OutdoorHub
DARPA Releases Video of First-ever Guided .50-caliber Round
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently released video of what the agency claims to be the first successful live-fire test of a guided .50-caliber bullet. The tests were part of DARPA's EXACTO program, an effort to create state-of-the-art systems to increase the effectiveness of military marksmen.
"For military snipers, acquiring moving targets in unfavorable conditions, such as high winds and dusty terrain commonly found in Afghanistan, is extremely challenging with current technology," DARPA states on its Read more »
Zastava PAP M77 PS Rifle
There are quite a few good deals to be had in the firearms world nowadays. There’s a glut of AR-pattern rifles and parts available at affordable prices, owed to the fact that many panic-buyers are still attempting to offset their overspending, and that manufacturers are ramping up production to meet demand.
Being able to build a good AR-15 for about $700 is well and good for the general shooting public, but what about those of us who like our guns to be a bit more unique---and supply a bigger bang? Luckily, for those of us whose tastes are a bit more unconventional, Century International...
Finding and Catching Michigan Rainbow Trout on Sunny Summer Days
When I think of Michigan trout fishing, I often think of an angler clad in waders wearing a vest loaded with gear and a perfectly-executed back cast gently caressing the water as the morning mist rises slowly in the air. The tied imitation barely kisses the surface of the water before the rainbow trout inhales what it thinks is an easy meal. The rod bends and the angler feels the fish’s desperate attempts to flee. As the fight wanes, the angler cradles the fish in the current, removes the hook, and the fish swims back to the cover of the bank.
Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Most summer...
TwistRate: A Crowdfunder for the Outdoors
Thanks to the internet, it's now easier than ever for modern inventors to share their ideas with the world, but finding a right platform can be tricky. Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard of crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. The premise is simple: put your idea on a pedestal and see how the world reacts. If your have something of merit, than you'll likely see money pour in from thousands of eager funders who want nothing more than to see you succeed---and possibly a more material reward.
TwistRate is the...
Video: Utah Officials Airdrop Fish to Stock Remote Lakes
How do you stock fish in lakes so remote that they are only accessible by plane? Utah wildlife officials have found that the best solution is to simply drop fingerlings straight from planes themselves. According to KHON 2, these aerial stockings only occur once a year when several planes deliver thousands of tiger trout, brook trout, and rainbow trout to lakes across Utah. While the fall may look like a lethal one, officials are careful to drop the fish from altitudes they can survive.
“They kind of...
Competitive Shooter Responds to Bear Break-in with Shotguns
Rose Hill of Park County, Colorado has a new nickname after an encounter with a bear in her home last week. According to KDVR, 15-year-old "Grizzly Rose" Hill grabbed not one but two shotguns when she heard loud noises come from her garage. She arrived on the scene just in time to witness her dogs chase a bear out through a large hole it had made in the garage door, presumably to rummage through the house for food. Using the skills she learned as a competitive shooter, Hill shot the bear a total of...
Montana Closes Sage Grouse Hunting in Most Areas
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWP) announced on Thursday that it will be closing sage grouse hunting in all or part of the 32 counties that currently allow it. Hunters will still be able to harvest the birds in a limited capacity in 20 counties, but officials have also shortened the two-month season to just one month. Bag limits have not been changed.
“This is somewhat of a tragic day,” FWP Commissioner Matthew Tourtlotte told Read more »
Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act Shut Down in Senate
The Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2014 was defeated in the Senate last Thursday after it failed to garner the necessary 60 votes that would have allowed it to proceed. The bill, which had been voted through a procedural motion just days earlier by a 82-12 margin, was significant in that it was supported by both Republicans and Democrats. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the bill would have provided states with the ability to build more public shooting ranges, increase access for sportsmen and...
Video: Tired of Twisted Line? Meet the Straightcast Reel
One of the most common complaints anglers have with a regular spinning reel is that lines can become snarled up, resulting in a frustrating mess. New Jersey-based Kendra Gear is banking on this frustration to drive sales when they debut their Straightcast Reel at this week's ICAST 2014 show. The Straightcast allows users to cast as they would with a normal spinning reel, but retrieve in a baitcasting configuration.
"Because of its rotating spool and ability to manipulate the position of the line to the rod, the Straightcast Reel has the...
Starr’s South African Safari, Dispatch One: Nyala and Caracal
Greetings from South Africa! For the past few days my “to do” list has read, “Go to Africa. Hunt. Make memories,” and I’ve been doing just that. I’m leading a group of five female hunters in the Eastern Cape with Starr & Bodill African Safaris, of which I am a co-owner along with my father Dwaine Starr and professional hunter Louis Bodill. Here are a few highlights from our hunts, so far.
Nyala
My hunting partner Michelle Whitney Bodenheimer and I started our first day in search of warthogs. We were located near Fort...
L’Oréal Parts with Aspiring Model after Hunting Photo Emerges
Axelle Despiegelaere, 17, got a taste of international fame after photographs of her at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil went viral. Cheering on the Belgian national team in her native country's colors and a horned hat during a soccer match against Russia, Despiegelaere quickly became an icon of the World Cup. According to The Independent, cosmetics and beauty giant L'Oreal took notice of the young aspiring model and...
Study: Deer Hunting Helps Replenish Forests
A new study by scientists at Purdue University has confirmed what many conservationists have long believed: hunting deer allows forests to recover.
Sportsmen and conservationists across the country rejoiced as the population of whitetail deer skyrocketed over the past few decades, but now many view the growing population with concern. In states like Indiana, deer numbers proved to be nearly unmanageable as early as the 1990s. In state parks, where hunting was not historically allowed, the appetite of burgeoning deer populations drove out native plants like trillium, lilies, and tree...
Columbia Sportswear Zero Rules Short Sleeve Shirt
Fishing, backpacking, hiking, and camping are all-important outdoor summertime activities that bring friends and family together to make memories that will last a lifetime. The one setback to the summer months is the heat, which can make being outside for long periods of time pretty uncomfortable and sometimes downright unbearable. When Columbia Sportswear came out with their new Zero Rules short-sleeved t-shirts this spring, I was anxious to try them out over the summer months to see whether they do, in fact, “keep you cool when you sweat.”
I recently received one of the Zero Rules...
Fly Fishing the Hex Hatch on the Au Sable River
The fish took my fly with a loud splash in the darkness, not much more than about four or five rod lengths from Chris Lessway’s drift boat. When I shot the rod tip skyward, we were one.
It was a good fish, putting a nice bend in the seven-weight fly rod, I worked quickly to pick up the slack line and get the fish on the reel, but as soon as I did---before I even put any pressure on it---it came unbuttoned.
Rats. So that’s how it’s going to be, eh?
I have a love/hate relationship with the hex hatch, which seems like just about every other Michigan fly fisherman’s favorite time...
Rabid Deer Attacks Pennsylvania Woman
A deer seen foaming at the mouth assaulted a woman in East Huntingdon Township, Pennsylvania as she was about to enter a Sherwin Williams store on Tuesday. According to the Associated Press, Rachael McGough was preparing open the store, where she worked as a manager, when she saw the deer and stopped to take a picture. Not interested in posing, the deer charged McGough.
“Oh my God! This deer is going to kill me,” McGough told Read more »
Photo Purports to Show Giant Worm-like Creature
The picture of a giant earthworm supposedly found in Provincia de Napo, Ecuador is causing a stir online as experts debate whether the photograph is real, and if so, what species this mammoth worm belongs to. The photograph was uploaded to Project Noah by user hoppy4840, who said he found the worm in 2009 while hiking through the foothills of the Sumaco Volcano.
The image has since been posted to Facebook, reddit, and other social media websites. Some online commentators express skepticism over whether the photograph is real, but...
Video: Training to Shoot on the Move with a Treadmill
How do you train to shoot on the move? In the video below, Dave Harrington uses a treadmill while slinging lead at the range. While the exercise may seem comical to some, Harrington is retired weapons instructor from the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg and spent a combined 23 years in the US military. Harrington also spent 16 years in the Special Forces.
It's no wonder he makes it look so easy.
http://youtu.be/NguwoQ6BnFA...
Study: Fish Can Form Bonds, Make “Friends”
Scientists in a joint study conducted by McMaster University, the University of St. Andrews, and Anglia Ruskin University have found that fish can recognize other fish and even develop preferences towards one another. According to the BBC, the researchers found that tiny sticklebacks are able to remember the individual fish they have spent time with, and are even capable of forming "cliques."
"We think the fish prefer to shoal with familiar individuals and interact more with them," said Mike Webster, one of the...
Missouri Governor Vetoes Two Captive Deer Bills
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon vetoed two bills on Tuesday that would have redefined captive deer, also referred to by some as farmed deer, as livestock. Senate Bill 506 and House Bill 1326 would have transferred the oversight of captive whitetails from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to the Department of Agriculture, a move supported by many deer breeders and owners of high-fence hunting preserves.
“For more than 75 years, our Department of Conservation has been held up as a model for wildlife management agencies across the country because of its incredible success,”...
Beretta’s New 690 Field III: First Shooting Impressions
The over-under shotgun is arguably the most effective gun for wing and clay shooting. As a confirmed side-by-side man, I truly love the older style of double gun, but reality is reality and the advantages of the over-under simply outweigh the beauty and grace of a side-by-side. First, the lower barrel is located much more in line with the axis of recoil than with any other action type (with the exception of some specialty guns designed for competition). The low first barrel gives the shooter less muzzle rise and allows quicker acquisition of the next shot. Second, the stacked barrels afford...