OutdoorHub
Feeding Frenzy: Key West Offers Anglers a Stunning Variety of Fish
The reel’s drag screamed as line poured out of the rod into the wake of a streaming "V" that, in the shallows around the Marquesas Keys, could mean only one thing: shark. Captain Tony Murphy leaned away from the force and let the Shimano gear do its work, line continuing to pour away. After a 200-yard dash, the run stopped and Murphy cranked the reel and regained some ground, then the next run took all the line he’d recovered and a little more before pausing again. This one wasn’t going to end quickly.
Once upon a time, fishing kept the lights on and the wolf from the door for Murphy....
5 Ancient Fishing Methods in Action
Humans may not be the fastest swimmers or deepest divers in the animal kingdom, but we are arguably the most accomplished species when it comes to fishing. Whether we're using nets, lines, or spears, humans have been fishing continuously for thousands of years, and our methods have only gotten better over time. Though the hottest new baits and rods capture the attention of most American fishing enthusiasts, the traditional methods still have their appeal. Here are five ancient fishing methods in action.
1. Cormorant fishing
The art of cormorant fishing is native to China and Japan,...
Video: Massive Bear Gets Drive-through Service
It is never a good idea to feed wild bears. We're not entirely sure where or when this video was filmed, but it seems to show a man feeding pieces of meat to a massive bruin---which can't help but stick its paw through the window in attempt to get food quicker. It may just be a bear trainer having some fun with a "tame" bear, or it may be a good way to have that particular bear hanging out around the house for the foreseeable future.
http://youtu.be/M8qYo4G6fak...
Video: Did This Skier Just Pass a Mountain Lion?
A video recently put up on YouTube had wildlife experts perplexed, and later rolling their eyes. In the video, a skier blows past what appears to be unusually calm mountain lion. This is strange not only because mountain lions rarely venture out to places such as ski resorts, but also because the cats are usually not out in the open. In fact, closer examination and liberal use of the pause button showed that the cougar did not move even when the skier came within feet of touching it, something that throws serious doubt on the truth of the video.
Also, a keen eye reveals that the cat is...
The BAREBOW! Chronicles: Lovelorn Louie, Wily Willy, and Suicide Sammy
This is a story about three Sitka blacktail bucks. All of them had close encounters with me in the second half of November 2005, and two lived to tell about it afterwards. For storytelling purposes, I have hung a nickname on each one, which pretty well encapsulates the essence of the encounter. Their true names have been discarded in order to protect the innocent.
On November 14, 2005, I flew to Anchorage, Alaska, and after overnighting there I was flown by Andrews Air Service down to the south end of Kodiak Island to begin my first serious Sitka blacktail hunt. Outfitter Scott Mileur...
Video: Fearless Russians Test Out Bulletproof Helmet While Wearing It
Can a Russian K6-3 helmet stop a bullet? Well these Russians decided to test the helmet's bullet resistance while wearing it! It appears the gun being used is a Nagant revolver, which fires the 7.62×38mmR cartridge. The 7.62×38mmR round creates about 250 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle, so for us Americans that would be roughly equivalent to a +P .380 ACP. Regardless of how powerful the round is, we would recommend NEVER trying this at home as it is still unbelievably dangerous. Read more »
Pennsylvania Ice Fisherman Catches Monster Muskie
Sometimes, ice fishermen are reminded that they may need to cut bigger holes in the ice. Nicholas Colangelo was fishing in Northwest Pennsylvania last week when he found that a 10-inch hole barely accommodated the massive, 53-inch musky he pulled in.
"The fight was 30 minutes long, I didn't see the fish for the first time until the 10 minute mark!" Mark wrote triumphantly on Facebook. " For the next 20 [minutes] this fish would take off on 60-feet runs each time I got it near the hole---eventually got it by the...
Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Protect Wolf Hunting in Great Lakes States, Wyoming
Congressional lawmakers from Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Wyoming introduced two bills last week that would preserve the ability of state agencies to manage wolf populations. The bills are a direct response to a federal court ruling in December that returned wolves in the Great Lakes states to the endangered species list, once again placing them under federal protections.
That decision was hotly contested by a number of conservation groups, state wildlife agencies, and farmers, who say that the population of gray wolves in the region has only increased since they were delisted by...
ATF Proposal Would Ban Common AR-15 Ammo
Last week, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced that it planned to implement a modified regulatory framework for determining whether a projectile is considered "armor piercing" handgun ammunition. This new framework would effectively ban 5.56x45mm M855 ball munitions, a common type of ammo used in AR-15-pattern firearms.
The ATF's proposal is detailed in a document titled Read more »
Video: 7 of the Fastest Shooters in the World Employing Their Craft
Speed, accuracy, and total mastery of their firearms make these champion marksmen (and markswoman) the fastest in the world. These shooters are capable of pushing body and gun to their greatest limits, and always look good doing it.
They're a bit like Shaolin monks, except their martial art includes expelling 18 bullet-shaped pieces of lead in under five seconds.
1. Max Michel
Five-time World Speed Shooting Champion and Team SIG SAUER captain, Max Michel is a top-tier shooter and renowned instructor.
http://youtu.be/1QhmSg3UjEU
2. Spencer "Lead Dispencer" Hoglund
Cowboy Action...
Why You Should Use an Outfitter for Spring Waterfowl Hunting
Spring snow goose hunting is a great “gap filler.” Before we had the spring seasons, March and the first half of April dragged along as shotgunners waited for turkey seasons to kick off across a wide portion of the country. Now we can fill that time chasing geese.
Are you going to hunt them this spring?
Admittedly, this is a game with some pretty high barriers for entry. It takes time, specialized gear, hard-earned knowledge, and often lots of travel to be successful with spring white geese. If this isn’t something you’ve done before or plan on doing frequently, you either need...
Video: How is This Heron Standing on Water?
Who says animals can't just chill out? This cunning heron in South Africa's Kruger National Park appears to be slowly and inexplicably floating across the surface of a lake---until a hippo raises its head. As it turned out, the bird simply found the best fishing platform it could ever hope for---as long as its host doesn't do a barrel roll.
http://youtu.be/JoiG28fMXYU...
South Carolina Hog Hunters Rescue Stranded Pilot
A party of pig hunters found themselves in the right place and right time after they rescued a stranded pilot on North Island in South Carolina's Georgetown County. According to WWMB, the pilot found himself on the densely forested island after he was forced to make an emergency landing in the water on Thursday. Luckily for for him, a group of pig hunters traveling from the island saw the plane's descent and was able to change course to assist.
''He was excited about seeing us, I'll tell you," one of the...
Canada Unveils Next-generation “Smart Gun”
Earlier this week, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) revealed a prototype assault rifle designed for the Canadian Armed Forces. According to a press release from the DRDC, the new firearm boasts "more firepower, improved accuracy, and smart-integrated accessories" that will allow the gun to automatically detect and assist in engaging targets.
“In the medium term, this weapon concept represents a lethal, flexible general-purpose platform,” said Lieutenant-Colonel...
5 Outrageous US Hunting “Laws” That Are Completely Fake
Have you ever heard someone at your local sporting goods store say something completely outrageous and present it as fact? Was it something like "did you know it's illegal to hunt whales in Utah?" The hunting world is full of rumors, hearsay, and nonsensical "wisdom" passed around as truth. Some of the most ridiculous rumors pertain to so-called hunting "laws" in certain parts of the United States. We've collected five of our favorites and provided them below.
1. It is illegal to hunt camels in Arizona
Never mind that camels aren't listed as a game species in Arizona, but some claim that...
Video: Helmet Cam Captures Breathtaking Avalanche Rescue
There are few things scarier than being buried in an icy tomb, and snowmobiler Mike Salmon could only watch on in horror as one of his friends triggered an avalanche last week near Afton, Wyoming. The incident was recorded in full by the helmet cam that Salmon was wearing. As the video begins, one of the snowmobilers starts climbing up a mountainside, only to be engulfed as Salmon and several others look on.
At about 16 seconds into the video, you can actually see snow fracture and sweep up the unfortunate snowmobiler as the snow rolls down the mountain.
"Where is he?" asked one of...
Video: Firing the World’s Largest Revolver
No, your eyes are not deceiving you. This massive 99-pound replica of a Remington 1859 is about four feet long and over 15 inches tall. The revolver accepts six custom 28mm rounds, each weighing just under five ounces. We're not sure how accurate it is, but it certainly resembles an artillery piece more than a sixshooter.
The gun was designed and built by Polish gunsmith Ryszard Tobys, who in 2013 managed to get the gun recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest revolver in the world. You can watch it being fired in the video below.
http://youtu.be/16SIvVKtuks...
Mississippi Angler Catches Potential World Record Lionfish
Jason Jones of Biloxi, Minnesota was expecting wahoo or tuna from his fishing trip last Saturday, but what he caught instead was something much more exotic---and a possible world record. According to the Sun Herald, Jones was fishing south of Dauphin Island when he reeled in a 1-pound, 11.2-ounce lionfish.
"It was a normal trip my friends and I try to make about twice a month. We were fishing at the popular MP-265 rig," Jones told the Herald. "I didn't have any idea it may be a...
Beware of Owl: Oregon Town Installs Warning Signs for Avian Hat Thief
Residents of Salem, Oregon have looking to the sky in terror after multiple reports emerged of an owl attacking joggers and occasionally stealing their hats. Wildlife experts believe the attacker is a barred owl. According the Huffington Post, "No one has been seriously injured by the owl in Bush’s Pasture Park, though the...
Study: Gruesome Tumor-causing Turkey Virus Now in 17 States
A potentially deadly virus once only found in European domestic turkeys has found its way to North America, and according to a recent study by researchers at the University of Georgia, is much more widespread than previously thought.
Scientists with the Southeast Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study said that wild turkeys in 17 states from Maine to Colorado have tested positive for lymphoproliferative disease virus (LPDV), which can cause tumors and wart-like growths on the heard and neck area. However, researchers also stated that they had determined the virus was much less dangerous...