Right Place, Right Time, By Dave Beach
The anticipation was growing as September approached. 2016 was to be my fifth year of DIY archery elk hunting in Colorado. My decision to pass on a cow at fifteen yards and full draw, on …
This is Hunting, By Robbie Kroger
The stereotypical picture of hunting isn’t always the most truthful one. There is a perceived idea in the hunting and non-hunting communities of what hunting is — that hunting is about killing. This label is …
The Season of a Lifetime, By Scott Reidy
For many of us hunting is a year-round endeavor; planning, scouting, training, and finally the opening day is upon us. February of 2016 began no different for me, as I started training for the upcoming …
Shalas’áaw – Tlingit For “Deer With Full-Grown Antlers” By Casey McConnell
Having explored most of the mountains near our homes, my hunting partner and I were ready for the challenge of unfamiliar terrain. Pictures and online videos of huge bucks — for Sitka Blacktails at least …
The One Percent Billy, By David Gutschmidt
I couldn’t believe my eyes. When I checked the results in May of 2017 and realized that I had drawn a once-in-a-lifetime mountain goat tag, it felt too good to be true. I had always …
A Brooks Range Dream Come True, By Steve Opat
How does a bowhunter respond when his dream animal has pinned him down, and is staring through his soul from twenty-two yards away? Slowly, the animal — uncertain of what he saw move — circles …
The Alaska Sheep Project, By Ryan Clairmont
As any seasoned hunter knows, the preparation for a mountain hunt starts early. Planning for an Alaskan Dall sheep hunt is certainly no exception. This was our third Dall sheep hunt in Alaska, but it …
Brotherly Love, By Steve Shannon
“Don’t drown him; Mom will be pissed.” The backpack straps dug deep into my shoulders and the black flies flew like kamikaze pilots into my eyes and ears. It was all I could keep telling …
The Death of a Tyrant, By Paul C. Fast
I don’t like it when hunters give names to the animals they pursue. The Fireball Bull. The Fenceline Buck. Steve. It implies a familiarity and a routine that doesn’t do justice to the wildness of …
Almost, By Erik Kline
“Make sure you pick your weather; nothing’s worse than getting all the way in there and being stuck in the tent for a week.” Those words kept echoing in my mind as the lightning lit …