Night Hunting 101: Expert Tips on Gear, Optics, and Tactics (Video)
Night hunting demands equipment that can pierce darkness, and experts say you don’t need to break the bank to get started. Thermal scope resolution matters most; a 384‑pixel unit reliably identifies game at 75 yards, while 256‑pixel models only show vague heat blobs. Budget options like the AGM Rattler V2 cost around $1,200 and deliver sufficient performance for predators and hogs. Complementary gear—red‑light flashlights, sturdy tripods, and a precise rifle—completes a cost‑effective night‑hunting setup.
Quick Strike Podcast: The Secret Spoon for Catching Big Shad
Steve Reigles, creator of Steve’s UV Leaves, explains why the traditional willow‑leaf shad spoon remains the most effective lure for American shad across the East Coast. He details a simple on‑bank Carolina‑style rig using a short leader, barrel swivel and...
Calling Mountain Lions at Close Range Is a Predator Hunt Unlike Anything Else
Outdoor writer Scott Haugen recounts a high‑stakes cougar hunt in Oregon’s Cascade foothills, where he used electronic calls, a short‑barreled 12‑gauge shotgun and a 6.8 Western rifle to take a female mountain lion at under 50 yards. After two hours of calling...
Here’s How Your Granddaddy Foraged for Nuts, Berries, and Fruits to Live Off the Land
The Outdoor Life feature recounts how the author, an Indiana outdoor editor, turns unexpected wind‑blown fruit and seasonal nuts into gourmet preserves, wines, and desserts. He harvests wild strawberries, blackberries, persimmons, pawpaws, and a variety of nuts, often producing three...
5 Overlooked, Old-School Trout Flies to Throw This Spring
The Outdoor Life piece spotlights five classic trout flies—Whitlock’s Near Nuff Sculpin, Goddard Caddis, Brassie, Partridge and Yellow, and the Clouser Crayfish—as overlooked yet effective options for spring fishing. Each pattern dates back several decades, yet their simple designs and...
Idaho Just Made It Much Harder to Get a Lifetime Hunting License After Nonresidents, Influencers Abuse It
Idaho lawmakers have increased the residency requirement for a lifetime hunting, fishing or trapping license from six months to five years, effective July 1. The change follows complaints that out‑of‑state hunters and social‑media influencers were temporarily moving to the state, buying...
How to Catch Channel Catfish — and Why You Should Target Them This Spring
Channel catfish, often overlooked for larger flatheads and blue catfish, become prime targets in spring as river temperatures rise to 50 °F. Anglers report that scent‑rich baits like hot dogs soaked in Kool‑Aid, chicken livers, or fresh shad trigger aggressive feeding,...
The USDA Just Finalized Faster Environmental Reviews for Public-Land Projects
The U.S. Department of Agriculture finalized a sweeping overhaul of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rules, rescinding many existing regulations and imposing strict caps on review timelines and document length. Assessments for projects such as mining or logging are...
Quick Strike Podcast: The Early-Season Salmon Bite Most Anglers Miss
Landlocked Atlantic salmon in New England, especially New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee, become prime targets in early April when ice melts and shallow waters fill with spawning smelt. Guide Tim Moore advises anglers to abandon deep trolling and instead flat‑line live...
Kentucky Wildlife Officials Want to Restrict Wakeboats. State Lawmakers Won’t Let Them
Kentucky wildlife officials proposed 200‑foot buffer zones and a list of 17 eligible lakes to curb wakeboat‑generated wakes, aligning the state with neighboring regulations. In March, lawmakers amended Senate Bill 39 to block any new wakeboat restrictions, effectively vetoing the...
Video: Sleep In and Take Your Time When Targeting Turkeys That Won’t Gobble
Seasoned turkey hunters often rush, leading to missed shots. Recent advice emphasizes sleeping in and slowing down to improve decision‑making and increase success. Arriving later lets hunters avoid crowded zones and target ground‑roosting birds, while extended listening periods can reveal...
Quick Strike Podcast: The First Stripers of the Year Are Already Biting. Here’s How to Find Them
Early-season striped bass, or stripers, begin biting along the Atlantic coast as soon as water temperatures rise above 40°F in March. Captain Brian Williams of Ocean City, New Jersey, emphasizes locating mud‑bottom bays and tidal river temperature breaks, using side‑scan...
Amazon Big Spring Sale: High-Lumen Olight Flashlights at Low Prices
Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is offering steep discounts on Olight’s lineup of flashlights, with savings of up to 30 percent. Pocket‑sized EDC models such as the BatonTurbo and I3T are now priced under $13, while high‑lumen options like the Marauder...
Podcast: How to Choose a Pot Call, According to a Champion Turkey Caller
Champion turkey caller Dustin Jones, winner of the 2025 D.D. Adams Award and the Grand National friction championship, explained his formula for selecting the ideal pot call on the Outdoor Life podcast. He recommends a black slate surface with a...
Video: I Turkey Hunt Out of a Van for 3 Months Every Spring. Welcome to the Turkey Van Tour
Outdoor Life’s creator launched the sixth Turkey Van Tour, a three‑month, van‑based turkey‑hunting series that travels across the United States. He kicked off the season in Mississippi, using a non‑resident public‑land tag to hunt on expansive state lands. The series...
Michigan Knifemaker Closes Shop After Admitting to Using Chinese Steel and Labeling It USA-Made
Michigan‑based Bark River Knives announced it is closing after confirming that several recent models were produced with imported Chinese steel while being marketed as U.S.–made CPM‑154. Owner Mike Stewart said the decision was a cost‑cutting measure and took full responsibility....
Georgia Goes All-Out on Wild Hog Control by Legalizing Drones, Relaxing License Rules
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 946, legalizing the use of drones to locate feral hogs and easing trapping regulations. The legislation removes license requirements for hog trapping, provided captured animals are killed, and permits hunting from motor vehicles...
One of Canada’s Best Duck-Hunting Provinces Is Now Restricting Nonresidents. Here’s Why
Saskatchewan announced that non‑resident waterfowl hunters will lose the year‑round game‑bird license and be limited to two five‑day permits in the fall and one in the spring, effective before the 2026‑27 season. The move targets freelance American hunters and illegal...
‘I Was Hooked.’ This Volunteer-Led Program Has Introduced 100,000 New Duck Hunters Across North America
Delta Waterfowl’s First Hunt program has now introduced 100,000 newcomers to duck hunting across the United States and Canada. The volunteer‑driven initiative relies on a network of nearly 400 local chapters that teach basics, promote conservation, and raise funds, exemplified...
‘Dead Deer All Over the Place.’ Corn Spill on Minnesota Railroad Lures 100-Plus Whitetails to Their Deaths
A northbound freight train near Thief River Falls ruptured, spilling corn across an 80‑mile stretch of track in northern Minnesota. The sugary grain attracted white‑tailed deer, which gathered on the rails and were struck by passing trains, resulting in at...
Quick Strike Podcast: Why More Anglers Are Suddenly Obsessed with This Hard-Fighting Fish
Jack Crevalle, once dismissed as a table nuisance, are gaining a reputation as a premier in‑shore sport fish. Early‑season south‑wind events along the South Florida coast produce massive schools that attract light‑tackle and fly anglers. Angler Zach Miller highlights fly‑fishing...
How to Catch the Biggest Bass of Your Life This Spring
Spring’s warming waters trigger largemouth bass to move from deep winter haunts to shallow ledges, where egg‑filled females feed voraciously on baitfish. This pre‑spawn feeding frenzy creates a narrow window—typically when temperatures reach the mid‑50s—for anglers to target trophy‑size fish....
Optics Planet Deals: Save on Trail Cameras From Tactacam, Bushnell, Stealth Cam, and Cuddeback
Optics Planet is running a limited‑time promotion on a wide selection of trail cameras, featuring discounts up to 78% across top brands such as Tactacam, Bushnell, Stealth Cam, Wildgame Innovations and Cuddeback. The Tactacam Ultra, Outdoor Life’s 2025 editor’s choice,...
‘Our Jaws Just Dropped.’ Jumbo Perch Caught Through the Ice Should Break a 44-Year-Old State Record
Veteran ice fisherman Alan Hintz landed a 2.99‑pound yellow perch on Devil’s Lake in North Dakota, a catch that appears set to break a 44‑year‑old state record. The fish was measured at 16.5 inches and, after rounding, qualifies as a...
Get a Garmin Chronograph for $100 Off
Garmin’s Xero C1 Pro chronograph, a leading device for measuring arrow speed and ballistic performance, is now offered with a $100 discount. The promotion reduces the price to roughly $600, positioning it $200 below the newer Xero C2 model. The...