Hunting

Two things taught me to be a much better turkey caller. The first was when I started to semi-regularly kill bucks by snort-wheezing at them. Now I know that might seem disconnected from turkey hunting, but hear me out. Most hunters look at the snort-wheeze call as a dominant buck vocalization that...

Few things are more deflating than missing a turkey. If you think successful hunts are unforgettable, misses will etch themselves into the part of your brain that handles long-term memory. Months later, when you think you’ve gotten over it, you’ll wake up from that nightmare, drenched in sweat and...

If you're trying to kill your first turkey, this guide covers everything you need: when seasons open, essential turkey hunting gear, how to find and pattern birds, and where to aim when that gobbler finally steps into range. I can't think of a more thrilling hunt than calling a strutting gobbler...

Lightweight, specialized shotguns with pistol grips, shorter barrels, constricted chokes, and red dots have taken over turkey hunting. Paired with heavy payloads of tungsten super shot (TSS)—and properly patterned—these guns can be deadly, especially at a distance. However, there are a few...

On December 1st, 2025, I put my foot in the stirrup of a white mule named Snowy River and threw my leg over the saddle. Over the next five days, he’d carry me 80 miles through some of the roughest ground in Southwest Utah in search of a mountain lion. Snowy River belongs to McClain and Hunter Mecham...

Unreliable rifles are the worst. Whether it’s a bolt-action or semi-auto, a rifle that doesn’t load cartridges smoothly and quickly can put a real damper on a trip to the range or the field. Most hunters point the finger at some component of the firearm itself, but the real culprit is probably...

Spring evenings are supposed to make turkey hunting easy. A tom flies to the roost, rattles the woods with a few last gobbles, and gives you everything but an onX pin on where to start in the morning. But it doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes the sun sets, and the woods go quiet, leaving you...

Hunting rifle cartridges come in waves. When my grandfather got out of the Army in the 1950s, military cartridges like .30-06 and 8mm Mauser dominated the woods. World War II and Korean War veterans knew firsthand about their potential, and there were plenty of cheap surplus sporter rifles on the...

Most hunters are not familiar with javelina, a unique game animal often referred to as “Collared Peccary” by the same people who say “Cowz Deer.” This native pig-like critter thrives in the dusty Mexican borderlands, where it is an iconic symbol of the American Southwest and Mexico. Unfortunately...

There are lots of reasons you might want a new handguard on your AR-15. A longer guard can be fitted with more accessories and offers more real estate to grip the rifle. Some handguards feature alternative attachment systems (M-LOK, Picatinny, etc.), and some reduce the amount of heat transferred...

One of the funniest bits in the 90’s TV show “Home Improvement” is Tim Taylor’s ongoing campaign to add horsepower to everyday objects. In the very first episode, he installs what is basically a car engine in his dishwasher, and the result is pretty much what you’d expect (hint: the dishes don’t...

Hunters debate the validity of baiting black bears (or any game for that matter) all the time. Baiting often raises questions of sportsmanship or fair chase, but it might not be as black and white of an issue as hunters sometimes make it. I’ve only hunted over bait a few times—for deer and pigs in...