With all the talk of big game cooking, someone needs to look out for the little guy. Small game cooking can be some of the best meals you'll ever have. If you were fortunate enough to bag a few rabbits and/or squirrels this past season, or if you plan on harvesting some this coming season, here is a quick and easy recipe to try for both animals.
Read MoreIt’s hard to find someone who doesn’t like jerky. This Independence Day serve your guests something really special: Sweet, Spicey ‘n Smoked Venison Jerky. It’s easy and will be a definite crowd-pleaser.
Read MoreTarget Panic. The scourge of the archery world. Many archers are afraid to even mention it by name, just in case it’s contagious. However, it’s a very real issue and is something that most archers are going to have to deal with at some point. I started experiencing it after a dozen or so years of shooting a bow and it’s been something I’ve wrestled with off and on ever since. If you find yourself with this problem, don’t lose hope. There are a few things you can do to get back on track.
Read MoreGrowing up, I would always find things to shoot my bow at. Whether it was old hay bales, old pool mats, or even a box with a few blankets in it, I loved taping or gluing a paper plate to them and ripping a few arrows at them. But then one day, my dad purchased his first 3D archery target for us to shoot at. It was your typical whitetail deer standing broadside with a replaceable vitals insert but thought it was the best thing in the world. It was just like shooting at a real animal and I was hooked ever since.
Read MoreThis week, we’re talking about practice. As anyone who’s spent any time with a bow in hand will tell you, practice is critical for finding success in the fall. Archery is a skill that takes some time to get a hang of, let alone master. Before you take your bow out this fall, here are a few ways to sharpen your skills.
Read MoreWe’ve all heard the saying, “If it’s brown it’s down!” However, in recent years, it seem more common that hunters are preaching, “Let them go. Let them grow!” In fact, in 2001, for every 3½-year-old or older buck that was harvested nationally, hunters took two to three yearling bucks. As of 2019 the number of yearling bucks and 3½-year-old or older bucks taken were nearly identical. Much of this change can can be attributed to the prevalence of quality deer management (QDM) and has become generally understood and practiced in some form by the vast majority of deer hunters.
Read MoreWe’ve spent the last few weeks covering land management but there’s another side of the coin. Aside from the many ways to improve your land, herd management is critical for growing and keeping big old bucks on your property.
Read MoreIt’s the dream of nearly every whitetail hunter out there; owning your own piece of ground (or more of it) that you can shape into your personal whitetail hunting paradise. Let’s face it, purchasing hunting property is an enormous decision and an often overwhelming process, especially for a first-time buyer. If you’re thinking about purchasing your first piece of hunting property, we have put together an overview of the process including financials and land features to consider. Along with these considerations, the best recommendation we can make is to work with a reputable agent specializing specifically in hunting property. They will be able to guide you through the entire process with confidence and answer the many questions you may have along the way. Ultimately an educated buyer will make a smart land purchase.
Read MoreTurkey season is upon us and, if you haven’t already, it’s time to start considering what type of call you’re going to use this Spring. Calling is generally considered the best method for hunting turkeys and it offers some of the most exciting action you’re going to find in the woods. There are tons of options to choose from and, before you can start practicing, you need to pick a call that’s right for you and If you’re looking to buy a call, here are the three most common choices you’ll have:⠀
Read MoreCould you imagine if the wild turkey was our National Bird? What species of turkey would it have been? Eastern? Merriam’s? Thanksgiving would have looked a whole lot different as well.
Read MoreIf you ask anyone who bow hunts how they can be successful, more times than not they will tell you that having the correct setup, knowing the animal, and practicing a lot with bring you the success you are looking for. You can’t just pick up a bow and expect to be an excellent shot, hitting bull’s-eye after bull’s-eye. This is where bow hunting practice makes everything come together
Read MoreThroughout history, America has been the land of freedom and opportunity. Anyone could come here, and if you worked hard enough, you could reap the benefits of your hard work. These benefits include having financial stability, a surplus of food for hardships, or maybe just a fresh start in a new place. There are some of us who live this mantra as a lifestyle every day. We work hard and love what we do and most are reaping the benefits right now when all of the worlds is looking for answers. I am of course talking about hunters.
Read MoreWhat kind of bow sight do you use? It’s a question I have been asked a few times in my life and can be somewhat misleading. I’ll usually reply with, “Well, what do you want it to do?”. Are you a hunter? Where do you plan on hunting? Are you hunting out West? There is a lot to consider when choosing a bow sight and your bow sight should have a purpose that is aligned with your intentions.
Read MoreThe art of camouflage and the debate on which camo pattern is the best, is highly discussed topic. While some believe their way of blending to be the dominant way, others always have an alternative approach. Mine of course being the later.
Read MoreGrowing up in Michigan there were a few traditions we had at Deer Camp, but one of which had a deep impact. Either throughout the day or at night after dinner, someone would put on the movie Escanaba in Da Moonlight starring Jeff Daniels. Daniels plays Rueben Soady, a hunter heading to deer camp with his father, brother, and close friend. his annual inability to "bag a buck." If Reuben, now 43, doesn't manage to shoot a buck by the end of the season, he will become the oldest Soady in recorded history not to have achieved this task. The film is known for its spectacular usage of upper peninsula language and slang along with quotes like:
Read MoreA few years ago, Jared was out on a solo backcountry whitetail hunt where we had scouted a few areas that he liked on an aeriel map on his phone. He plotted where he wanted to camp and a few promising spots within a mile walking distance of camp and headed out. When he arrived at his camp destination and started speed scouting through the areas he plotted, almost half of the locations were bone cold of any deer sign. And that's the key here!⠀ ⠀
Read MoreGrowing up in Northeastern Pennsylvania, I always dreamt of going out west to chase elk, mule deer and whitetail. I have longed to hear a mature bull bugle from the distance in unknown territory. I am finally at the point in my life where planning my first out of state hunt is on the horizon. I have been taking some time to research, learn and get my ducks in a row for my trek across the country. While I haven’t made my trip yet, I have learned a lot about the planning phase because let’s face it, from the outside, planning an out of state hunt when you’ve never hunted anywhere but your home state seems like a monumental task. However, for me, stepping out of my comfort zone and into a new world is one of the many reasons why I love the adventure of hunting. I have gained a lot of knowledge in my quest to head out west and want to share this with anyone looking to do the same. Hopefully, after reading this article, you will feel more equipped to begin your plans too.
Read MoreToo often hunters find themselves in a situation saying, “ Man, I wish I would have brought that!” or “Why didn’t I think of that?”. And all too often, it’s because of not utilizing a key practice method called visualization.
Read MorePlanning an Out-of-State Hunt or even group trips, from a personal perspective, can be some of the most memorable events someone can be a part of. On the flip side, they can also be a planning nightmare with scheduling, finances, coming together, and overcoming adversity. Even your best friends and family members can become hated enemies at the end of a major trip. This is why knowing “who” your trip members are before you leave and establishing the dynamics of the trip are soo important. A past hunting trip comes to mind whenever I think about this.
Read MoreIf you're like us, expanding your hunting horizons with different opportunities is one of the great adventures we all as hunters can enjoy. Whether it's chasing elk in the western mountains or setting up on a buck in the midwest, there are plenty of opportunities to explore. For hunters who have never planned an OOS, the entire process can be intimidating. We're here to tell you, it's easier than you think! ⠀
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