here in Washington. It is important that hunters properly prepare their equipment for the upcoming season. Today, I hope to provide some assistance in this matter by explaining how to sight in a rifle.

• The .35 Remington: An underrated brush cartridge

  Monday, August 04, 2014

  When it was introduced by the Remington Arms Company in 1906, the .35 Remington had no true peer among the cartridges of the day. Hunters seeking a good "brush bullet" found the .35 Remington to be a satisfactory choice, and many deer, bear, elk and even moose fell to the .35 Remington over the years.

• African safari hunting: Blue wildbeest

  Monday, July 21, 2014

  It has been quite a while since I've done an African animal profile. However, it's now the peak of the hunting season in most countries in Africa. In honor of this, I'll continue to post further profiles of African animals over the next few weeks in the same spirit that I wrote about the impala and warthog this time last year.

• Stalking feral hogs: Lessons learned

  Monday, July 07, 2014

  Over the years I have gotten a great deal of entertainment and satisfaction from hunting feral hogs. Texas, like many states, has thousands of feral hogs roaming the countryside. With a keen nose and relatively high intelligence, hogs are challenging to hunt — even though there are so many out there.

• Lessons learned in turkey hunting

  Tuesday, June 24, 2014

  As promised in my previous article about my first turkey hunt, today I'm discussing some of the lessons I learned while turkey hunting. I had a great time, and I got a nice turkey to show for it. However, the hunt was not perfect and there are always things that I can improve for the next trip. It always pays to sit down after each hunt and determine what you did well, and what you can do better for the future.

• Experiencing a turkey hunt for the first time

  Tuesday, June 10, 2014

  ​Prior to this year, I had never seriously been turkey hunting before. I grew up hunting in a part of Texas where turkey populations were low, and I never seemed to have the time necessary to hunt turkey in New York and Georgia while I lived there.

• Adapting your hunt in windy conditions

  Friday, May 30, 2014

  ​Sometimes conditions are just not in your favor during a hunt. You may have an ideal setup at a location that regularly draws large numbers of deer, but if the wind is blowing from the wrong direction, you are wasting your time at that location.

• The dangers of mixing up 5.56x45mm NATO and .223 Remington rounds

  Monday, May 12, 2014

  Even though many people treat the .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO cartridges as interchangeable rounds, this can be a dangerous practice under the wrong circumstances.

• Comparing different types of turkey calls

  Tuesday, April 29, 2014

  Since spring turkey season overlaps with mating season for turkeys in most of the United States, imitating turkey vocalizations is the most popular and most effective technique used by turkey hunters to call in a big gobbler. There are a wide variety of turkey calls available on the market today, and I hope to provide some useful information on the advantages and disadvantages of each in this article.

• Cooking wild game to perfection

  Tuesday, April 15, 2014

  Eating wild game is one of the most popular reasons that people give for hunting. However, many people — especially nonhunters — are often reluctant to eat wild game. Fortunately, wild game can be both delicious and healthy table fare if properly prepared.

• Choosing the right bullets for predator hunting

  Thursday, March 27, 2014

  ​Predator hunting is one of the fastest-growing forms of hunting and is quickly becoming one of the most popular types of hunting in the United States. Due to the increasing popularity of the sport, retailers now offer a dizzying array of gear designed specifically for predator hunting, which can be overwhelming for a new hunter.

• Top tips to avoid trail camera mistakes

  Wednesday, March 12, 2014

  ​Over the past few years, trail cameras have become an extremely important tool for big game hunters all over the world, especially for deer hunters in the United States. However, like any tool, they must be used properly in order to realize their full potential.

• Patience is often the key to a successful hunt

  Monday, February 24, 2014

  As I grow older and more experienced as a hunter, one specific trait seems to become more important to success than any other: patience. I have missed many an opportunity while hunting due to lack of patience and a desire to rapidly accomplish something. However, there have been several events where I have been successful due to slowing down and waiting.

• The advantages of using a .45-70 cartridge

  Monday, February 10, 2014

  While popular in certain circles, the .45-70 Government cartridge does not get a lot of attention these days. The .45-70 delivers bone-crushing power at close range, but is difficult to shoot accurately at longer ranges because its big, slow-moving bullets have a steep trajectory. While the .45-70 is relatively popular among black-powder silhouette shooters and among those who hunt big game in heavy cover, only a relatively small percentage of hunters utilize it.

• Introducing new hunters to the sport

  Monday, January 27, 2014

  Training new hunters is an important task and one that all hunters should take seriously. Expanding our ranks by introducing family members and friends to hunting not only provides us an opportunity to enjoy something that we love with those who are important to us, but also helps to secure the future of the sport. More hunters means more money spent on licenses and hunting equipment, which means more money directed towards conservation efforts.

• Hunting in poor conditions

  Thursday, January 09, 2014

  Most hunters are familiar with the ideal conditions for hunting big game (namely white-tailed deer) with respect to the rut, wind speed and direction, the phase of the moon, and ambient temperatures. That is all well and good if you live in close proximity to your hunting area or have a schedule flexible enough to hunt when things are as close to perfect as possible.

• Controlling the predator population

  Friday, January 03, 2014

  I've noticed the discussion of predators lately, especially wolves, is one of the most controversial subjects for people on both sides of the aisle. Regardless of what some people may think, predators — particularly mountain lions and wolves — serve an important role in nature.

• The benefits of big game scoring

  Tuesday, November 26, 2013

  I recently passed the test and became a Safari Club International official measurer. I mention this not because I’m trying to make money scoring trophies (I only charge to reimburse my expenses), but because I’m convinced of the profound positive effect that scoring systems like those developed by Safari Club International, Boone and Crockett, and Pope and Young have on wildlife populations and on the sport of hunting.

• Hunting on a budget

  Friday, November 08, 2013

  ​These days it feels like everything is getting more and more expensive. This is especially true for those who enjoy the outdoors. If you're not careful, you can spend a fortune on hunting and fishing gear. While I'm a big proponent of using high-quality gear, you don't necessarily have to spend a ton of money to be properly outfitted. Here are a few tips and tricks I've learned along the way to hunt on a budget.

• My first deer: An unforgettable experience

  Tuesday, October 22, 2013

  Just after first light that morning, my father tapped me on the knee and slowly motioned to our left. I looked and saw two shapes carefully moving through the mist. Looking through the scope on my rifle, I could see that the shapes were two young bucks about 50 yards away, walking warily toward the feeder in front of us, and my pulse quickened.

• The next generation: Take a kid hunting

  Tuesday, October 08, 2013

  Yes, it is often times inconvenient to take a kid hunting. They generally have a shorter attention span than adults, and it is much more difficult for them to keep quiet and sit still for an extended period of time. For these reasons and others, having a kid with you makes it much more difficult to seriously hunt for a trophy deer. However, it might be useful to take a different view of the situation.

• Why don’t more hunters use 9.3x62mm Mauser cartridges?

  Tuesday, September 24, 2013

  ​Today I want to discuss a lesser known, yet potent and versatile hunting cartridge: the 9.3x62mm Mauser. While relatively popular in southern Africa and in Europe, relatively few hunters in the United States utilize this outstanding cartridge.