OutdoorHub
College Student Pulls in Washington State Record Bluefin Tuna
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) recently confirmed a new state record for Pacific bluefin tuna, which was caught by Sam Ellinger of Ellensburg back in September. According to the DFW, the Central Washington University student reeled in the fish about 28 miles offshore Grays Harbor while bait fishing with anchovies. The fish measured 41 inches long and weighed an astounding 39.20 pounds, nearly three pounds more than the previous state record.
"Catching a fish this size was pretty exhausting," Ellinger said in a press...
Smith & Wesson Purchases Major Gun, Hunting Accessories Manufacturer for $130 Million
Smith & Wesson recently announced that it will be acquiring Battenfeld Technologies, a major producer of hunting and shooting accessories, for the price of $130.5 million. The acquisition will net Smith & Wesson a 145,000-square-foot facility in Columbia, Missouri where Battenfeld Technologies manufactures a number of reloading, gunsmithing, cleaning, and hunting supplies under different brands such as Caldwell Shooting Supplies and Lockdown Vault Accessories.
"Battenfeld...
Wandering Grizzly’s 2,800-mile Journey Astounds Researchers
Nobody knows why a 20-year-old grizzly sow has spent the last two years traveling over 2,800 miles between Montana and Idaho, yet the bear is still on the move and shows no signs of slowing down. Researchers have named her Ethyl, and they are just as stumped on why this particular bear has decided to take up traveling. Biologists have been tracking her sporadic movements between Idaho and Montana since 2012 thanks to a radio collar. According to The...
California Bans Coyote Hunting Contests
Coyote hunting is popular in many places, especially in rural areas where the predators pose a threat to livestock and pets. Utah's Predator Control Program offers hunters a $50 bounty for each properly documented coyote kill, and some groups have even organized coyote hunting "contests" that award prizes to the most successful hunters. California, however, has just become the first state to ban these competitions altogether.
The California Fish and Game Commission initially...
Secrets for Catching Early Ice Walleyes
Some of the best-eating and easiest-to-catch fish of the year can be placed on ice as soon as it’s safe to venture out. Here’s where to find them and how to make them bite.
Avid ice fishermen cannot wait to get out on that first ice of the year. They know the bite is good and the fish are still in an active feeding mode. Here in Minnesota, ice fishing usually starts around Thanksgiving or shortly afterward, and those first few weeks until Christmas can be some of the best fishing of the year. This is true for several species, but in particular for walleyes.
Jason Durham is a...
Two Excellent Books for Hunters, Shooters, and Everyone Else: ‘The Hunt’ and ‘Shoot to Win’
Whether you're seeking a book for gift giving or just curling up by a cozy fireplace this winter, now is a good time to add two books to your reading list. You’ll like David Farbman’s The Hunt and Chris Cheng’s Shoot to Win.
The only thing upsetting about reading The Hunt was realizing it had been on my stack of books for several months and I could have enjoyed it sooner. D'oh! I don’t know why it took so long to get to the top of my pile, but I was glad it recently did....
NRA Freestyle’s ‘NOIR’: Better with Age
In NOIR Episode 21, Jerry Miculek proves in shooting, age is just a number. Colion and LaSorte hope to follow his lead and continue to do what they love for the rest of their lives.
http://youtu.be/N78bMEHEmG8...
The BAREBOW! Chronicles: One Whale of a Bear!
In April of 1999, I experienced one particularly exciting drama up in the Arctic, with which any 18th century whaling man from New England could readily have identified. Heart-pounding adrenaline rushes were common for North America’s early whalers, and at one point during my second try for the Great White Bear of the North I suddenly found myself thinking back to those distant times and adventures, and marveling at the similarity to what I was going through.
Before I finish drawing out the parallel, however, there is much of this story that needs to be told first. Solomon...
Infographic: How Hunters Feed the Hungry
Hunters are not only North America's foremost conservationists, they also help to feed those in need. This infographic from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) shows exactly how hunters contribute to the nation's food banks, shelters, and charity kitchens.
...
Video: Shooting Titanium Shards Out of a Shotgun
Ever wonder what would happen if you shot titanium shavings out of a shotgun? Well, Demolition Ranch decided to take up the challenge and make a poor man's (or, really, rich man's) version of Dragon's Breath rounds. Like the magnesium shards found in Dragon's Breath, titanium shavings are highly flammable. This is because although titanium metal pieces are hard to set aflame, shavings and powder are easily ignited and can actually pose a fire hazard.
Naturally, Demolition Ranch decided to stick the material in a 12 gauge shell and...
What Makes Deer Grow Strange Antlers?
Like fingerprints or snowflakes, no two sets of antlers are ever exactly alike. For humans they are a source of fascination and can be surprisingly useful, if the tools of our early ancestors and the powder flasks of the 19th century are any indicator. For deer, however, they have a single purpose: to secure their right to mate. So why do these bone structures vary so widely and drastically? Recently a hunter in Slovenia harvested what appeared to be a "unicorn"---only to find out that it was...
Saltwater Anglers Took 71 Million Fishing Trips in 2013, Florida Remains Huge Draw
Almost 11 million anglers took a fishing trip last year, and Florida remains the uncontested saltwater fishing capital of the nation. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association's (NOAA) annual Fisheries of the United States 2013 report, about 33 percent of all saltwater fishing trips taken in the United States during 2013---25 million out of 70 million---took place in the Sunshine State. Florida has always been a big draw for anglers eager for a chance at fish like blue marlin, swordfish,...
Photos: The Making of an All-American Boot with Danner
Few things are more personal than boots.
Perhaps the deep emotional attachment many people have to their rugged footwear stems from the fact that feet are our primary attachment to Mother Earth, barring any unintended face plants from overindulgence or clumsiness. Or maybe it's a result of the activities we do in our boots: work, hike, hunt, shoot, walk, run, sleep (sometimes), and who knows what else.
In any case, plenty of us have a love/hate relationship with our footwear. I hate shoes, but I love boots. My feet just aren't comfortable in anything else. Some people laugh at me because...
Treestand Terror: Indiana Officials Investigate Anti-hunting Sabotage
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is currently investigating a case of possible hunter harassment in Starke County that could have had deadly consequences. The DNR's Law District 10 posted the following photos to their Facebook page late last month, showing what appeared to be a large cut in a tree set up for hunting.
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10 Great Fishing Fails Caught on Video
All anglers know that not every fishing trip will be successful. At the end of the day, coming back safe with all your gear intact and a smile on your face is what matters. That being said, sometimes you can lose a fish with spectacular results and these anglers are fortunate enough to have that moment recorded for posterity.
WARNING: The following videos include strong and colorful language.
1. The sea lion caper
http://youtu.be/sGz-NIBZwEw
Just because you landed the fish does not mean the fight is necessarily over, especially when there are hungry predators about....
6 Questions with 3-Gunner Staff Sergeant Sarah Fontyn
I first met Sarah Fontyn, Staff Sergeant for the US Army Reserve, at the Brownells Pro-Am 3-gun match this summer. Sarah shoots for the Task Force Dagger Foundation (TFD) team. TFD is dedicated to providing immediate assistance to wounded, ill, or injured soldiers and their families, and the families of casualties from the United States Army Special Operations Command. It was during our first 3-gun match together that she told me her story of being wounded when her vehicle was hit by an IED during a deployment to Iraq in 2004, and how...
Video: The 1-yard Elk Shot
Sometimes, you really do get what you wish for. This hunter got the shot of a lifetime when a bull elk was called in and passed by at touching distance. In fact, if it had been any closer, it probably would have bumped into the hunter himself.
http://youtu.be/InScYVAg_BQ
If you've ever wondered how truly oblivious bull elk are, a 2004 study by researchers at Montana State University found that males are about six times more likely than females to be killed by wolves. This is because...
Hiker Snapped Photos of the 300-pound Bear That Killed Him
The state of New Jersey has never had a fatal bear attack in the 150 years since officials started keeping records, but that changed in September when a 22-year-old hiker was brutally mauled by a black bear near West Milford. As it turns out, the college student and his friends actually photographed the bear shortly before being attacked, and those photos were released recently by the West Milford Police Department.
"The group began to take photographs of the bear with their cellphones and the bear began walking towards them," read a Read more »
Gun Sales Reach Record Heights on Black Friday
Televisions, gaming consoles, and toys were not the only top sellers on Black Friday this year, as customers turned out in droves for firearms as well. Since the early 2000s, the day after Thanksgiving has been one of the busiest for retailers, and that means busy as well for the federal employees who run background checks at the FBI's criminal justice center in West Virginia. Only 500 employees are responsible for every request that comes in through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which is about one per second on an average day. On Black Friday last year, NICS'...