When Should You Start Planning Next Year’s Hunt?

When Should Your Start Planning Next Year's Hunt featured image showing kitchen wall tent set up and ready.

Planning for a successful hunt next year starts earlier than many people think. From reflecting on last season to securing tags and getting gear ready, early planning has made a big difference for me, and I’ve seen how being proactive helps avoid trouble and disappointment. QUICK LOOK: Hunt Planning Tips and Pitfalls Every year, popular … Read more

Best Coolers For Transporting Game Meat

Best Coolers for Transporting Game Meat Featured Image.

Over the years, I’ve learned that the right cooler can make transporting venison, elk, or any game meat much easier and a lot less stressful. If you’ve ever hauled meat from a successful hunt, you know keeping it cool, clean, and safe is the difference between a great story and a real headache. QUICK LOOK: … Read more

7 Late-Season Whitetail Strategies

Late-Season Whitetail Strategies featured image showing a hunter standing in the snow by his UTV opposite an image of a nice whitetail buck.

Late-season whitetail hunting can feel like a completely different pursuit compared to the earlier parts of deer season. By this point, deer behavior switches from rut-based patterns to routines centered around energy conservation, food, and survival. Over the years, I’ve found that making the right adjustments is essential if you want to spot activity and … Read more

Transporting Game Meat Legally And Safely

Transporting Game Meat Legally and Safely featured image showing a cooler packed with deer meat.

Transporting game meat the right way keeps it safe to eat and helps avoid legal headaches. For anyone who hunts, whether it’s deer, elk, waterfowl, or upland birds, what happens after the harvest is just as important as what happens in the field. Let’s break down what’s involved in moving game meat from where you … Read more

7 Late-Season Elk Hunting Strategies

Late-Season Elk Hunting Strategies featured image showing a hunter walking up a snowy trail next to an image of a large bull elk crossing a snow covered sage brush flat.

Late-season elk hunting brings in a whole new set of challenges, and if you ask me, some of the most rewarding experiences of the season. As the weather cools and hunting pressure drops, elk become less vocal, tougher to pattern, and even more determined to find safety and food. QUICK LOOK: Key Late-Season Elk Hunting … Read more

Field Dressing And Butchering Your Elk: A Step-by-Step Guide

Guide to Field Dressing and Butchering Elk featured image.

Successfully field dressing and butchering an elk in the field helps preserve meat quality and makes the packing job a lot easier. When I’m deep in the backcountry after a hard-won elk, being ready for this job with the right knowledge and gear really pays off. Understanding each step cuts down on wasted time and … Read more

The Role Of Calling And Decoys In Elk Hunting

The Role of Calling and Decoys in Elk Hunting featured image showing an elk decoy, a bull elk mounting a cow elk, and the author packing meat out after a successful elk hunt.

Calling and decoys play really important roles in elk hunting. Both tools work together to convince elk that another member of their herd is nearby, making careful use of elk instincts to pull them into your location. QUICK LOOK: Tips for Using Calls and Decoys in Elk Hunting Through my experiences hunting in the Rockies … Read more

9 Tips And Techniques on Scouting For Elk

Scouting for Elk Featured image showing a hunter looking through his binoculars as the sun sets at two bull elk in the distance.

Scouting for elk can be thrilling and a bit challenging, especially if it’s your first season or you’re hunting a new area. To improve my chances, I use both digital tools and on-the-ground techniques, focusing on key elk needs: food, water, cover, and security. QUICK LOOK: Scouting for Elk Tips and Tactics Every part of … Read more

How To Choose The Right Rifle And Ammunition For Elk Hunting

How to Choose a Rifle and Ammo for Elk Hunting featured image.

Preparing for an elk hunt calls for more thought than just grabbing any rifle and a handful of bullets off the shelf. My experience has shown me that the right combination of rifle and ammunition can make or break your hunt. Elk are large, tough animals, and making ethical, effective shots is a responsibility every … Read more