OutdoorHub
Kids & Clays: Using Shooting Sports to Improve Children’s Lives
Reading the daily news, it seems like the world is more and more violent or threatening. Actually, the current crime rates are approximately the same as those of the 1960s and violent crime today is almost one-third of what it was in the 1970s. Gun homicide is down 49 percent since 1993, gun violence in general is going down, and accidental injuries and fatalities by guns are also down considerably. We hear little good news about guns and...
Want to Give Someone a Gun for Christmas? Read This First
There will be those who disagree with me, but I believe a first shotgun is a wonderful Christmas gift. The uniquely shaped, elongated box under the tree generally won’t fool anybody for long, but as the recipient of many gift-wrapped guns over the years, I can tell you the thought of receiving a new gun for Christmas inspires many hours of happy anticipation and a lifetime of joy.
Should you elect to give a youthful hunter or budding shooter in your life a firearm (or even a BB gun) as a gift this Christmas, you must be aware the act involves a great deal of responsibility. The new gun...
Infographic: The State of Saltwater Fishing in the United States
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently released its annual Fisheries of the United States 2013 report, a trove of facts about the current state of saltwater fishing---both commercial and recreational---in the United States. Sport fishing has remained strong with more than 11 million anglers plying the waters. The top fish of the year, which came as little surprise, was the spotted seatrout with more than 38 million fish caught in 2013. When it comes to pure poundage however,...
Two Hunters Shoot the Same Buck, Owner Decided with Coin Toss
Wisconsin's deer season opened with a bang, but one 11-year-old hunter will not be going home with the nine-point buck he shot. According to the Associated Press, DJ Jorgenson was hunting with his son, Kameron, near the town of Oneida, Wisconsin when the boy shot and wounded the buck. The deer then ran off into private property, where another hunter managed to finish it off.
“We could see that the other landowner on his land, and we got up as far as the fence line. He came down and met us by the fence post,” Jorgenson...
Video: Ram Uses Punching Bag as Sparring Partner
Rams have a reputation for being a bit ornery, especially if you intrude on their personal space. This particular ram, nicknamed "Rambro" by his fans, has earned a moderate following on the internet due to his antics---which all involve destroying something with his rather serious-looking headgear. The angry ram was first discovered after YouTuber Buddhanz1 posted video of the animal charging straight into a dirt bike. The ram...
Fishing the 50-degree Temperature Break: Buzzbaits and Jerkbaits
"Cast and retrieve" is a tactic that generally catches anglers the most bass, but not in the wintertime. During the winter months, the metabolism of bass slows down, and the fish want to expend as little energy as possible to catch and eat big baits. Here are two different tactics to fish for bass this winter, depending on water temperature.
Buzz ‘em up
“In 2014, a technique that’s really been getting a lot of attention is fishing a buzzbait on the surface with a plastic frog behind it in areas where you have floating or scattered grass,” Scott Canterbury, a professional bass angler...
Wisconsin Town Reconnects Us to Our River Routes
Roads, not rivers, now bring most visitors to this small city where Wisconsin’s largest river meets the Mississippi, the continent’s largest and most legendary waterway.
But that’s been so less than 100 years. Paved roads and high-speed driving are modern luxuries. The Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers brought people to Prairie du Chien throughout the ages, albeit more slowly by canoe, barge, or riverboat.
They were people of all colors, races, and stature; and they journeyed here for everything from war to commerce to recreation and solace. United States presidents, especially,...
There Were Pheasants Forever
Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.
- Pheasants Forever Mission Statement
There were pheasants forever just outside the little town where we hunt in South Dakota. There was cackling throughout the days, mornings, and evenings, and thundering out of the fields as the dogs forged ahead. A few newcomers where there and fared well, even as hens and roosters exploded underfoot and into the endless blue sky. It’s a trip we look forward to...
Go Offshore for Plenty of Fish in the Fall and Winter
I thought I was strong until a black grouper holding on an underwater reef during December took my bait and tried to prove that it was stronger than me. But that night, after the 35-pound grouper had been cleaned, I took some of that grouper to a restaurant and had it prepared three delicious ways: blackened, grilled, and pan fried.
During the fall and winter months, ice, snow, high winds, and bad weather keep many anglers at home. However, you’ll find some of the finest saltwater fishing imaginable on the Upper Gulf of Mexico Coast then. From the Florida Panhandle over to the Texas...
How to Upgrade Your Ruger 10/22 with a Timney Trigger Assembly
I love the Ruger 10/22 rifle. It's a sweet-handling semiautomatic that you'll enjoy whether you're an experienced shooter or a novice. It's one of those guns you'll use your whole life, then pass down to the next generation.
I have to qualify that profession of affection just a bit, as there is one part I don't really care for: the magazine release. The Ruger 10/22 comes standard with a 10-round rotary magazine that fits completely inside of the stock. You can get larger magazines, of course, but part of what makes the 10/22 special is its 10-round capacity with no extra bulk. It's the...
How to Bag Yourself a Windy Day Whitetail
It’s no secret deer do not like to move as much on windy days. The more wind; the less they move. But don’t let that make you stay home, in fact the wind opens a new set of opportunities if you know how to make the most of it.
An older fellow from my neighborhood named Jim helped me get started in bowhunting by toting me around to hunting spots. He knew I had a hard time sitting still so he admonished me with this unforgettable bit of advice, “When the deer are on their feet, you stay put and let them come to you; when the deer are bedded down tight, that’s when you go to...
Scientists Capture Rare Black Seadevil in Its Natural Habitat
The anglerfish known as the black seadevil more than lives up to its name. With a set of sharp, over-sized teeth and a mostly scaleless, gelatinous body, the black seadevil is the stuff of nightmares. However, you are not likely to run into this monstrous fish any time soon unless you venture into the deepest parts of the ocean. That is exactly what scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) did to capture the first footage of a black seadevil alive in its natural habitat. They did not come back empty-handed either.
The fish was found at 2,000 feet beneath the...
Russia Legalizes Carrying of Firearms for Self-defense
The Russian government announced last week that it will be easing restrictions on firearms and will be allowing licensed gun owners to carry firearms for self-defense. According to the TASS news agency, gun owners were previously only allowed to bring their firearms to sporting events, target practice, or on hunting excursions. Now an addendum to the law will also include self-defense as a valid reason to carry guns.
"You can get a lot more done with politeness and a weapon than with politeness alone," Russian President Vladimir Putin...
Killing Birds to Save Salmon: Officials Propose Culling Largest Cormorant Colony in America
Each spring, more than 60,000 birds come to East Sand Island near the mouth of the Columbia River to nest, including 14,900 breeding pairs of double-crested cormorants. It is believed to be the largest colony of the birds in North America, and millions of fish are needed to sustain their numbers every year. According to the US Army Corp of Engineers, over the past 15 years the birds have consumed an average of approximately 11 million juvenile salmon and steelhead every year. Even worse, experts say that the...
Video: Kodiak Bear Charges Bowhunter after Arrow Hits
For a bear hunter, having the opportunity to hunt on Alaska's Kodiak Island is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Rugged and untamed, the island boasts one of the largest land predators in the world and hunters come well-prepared to make sure the hunt isn't an end-of-a-lifetime experience as well. Armed with a bow and hunting at uncomfortably close ranges, hunters are often accompanied by their guides with a defensive weapon at the ready. This video uploaded to YouTube by Luke Randall demonstrates that hunting a Kodiak bear...
5 Things Only Michigan Hunters Know
Hunters know a lot of stuff. It’s true, just ask them. Hunters in the Great Lake State know even more and a lot of what they know has to do with traditions. Hunting is a sport steeped in tradition, and just about every part of hunting season has some tradition involved with it---whether it's deer camp, a lucky jacket, or anything else. And we all know where we hunt---hunting spots don’t have specific names. It’s Bob’s Ridge, or The Hill. And we all know of a particular swamp that holds the Turdy Point Buck. There are a few other things all Michigan hunters know, too.
1. November has...
Photos: Where Was This Massive Wolf Taken?
Alaska is home to about 7,000 to 11,000 gray wolves, from the rain forests of the southeastern panhandle---yes, Alaska has rain forests---to the tundra along the Beaufort Sea. However, if you think these massive wolves were taken in Alaska, you're only half right.
The true answer is, of course, that these wolves are pure Hollywood. These canines came straight from the master craftsmen behind the 2011 film The Grey with Liam Neeson. In the movie, Neeson is hired by an oil company as a professional marksman defending a drill site from Alaska's wolves. After being stranded in a plane...
Video: 6 of the Greatest Hunting Fails Ever Recorded
What makes a good hunter is the ability to look back and learn from your mistakes. After all, we're all human and even the most experienced hunters were, at some time, novices. However, most have the good fortune of not having those mistakes be on tape (or SD card).
Not everybody has that kind of luck. These are the videos that we watch after a long and frustrating day in the field to lift ourselves up and remember that everyone has an off day eventually. Some people just fail with hilarious results.
Be warned, there is some vulgar language in the following videos.
1. You can't...
Video: Wolves Attack Deer in Alberta
Alberta is experiencing something of a wolf problem, especially when it comes to their predatory habits. This video of two wolves bringing down a deer hit YouTube just as Alberta researchers released a study on the results of a seven-year wolf cull in the province meant to safeguard a vulnerable caribou herd. The Canadian Press reported that nearly 45 percent of the wolves in northern Alberta, where this video reportedly took place, are culled every year to prevent...