HUNTING

I recently scanned the U.S. Forest Service website for the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest while taking a few days off for vacation.

There is a special magic when hunting in the snow, especially for deer, especially in late December.

I enjoy hunting hogs and have taken them in North America, South America, Australia and Africa.

Inside is a .17 HMR Ruger American stainless steel, black synthetic bolt-rifle, with target knob. The barrel is 18″ and threaded, should I want to...

A .303 Savage would be far down my list for dangerous game, but Caldwell made it work for two reasons.

Adolphe Uberti’s release of a proper stalking rifle, called “The Courteney,” is designed in traditional British guise to honor one of the most famous...

If ever a cartridge were worthy of Magna Cum Laude status, the 500 S&W Magnum would hold those prestigious honors!

The word “Plinking” — more commonly heard as “plinkin’” — is an onomatopoeia, a fancy term for a word which sounds like what it means.

Soon after these words cross into your frontal lobe, I should be safely nestled among the branches of an old oak tree, waiting, watching and hoping.

You might have heard the old phrase, “Beware the man with one gun, for he knows how to use it.”

Special Assignments Editor Roy Huntington takes a First Look at an upland bird hunting vest by Chief Upland, that offers complete comfort and the ultimate...

The waterproof and lightweight Hawke Endurance 1000 Laser Range Finder works out to 1000 meters.

Impressive. The EXUDE OD25 Tactical Predator Gun Light was handed back and forth and snatched away as my dad and I took turns shining it into the far...

There comes a time in life when you wake up one morning and the brutal reality of your existence hits home.

Trail cameras aren’t anything new. I’ve used them since the days of when you had to take film — remember film, kids?

It’s been over 25 years since I first read about the .50 Alaskan cartridge. The history captured my imagination like no other.

Whether it’s the insolent, amber gaze of a lion supremely confident in his lethality, or the wicked hooked horns of a Cape buffalo, the hunters —...

If you’re squeamish, or prone to vasovagal syncope — grab the smelling salts. I’m about to reveal something few, if anyone, knows.

I’ve always felt starting a novice shotgunner with a .410 borders on child abuse.

Thanks to stalwarts JD Jones of SSK Industries and Larry Kelly of Mag-na-port International, the 1970s were the heyday for handgun hunters, the decade being...

A reader asked — “Why have you never written about the .308 Winchester cartridge?” Well, why not now? Should be great fun!

Few things stir my imagination and motivate me to adventure more than a fine hunting rifle.

Readers of my work over the decades may be surprised to learn my primary rifle interest in the late 1970s to early 1980s was varmint rifles and many of my...

In pre-dawn fog and under snow-heavy conifers, I’d dogged the track to a thoroughfare muddied by prints.

“Shoot again!” I bellowed, with no one nearby to zipper my mouth. Silence might have improved the outcome.

My .257 Weatherby, that is. Actually, I like the .257 for hunting in most locations, but I associate it most with Africa

A swatch of color reined me in. Over the next hour several elk winked in and out of timber below but the slope was rock-rolling steep.

A leader in cartridges and components for sport, hunting and professional use, Lapua has expanded their already expansive offerings to include five new...

The bull had dropped right away. The sharp image of crosswire on rib had yielded to the brief but violent blur of recoil.

A while back I wrote up the stainless-steel Rossi R92 lever gun, chambered in 454 Casull. Being so impressed with its good manners, it was purchased.

When SIG SAUER launched the M400 TREAD line in 2018, the goal was to create a premium rifle at a moderate price point packed with features. Now the lineup...

Ultimate is thrown around a lot but not too many things live up to the hype. The “ultimate defensive handgun,” the “ultimate long-range rifle,” the...

In the early 1980s, the combined wisdom of Jeff Cooper and Whit Collins created the 10mm Auto cartridge. Dornaus & Dixon introduced their Bren Ten pistol as...

A leader in everything airguns, Umarex is the go-to brand for your first, or next, air-powered firearm and their Origin .22, including a 4,500 PSI hand...

A sling is one of the most useful accessories for a rifle. I’m speaking in terms of hunting rifles, not slings for some types of formal rifle competition...

New for 2021, ATN has gone Mossy, offering X-Sight 4K Pro, ThOR 4 and ThOR LT models in three different Mossy Oak patterns — Bottomland, Break-Up Country...

It’s a funny thing about life — as you transition during the journey, thoughts and opinions about things sometimes change over time as age has a unique...

The breeze had stalled and the heat began to pound at the sweating men in the howdah. Their pith helmets were damp, hot and uncomfortable in the sun.

After trying every way known to man, including a few clearly violating the laws of physics and common decency,

So my wife and I were filling out applications for Wyoming antelope tags when she caught me off-guard. We both enjoy hunting speed goats in the wide open...

You’ve had days that profited nothing. This one was casting long shadows behind the hills north of Craig. Then — “There!” Cory and I pointed in sync.

Popular among muzzleloaders for over a decade, CVA has continued to advance their ACCURA series of rifles with the addition of the X-TREME Series, featuring...

Have you ever known someone who just had to have the newest gun in the hottest new caliber with the most eye-popping finish, just so he — or she —

It’s vacuum-sealed and built to brook recoil from loads capable of flooring elephants. So what’s to baby?

Whether haulin’ hoglegs, or heavy hammers of any persuasion, chest is best for your handgun rig! Anyone who’s carried a heavy handgun knows this!

You’re probably the kind of firearm nitpicker people hate to watch movies with. You count the shots, know when the actor should have reloaded,

With the widespread shortage of popular calibers and increased price of ammunition, there’s never been a better time to shoot rimfire firearms. Here are...

I’ve just finished playing fetch with my wild woman of a mixed breed mutt, Maisie. It’s 24 degrees out with a 20-mph wind to emphasize just how chilly it is

Best known for their bolt-action hunting rifles, Utah-based Fierce Firearms has unleashed their first shotgun designed for chasing birds in the sky and on...

Long ago, probably in a galaxy far away, I clobbered my first buck with a Savage Model 99 lever-action rifle, a straight-shooting specimen with the original...

New for 2021, Plano has introduced, expanded and improved their Field Locker, Rustrictor and All Weather 2 lines of protective cases for handguns and long...

Looks can be deceiving. As I was walking, rather fighting, my way through the crowded aisles of the SHOT Show, I stopped by to visit friends at Savage.

Big-case .22 centerfires such as the .220 Swift, .22-250 Rem. and .223 WSSM aren’t in big demand at present.

After more than a decade of success, Browning has announced the new Maxus II autoloader for 2021, featuring comfort, handling and style-improving upgrades...

Despite a year of unprecedented demand, Federal has reloaded and announced a new batch of handgun, rifle and shotgun ammunition offerings for 2021,...

Planet Earth doesn’t need another bolt rifle. But, when the east wind brought scent of this one, I had to look twice at its origin — Springfield Armory.

A spotting scope does what a binocular can’t and a rifle scope shouldn’t. A bino helps you spot game, handily and from any position, using both your eyes.

With guns and ammo off the table, we put together a list of firearm accessories and gear you can actually find online/in-store to buy as gifts this holiday...

Opening day of deer hunting season a few years ago found me down in a canyon near the home of a longtime pal, leveling the crosshairs on a nice mule deer buck.

Have you impulse-bought any rifles recently? I like to think I plan such purchases sensibly and rationally, determining needs,

Living in a rural area has its advantages and disadvantages. We don’t have any large sporting goods stores nearby.

In the Garden of Eden, it is written, Adam and Eve wore “garments of skin.” Hide-scraping tools confirm leather dates to early hominids, who learned how...

Just hearing the word Safari conjures visions of deepest, darkest Africa in all her splendor.

In my last two shotgun columns I wrote about John Browning’s first two shotgun designs: the lever-action Winchester 1887 and the Winchester pump-action 1897.

There are several factors involved when choosing a cast bullet for use in the .44 Magnum levergun. First is Overall Length (OAL). If the bullet makes the...

The metric system (or “SI” for those who wear a man bun) may be the standard throughout most of the world but it hasn’t made much inroad in the U.S.

I’ve always wanted a “real” spotting scope but there is the tiny matter of disposable income.

If you’re looking for a simple, weatherproof and impeccably accurate muzzleloader for hunting, the Traditions Nitrofire deserves your first look.

The Savage 110 Prairie Hunter in .224 Valkyrie is a terrific choice for varmint hunters or precision shooters, and with the right load, will put meat on the...

When I was just a pup one of my favorite TV shows was Wanted Dead or Alive starring Steve McQueen as bounty hunter Josh Randall.

From the backseat, it felt like one of those nightmares you have after eating pickled jalapeños right before bedtime.

The Winchester Model 70 is America’s most iconic bolt-action rifle and to collectors the most desirable M70s are the “pre-’64” rifles.

As a long-time handloader, I’ve been guilty of overlooking new ammunition from time to time. Often, what’s marketed as “the hottest new thing” turns...

It is widely known Sierra makes some of the best bullets for handloaders anywhere on the landscape. After all, they’ve been doing it for over 70 years.

No. You don’t need .264 bullets to hit steel plates three sheep pastures yonder, or to topple a deer. It just seems this way.

Today’s advancements in bullet technology provide sleek, sexy, needle-nosed projectiles with ballistic coefficients north of .500, intended for ranges...

Before the emergence of numerous AR-platform hunting rifles in serious large-game calibers, the universe for semi-auto hunters was pretty small.

Have you thought about taking your shooting to new heights by handloading your own ammunition — but didn’t? Me too. Handloading is a highly rewarding...

The .270 Winchester cartridge was introduced in 1925. A case could be made for it as the most successful American hunting cartridge of the 20th century.

Pump shotguns continue their popularity but I wonder what happened to the pump rifle?

I’ve been using rifle-caliber Marlin lever guns — .30-30, .35 Remington, .45-70 — most of my life and I confess to being a little late to the...

The Federal Custom Shop is an all-new way to deliver your preference of the perfect centerfire rifle or shotgun load built by ammunition experts.

The Mossberg Patriot Synthetic could be called the 21st Century Semi-Classic Affordable because it combines classic features with some modern touches, both...

As closely as I can count, I’ve had extensive experience with over 75 .357 Magnums. This includes single and double action revolvers, semi-automatic and...

It would be difficult not to see the rise in popularity of crossbows today. From television advertisements on outdoor channels to magazine ads, crossbows...

The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire was introduced 60 years ago as I write this. Currently it’s offered in more different bullet weights and designs, and in...

Spyderco is best known for their dazzling array of folders, but they put out some stellar fixed-blades as well — from slick outdoor field knives to wicked...

If you haven’t noticed, Savage Arms continues to offer new and improved variations of existing models. The company is never satisfied with the status quo

Fall hunting seasons are just over the horizon and the weeks remaining allow time for serious hunters to put new glass on their rifles, get zeroed and start...

Our eyes need light to see. Light has properties of particles and rays. As early as A.D. 1100 Arab scientist Alhazen described the behavior of reflected...

Some years ago in a nowhere corner of South Dakota, I was on a prairie dog shoot and the notion of going prone on unfamiliar grass was no small...

What do you do when you find yourself at war without either the needed weapons nor the ability to produce them as fast as you need them? The answer? Improvise.

There’s no field sport better than turkey hunting to introduce new hunters to the skills needed to pursue big game. Keen of sight and omnivorous in his food

As time ticks by, common guns lose their shine and we want something different. Something to put the green-eyed monster in friends’ eyes, making them wish...

It’s steep and rocky in southern Idaho — and today it was cold. I hadn’t gotten 100 yards from the truck when I was already out of breath. “Why do I...

Eugene Stoner’s AR-10 was the culmination of an idea so radical it wasn’t accepted — at first. Too many cooks spoiled the broth along the way, yet...

Between 2006 and 2011 the feral hog population in America grew by 20 percent per year. Conservatively, they cause about 1.5 billion dollars’ worth of...

The cutlery industry has been shifting toward an increase in hunting and sporting knives the past two years due in large part to the more firearms-friendly...

Until you’re fortunate enough to shoot at an elk, the cartridge in your rifle matters no more than the size of your boots. As elk can be devilishly hard...

Curled up in our favorite easy chair, perhaps sipping a distilled beverage, an outdoor show flickers on the flat screen featuring Alaska’s coastal brown...

After weeks of research, you bought your first rifle. Along with scope, bases and rings and ammunition, it took a fairly serious financial outlay but...

The shotgun is the most versatile firearm system ever developed. It can serve as a shotgun, an accurate big-bore rifle, a handgun and even as a flare gun.

If you’ve spent any time in wild places, away from the ever-present cellular phone networks, you’ve had moments when you sorely wanted to communicate...

You might say I’ve got a pretty strong background in thermal imaging. Before ascending the GUNS throne (a tasteful beige leather recliner) to become the...

It was many years ago, but I can still remember the immortal line from The Treasure of the Sierra Madre: “Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges! We...

A few years ago my wife and I enjoyed a Dall sheep hunt in the Northwest Territories so much we hated to leave.

Imagine, if you will, this discussion between some opinionated old shootists sitting around the celestial campfire:

Guides and professional hunters see a lot of hunters. One question I like to ask them is, “What are the most common shooting mistakes you see clients...

When Weatherby announced the 6.5-.300 cartridge in 2016 you just knew it was going to be the biggest, fastest, flattest-shooting 6.5 on the planet.

With their acquisition of Thompson/Center Arms, Smith & Wesson is back in the bolt-action sporting rifle business following their brief flirtations with HVA...

Like John Taffin’s quest for the “Perfect Packin’ Pistol,” my own quest has been for a “Perfect Deer Rifle.” Except my term is so lame, lacking...

The early morning mist evaporated quickly as the sun beat down on the Zambezi River. As we launched the boat, two women were washing their clothes in the...

“My heart knows what the wild goose knows, I must go where the wild goose goes. Wild goose, brother goose, which is best? A wanderin’ foot or a heart at...

It was springtime in the Mississippi Delta, and the obligatory floodwaters had swollen the mighty Mississippi River well beyond its banks. The farmland on...

The hole looked the same after the second shot as after the first. Identical after a third. How could this be? At 24X, the crosswire had gyrated like a fly...

It seems Savage is always building a better mousetrap. Over the years their Model 110 series has undergone steady enhancements such as the addition of the...

For lots of folks, Labor Day is hunting season. It’s not hard to figure out why. In terms of logistics, dove areas are relatively accessible, and the hit...

Here’s a non-gun case in point: I wanted a reliable, durable chainsaw to clean up trees downed by the wind and turn them into firewood. Most of the trees...

Coupled with the TAC2 trigger system, Traditions’s Vortek StrikerFire LDR will make you wonder if you’re shooting a centerfire rifle. Ignition is that...

A red sun was kissing Namibia’s dunes when the wildebeest ghosted past one-quarter mile away. Last chance. Bush to bush, I reeled them in to iron sight...