OutdoorHub
NRA Freestyle’s ‘Media Lab’: Fatal Funnel
Position changes everything, and with the right position you can go from being vulnerable to a position of complete strength. In Media Lab Episode 10 “Fatal Funnel,” Dom Raso breaks down a scene from The Bourne Legacy to show how positioning in hallways can be used to defend and escape.
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Leaders of Conservation: Vanishing Paradise Outreach Coordinator Andy McDaniels
This interview with Vanishing Paradise Sportsmen Outreach Coordinator Andy McDaniels is part of OutdoorHub’s Leaders of Conservation series, in which we sit down with leaders of the North American conservation movement to learn more about the stories behind their organizations and people.
The Mississippi River Delta is known by many names. It has been called at one time or another the "Most Southern Place on Earth" and the "Sportsman's Paradise." The delta is one of North America's most diverse ecosystems for fish and wildlife, all shielded by coastal marshes, forests of cypress...
Video: Mother Giraffe Fends Off Lion Pride
It is a common misconception that giraffes have no predators. Lions, hyenas, crocodiles, and even packs of wild dogs can bring one of the slender creatures down, but not usually without cost. A thunderous kick from a giraffe's long legs is more than enough to keep most carnivores at bay. In this video credited to Barbara Westbrook, a mother giraffe faces down a half-dozen lions by herself to save her calf.
After some tense maneuvering, the lions decide they wanted easier prey instead.
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Video: Anchovies Mistaken for Oil Slick off California Coast
The dark, undulating mass beneath La Jolla, California's waters on Tuesday may have been mistaken for an oil spill, but it was actually comprised of millions of tiny northern anchovies. According to Fox 5 San Diego, students from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography were able to capture video of the anchovy swarm as it massed off the coast of San Diego near Scripps Pier.
"It was remarkable. From a distance it looked like an oil slick and you think 'What happened?' and then you get...
The Four Best Weeks for a Whitetail Hunting Road Trip
When planning an out-of-state trip to hunt whitetails, one of the first questions to be answered is when to schedule the trip. There are four weeks that I believe offer the best chances of success. Let’s examine each of the periods and provide you with some information that will help you better plan the timing of your hunt.
The first week of the season
The first week of the season offers the opportunity to catch deer totally off-guard. Their daily patterns are somewhat predictable in late summer and early fall. Bucks are often still keeping to bachelor groups and are quite visible during...
Sling Bow Maker Sues Illinois DNR over Regulation “Discrimination”
When taking pictures of harvested game, it is customary for many hunters to display the gun, bow, or other tool they took the animal with. For John "Chief A.J." Huffer's snapshots, however, there is no rifle, bow, or shotgun in sight. In his photos, the Illinois resident holds up a modified slingshot that fires 28-inch-long arrows. Huffer says the invention, which is a type of "sling bow," is powerful enough to take deer, moose, and even grizzly bears. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) disagrees, and is now fighting a lawsuit from Huffer over whether his sling bow can be used...
Critical Concepts for Boat Control
I’ve probably asked a thousand anglers what they struggle with most. Almost all of them have asked me back, “How do I control my boat in the wind?”
Boat control is one of the most critical concepts for any angler to master.
A stiff breeze can be tough, but active fish often concentrate on the windy side of a lake or reservoir where the food chain goes wild, and walleyes can use their keen sight and lateral lines to their advantage. The wind breaks up light penetration as well.
We’ve all seen it. Wind blows, hammer fish, wind stops, and so does the bite. The key is to learn...
Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX Boots
The problem with durable boots is that they can sometimes become a sauna for your feet. This is less of a problem in winter, but as the temperature spikes and summer comes into full swing, you'll find yourself wishing for some sandals---or even Crocs---rather than a pair of hard-stomping boots. Seeing as how flip-flops are hardly the best choice for rough terrain, for the summer hiking season I decided to opt for something tougher, but still breathable. To that end, Vasque sent me a pair of their very meshy, very breathable Read more »
US Army to Seek New Service Handgun
The US Army has officially indicated that it is potentially looking to replace more than 200,000 Beretta M9 pistols currently in service with a more powerful and precise firearm. According to Military.com, the Army will be holding a meeting with major gun makers later this month to talk about the Modular Handgun System (MHS), a project that is aimed at providing soldiers with a more effective handgun.
"It's a total system replacement---new gun, new ammo, new holster, everything," said Daryl...
Columbia Tamiami II Long Sleeve Shirt
Summertime is in full swing, and it’s been hot and humid throughout most of the country, especially here in Oklahoma. The fishing has been exceptional, but it can get pretty uncomfortable if you are not wearing the right clothing while out at the local fishing hole. Columbia recently sent me their Tamiami II Long Sleeve Shirt to review, and after a series of field tests I have been truly surprised at how it stands up to the heat and rigors of summertime fishing.
The shirt’s innovative Omni-Wick system keeps you cool and allows for maximum breathability---heat escapes your body and...
Beretta Introduces the New 690 Field III Shotgun in Tuscany
A small, single star is the icon of Castel Monastero. The ancient 1,000-year-old buildings of the village-turned-hotel take a commanding view of the olive groves and vineyards on the rolling hills of Tuscany that surround it. The small, eight-pointed star is understated, never prominently displayed, but always within sight, on towels, china, or even the Italian leather “Do Not Disturb” hanger on the inside of the door of each room. It is a graceful reminder of the excellence of service the hotel offers.
Since the mid-70s, Beretta’s 686/687 line has been the star in a series of...
GoPro Introduces New Sportsman Mount
Over the past decade GoPro cameras have quickly grown to dominate outdoor filmmaking. Characterized by their lightweight frames and rugged durability, GoPro's products are the first choice of many action sport enthusiasts. These wearable cameras have also proven to be invaluable to the outdoor film industry, providing both filmmakers and individual sportsmen the ability to record point-of-view video while in the field. Now for the first time GoPro has announced a new mount dedicated especially to the stewards of the great outdoors: sportsmen.
Similar mounting equipment has been designed for...
Video: Sheep Make Cunning Play to Escape Coyotes
A group of sheep blocked a road in Topsfield, Massachusetts for several hours, but instead of being irate, herd owner Eugene McKay said he was impressed by what his sheep did to escape a band of coyotes.
"The reality is, the coyotes come out after storms, and they run at the sheep and bunch them up in the corner," McKay told WCVB.
Recent storms in the area allowed a number of coyotes to break into the fenced-off enclosure where the sheep were staying. The fuzzy animals instinctively...
Ten Top Self-defense Ammo Picks
With a controversial topic like the best self-defense ammo out there, I have to include a couple of explanations and disclaimers.
You have to be careful about blanket statements when it comes to ammo performance. There are just too many variables. For example, you can’t necessarily say things like “Mega Blaster Yellow Tips” are the best. You might be able to say “Mega Blaster Yellow Tips 9x19mm 124-grain +P loads are the best!” It may very well be the case that the .40 Smith & Wesson loading of Mega Blaster is not so hot, but maybe the .45 ACP, 9x19mm, and .380 ACP loads are....
Video: Man Uses Forwarder to Rescue Bear
In the hands of most people, forwarders are forestry vehicles used to carry away felled logs and other debris. In the hands of this lumberjack, it is the perfect machine to rescue a bear with his head stuck in a large milk jug. Manipulating the vehicle like a giant version of a claw crane arcade game, the man is able to successfully remove the jug from the frightened animal after a few tries. The black bear then quickly escapes, probably embarrassed about the entire incident.
According to the video, this "rescue" occurred somewhere in Wisconsin.
http://youtu.be/Wu6nKXcsf7g...
Video: Metallica Releases Bizarre Short Film in Response to Bear Hunt Documentary
Metallica frontman James Hetfield found himself the target of criticism from fans after he announced that he will be narrating The Hunt, a History miniseries chronicling bear hunts in Alaska's Kodiak Island. Hetfield had previously made it known that he was an enthusiastic hunter and gun owner, yet the announcement of the documentary seemed to surprise many music lovers. Some even went on to protest the band's performance at the Glastonbury Festival late last month, but...
Facebook Removes Hunting Pictures Taken by Texas Cheerleader
Kendall Jones, 19, ignited a firestorm of debate when she posted pictures from her African hunting safari on Facebook, prompting criticism and even death threats. The photographs show Jones, a Texas Tech cheerleader, with various animals, including Africa's "Big Five" species: elephant, lion, white rhino, water buffalo, and leopard. According to Reuters, Facebook removed the pictures from the site last week due to what the company regarded as policy violations.
"We remove reported...
Survey: Duck Numbers Up, Wetland Conditions Look Good
Last week the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released their annual Trends in Duck Breeding Populations report, finding an increased abundance of the birds along with improved habitat conditions. The report is based on a survey of ducks across more than two million square miles in the United States and Canada. Preliminary estimates put the the total duck population in this range at 49.2 million birds, eight percent higher than last year's count.
"It looks like another good waterfowl...
‘The Freelance Bowhunter’ by Bernie Barringer
I’ve always been a fan of books. I sincerely hope they never “go away,” as some predict they will with the advent of the digital age. A good book inspires me, especially when it’s a good book about hunting. Bernie Barringer’s book, The Freelance Bowhunter: DIY Strategies for the Traveling Whitetail Hunter, is a good book about hunting, and it makes me want to go hunting.
I’ve served as editor for many hunting and gun books in my day. I’ve read many good...
Hooked Shark Bites Swimmer in California
A long-distance swimmer was injured in a shark attack on Saturday off California's Manhattan Beach after the man swam into the vicinity of a hooked great white. According to KTLA 5, 50-year-old Steven Robles was swimming with friends near the beach pier when the shark chomped down on the right side of his abdomen. The attack happened as a number of anglers were attempting to release the fish from their line. Officials later closed down the beach and were able to guide the shark back into the...