The walleye spawn, specifically in Wisconsin rivers, are triggered by a combination of environmental cues, including changes in water temperature, daylight hours, and water flow.
Plus a link to the website to check water temperatures at any time!
Wisconsinites chase walleyes throughout the year like kids chase ice cream trucks.
We are obsessed!
Walleye are prized for their firm, white flesh and mild, delicate flavor, making them a popular game fish for recreational anglers and commercial fishermen alike. Continue reading “3 Triggers for Predicting the Walleye Spawn”
Lots of people ice fish, but so many more people open water fish.
I absolutely love hardwater fishing but when I look outside at the -8 degree weather, I’ll admit I’m ready for some sunshine!
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and there’s still time to order a loved one something that will get them excited for warmer days. Continue reading “For the Love of Fishing – 5 Items that will earn you brownie points this Valentine’s Day”
Hello again outdoors world! Just in case you have been hiding under a rock somewhere the past month, hunting season is here! Millions of people are now venturing afield in search of game big and small. I am not any different than most of the hunters out there, and I am usually stuck hunting public lands. After a couple decades of learning I have developed many different tricks to hunting public lands and I have decided to let you in on how I have had lots of success doing so. Continue reading “7 Tips to Successfully Hunt Public Lands”
I know winter is still in full swing for some of you in the northern states, for many of us winter camping is a special time. I’ve been a few times and of course the challenge is always to stay warm while sleeping. Continue reading “How to Sleep Warm Diagram”
Finding Your Correct Draw Length by guest author Robert James Foort
Archery is a technical sport, but once you know the ins and outs correctly, nothing can stop you from becoming a champ!
A few of the terms that one might hear before buying a crossbow are draw length, draw weight, speed, and kinetic energy. Step by step, we learn each of them so that when we go out on the field, fast learning is confirmed.
What is the more cost effective option: buying ammo in bulk or reloading? In times of ammo shortages, reloading seems like the most cost-effective means of getting ammo. However, when ammo is in plenty, reloading can seem like a chore.
Jim Willes gives a review of the popular Remington 783.
Welcome back outdoors world, thank you for stopping by! If you look back at an article I wrote early last year, you know after my research, I purchased a Remington Arms Model 783 7mm. I had high expectations for this gun, all I needed was some time in the woods with this firearm to confirm I’d made the right choice. Here is what I learned.
6/3/15 (Geneseo, IL) – Springfield Armory® is introducing a Flat Dark Earth (FDE) color tone variant across popular categories starting with the flagship M1A™ Loaded Precision Adjustable Stock (PAS) Rifle and the XD-S® 3.3” pistol in 9mm and .45acp calibers. Continue reading “Springfield Armory® Releases Flat Dark Earth”
Guest author Kevin Steffey of Deer Hunting Field shares his top 5 tips to help you hunt harder and more successfully in the rain.
Hunting during the rainy season can be a fun endeavor. Despite the fact that during rainy days the terrain is usually slippery and muddy, it is surely something you should try. The fun and the thrill that comes out of it are usually priceless. The way lovers find kissing in the rain magical is simply the same magical feeling that comes with deer hunting in the rain. Continue reading “5 Great Bow Hunting Tips That You Need To Know About For A Successful Rainy Day Deer Hunt”
Guest author Jennifer Walls of BuckWithBow.com shares her top tips for bowhunting from a blind.
The use of ground blinds to bow hunt the deer is becoming increasingly popular. Among other benefits, the blinds are a safer and more comfortable way to carry out your hunting activities.
But the lack of blind experience is limiting most of the bowhunters from enjoying the real benefits and comfort of this new hunting style.
Continue reading “Deer Hunting From a Ground Blind – 6 Common Mistakes Bow Hunters Make”
This list could really apply to male or new hunters as well. But as a woman there have been several things I’ve learned over the years and my first Do It Yourself Solo hunt changed me forever. There’s nothing wrong with hunting in a group or with another person, I thoroughly enjoy those experiences as well. However, I believe there are a few undeniable reasons hunters should take their game to the next level and experience the overwhelming sense of “I can” after a solo hunt. Continue reading “10 Reasons Women Should Try a DIY Solo Hunt”
Sometimes I have hunters ask me, “I’m going with an outfitter, what should I bring?” The simple answer is, just your license and your weapon…everything else is optional. It’s a fine balance between bringing what you need and bringing too much, and over the years I’ve seen hunters bring, and not bring, just about everything. Continue reading “6 Products to Bring On Your Next Hunt”
“Hunting Tip 002 – Don’t Poke Dead Things
This week’s hunting tip should be a no brainer – but listen in anyway. I’ll tell you why you shouldn’t poke dead things and what kind of photo I’ll accept for the giveaway.
Continue reading “#HuntFishTravel Podcast Hunting Tip 002 – Don’t Poke Dead Things”
“Hunting Tip 001 – Homemade Cover Scent” How to create cover scent from scratch and stay tuned for an upcoming giveaway announcement! Continue reading “#HuntFishTravel Podcast Hunting Tip 001 – Homemade Cover Scent”
We’ve discussed locations and blind types in our previous segments. Obviously, both are important but having good cover in the perfect spot is useless if you don’t do the right things once inside. Knowing what you can get away with in regards to movement is paramount to having success from the ground. Continue reading “Hunting from Natural Cover Part III by Blind Interaction”
Wide Open Spaces gives us 30 reasons why the general public wishes they could attend SHOT Show.
By: Samantha Lile January 25, 2015
The SHOT Show is the greatest display of firearms, hunting gear and military equipment the world has to offer, and the general public isn’t allowed to go.
Almost 64,000 shooting,hunting and outdoor trade affiliates attended the 2015 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) Jan. 20-23 at Las Vegas’ Sands Expo Center, where they bought and sold plenty of firearms, ammunition, outdoors and even law enforcement, tactical and military equipment from more than 1,600 companies representing 150 countries.
The SHOT show isn’t open to the public, but there’s at least 30 reasons we wish it was:
Asher Cain gives us the low down on what the 2015 ATA show was like from a 3 year old’s perspective.
By: Asher Cain (Written by Michelle Cain…he’s not that smart…yet)
Hi, my name is Asher and I’m three (holds up fingers to show you). My mommy says today we’re going to the ATA show. I don’t know what that is but mommy promised me that there are lots of toys there.
Continue reading “ATA 2015 – The Archery Trade Show From A 3 Year Old’s Perspective”
Let’s face it – every outdoorsman needs a good, durable, lantern. For those of us who spend time on the water at in the dark, wouldn’t a waterproof lantern that floats be just ticket? A lantern that floats. Sound like I am I asking for too much? Continue reading “Gear Review: Zippo Outdoors Rugged Lantern”
Going into the 2014 hunting season marked my 20th year of elk hunting. My elk hunting debut happened the fall after I turned 16. My uncle and I had just gotten our drivers licenses so we begged my dad to let us use the jeep so we could go hunting. Whether it was the lack of confidence in us actually killing anything or just to get us out of his hair he let us take the jeep. Continue reading “How to Bone Out an Elk”
PREFACE: This isn’t meant to be a how to guide for returning to archery after mastectomy; because the mastectomy experience is intensely individual with individual and unique challenges. This is merely my experience and from that I hope that others can learn, find some help, and most of know that it is possible to return to archery after a mastectomy. Continue reading “Archery After Mastectomy – YOU CAN DO IT!”
Throughout my years of enjoying the activity, I’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t and would like to offer up the following pointers for anyone interested in this particular style. Continue reading “Stumping 102 – Building the Perfect Arrow”
Five Reasons to Make Fond du Lac Your Late Summer Getaway
The dog days of summer are upon us, and that finds many of us longing for one last late summer getaway. Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, provides a great destination for anyone interested in the outdoors, plus plenty of activities for those in the family who may not be quite so outdoor oriented. Continue reading “Destination Review: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin”
If I had to choose one archery-related activity to entertain me the rest of my life, it would be stump shooting and I write this without a speck of hesitation. I’ll never forget the first time my Dad and I tried it. We had been shooting at box targets for a month and decided it was time for something new. It felt natural to be in the woods with our bows. In fact, while he was at work, I recall spending an entire Saturday wandering around the woods behind the house and having my bow with me the entire time – just for grins. I didn’t even bring an arrow. The combination of longbow and nature just felt right. Continue reading “Stump Shooting 101”
Sometimes being a traditional bowhunter is truly difficult, especially when the temptation of the modern industry surrounds you. This has been true for me and I’m certain it’s even harder for those of you with compound roots that flirt with the former when your confidence takes a hit. Traditional archery has plenty of obstacles accompanied. Becoming proficient is a constant battle that requires patience and dedication. For this reason, not everyone is willing to stick with it. Continue reading “Staying the Course”
We’ve all been in the situation of having to sight in a bow with a brand new sight on it. It can prove to be frustrating and time consuming. The main reason for this is most people approach it the wrong way. I, myself, have spent a lot of time running down range to retrieve my shotgun pattern of arrows wondering which were the bad shots and which were good. Arrows can be lost just trying to “get on paper”. Here is an easier, less frustrating method that hopefully will get you on the target with your first shot and sighted in quickly. Continue reading “Sighting in Your Compound Bow the Easier Way”
2013 PSE Dream Season DNA was a very popular bow; they manufactured a new riser that was stronger and lighter but still managed to push the super-fast IBO speeds PSE is known for.
But for most of us, a smooth draw is what we really want, and as a woman, I don’t want to have to fight with what in my opinion was an overly aggressive cam. Continue reading “Gear Review: 2014 PSE Dream Season DNA SP”
One of the most celebrated acronyms in all of bowhunting is “NBD”. Second only to “BBD” (Big Buck Down) in importance, these three letters will make even the heftiest of archers do cartwheels. Yup, there is no denying it, a “New Bow Day” is an event worthy of celebration. I’ve had several and every, single one of them was special. Continue reading “A Very Special “New Bow Day””
While I intended on finishing our broadhead conversation in this post, a discussion with a fellow bowhunter and aspiring traditionalist immediately threw me off course. He had just picked up a beautiful, vintage, fiberglass, Browning recurve and wanted to know if he could shoot vanes instead of feathers from it. He was an all-season, all-weather hunter and noticed that his feathers didn’t hold up well in those conditions. Plus, the majority of his arrows already had vanes on them and he didn’t feel like switching. Continue reading “Vanes or Feathers for Traditional Archery”
[Tweet “In archery, as in any sport, consistency is the key.”]
A machine, when programmed and running correctly, will perform a task the exact same way over and over. We need to program ourselves to shoot a bow that way. To do that, we need a well thought out and WRITTEN OUT shot sequence. Continue reading “Compound Bow Shot Sequence”
Finally, we get to talk about the business end of the arrow: the part that gets the job done. I must confess I am a broadhead junky. From the moment I bought my first pack, I’ve been infatuated with them. I love what they do; I love the engineering behind them; and I love the way they look. [Tweet “The broadhead is the quintessential symbol of bowhunting. via @Nick_Viau”]There is no emblem more iconic. When people see a broadhead, they know exactly what it means and exactly what it does, whether they are hunters or not.
Continue reading “Traditional Broadheads – Get to the Point”
When I emailed Carrie Z my title for this month’s article, I hated it the second I hit send. I knew that, once I started writing, it would turn into 7 KEYS TO SHOOT BETTER NOW, OR 8 KEYS OR 9 KEYS, ETC, ETC, ETC. There are just too many variables to shooting a bow properly to narrow them down to a certain number. But we have to start somewhere and I think these 5 will get us well on our way to better shooting. Continue reading “5 KEYS TO SHOOT A COMPOUND BOW BETTER NOW well…almost”
He was actually too busy getting kidnapped by raiders and escaping to study Christianity and to eventually become an Irish Saint.
March 17th is the day of his death and became forever called Saint Patrick’s Day.
I’m telling you right now, nothing would make me happier if someday I could have my own holiday where people party and drink green colored Harp beer or Black and Tans all day and celebrate all that is right in the world in remembrance of me! Continue reading “Saint Patrick was a bow hunter…well ok, not really.”
Paper Target archers are sometimes stuck between two masters – the NFAA and World Archery. The NFAA doesn’t have an arrow restriction. If you can fling it, it’s 27/64″ in diameter, and someone produced it – you can shoot it. World Archery, on the other hand, has a restriction on maximum arrow diameters – which is 9.3 millimeters (or 23/64″) in diameter. Continue reading “Gear Review: Carbon Express X-Buster and the X2 Series Easton Aluminum Arrows”
Now that you are interested in hunting with a traditional bow, it is time to consider draw weight and the absence of let-off, which I feel is the compound’s greatest advantage. Traditional bows do not assist you once fully drawn. Holding an 80lb longbow at full draw is monumentally tougher than an 80lb compound with let-off, which makes choosing a bow with the correct draw weight Continue reading “Weight a Minute: A Look at Traditional Draw Weight”
Archery appears to be a low impact sport where injuries are not common. One can walk up and down the shooting line at any club or event and think most archers could use a diet. I am going to go out on a limb here and ask you some questions. How many of you have a burning pain under your shoulder blade? How about your elbow? Anyone have arthritic pain in the joints of your fingers? If you answered yes to any of these question, chances are you have a repetitive sports injury. Continue reading “Warming Up, Exercises and Training for Archery”
When it comes to shooting your bow to the very best of your ability, it’s critical to find your correct draw length. So many people walk into an archery shop, spread their “wings” out over a ruler on the wall and have it declared, for example, “YOUR DRAW LENGTH IS 28.5”. A bow in that draw range is selected off the wall, adjusted to the declared draw length and, more times than not, it appears to fit the person perfectly. I know this because I’ve done it over and over myself while working in an archery shop during the silly season of July and August. Continue reading “Finding the Correct Draw Length for Your Compound Bow”
Recently I stayed at Haven by the Falls in Mercer, Wisconsin. The local area is heavily wooded and the privately located side by side duplex sits on the water near the small falls. If you are into hunting, fishing or anything outside it can be done from this centrally located property. The parking outside has plenty of room to accommodate boat trailers, other larger trailers or multiple vehicles. I found the property to rate at 3 out of 5. It is fairly average for condition and rates but could use improvements. Continue reading “Destination Review: Haven by the Falls, Mercer, Wisconsin”
As modern hunters in a high tech world, I am sure a lot of us have a hand held GPS units that we carry when venturing into the wilderness. The handheld GPS is arguably one of the most influential innovations in the hunting industry. It has single handedly change the way we hunt. With all the good things that this technological marvel has brought us, it has its drawn backs. Continue reading “Product Review: Fuse Products Mossy Oak Portable GPS Case”
SHOT Show is huge.
I mean GINORMOUS.
And to a gal that’s an admitted archery snob, a gun really, really has to stand out to grab my attention. I do love my hunting rifles and my S&W pistol but I don’t own any guns that get me all gooey inside.
So as I’m wandering up and down the 12.5 miles of aisles in the SandsExpoConvention Center, I really scrutinized the products, looking for the few I knew would stand out among the rest. Continue reading “5 SHOT Show Products That Stood Out Among the Rest”
Imagine you’ve decided to give the whole “trad” thing a spin – maybe not forever, but at least for a little while. You aren’t sure if it’s your thing, but love the way the string feels in your hands and watching the arch of the arrow in flight. You appreciate the simplicity of it all – being gadget free – and find you are bringing the stick to the range more than your brand new iEVISORATOR5000XZ. Continue reading “Hunting the Traditional Bow Part One: Watch those Limbs”
For many years archery camps has been divided into two camps. One half favour fixed blade broadheads and the other mechanical. One would think that the older hunters would be in the fix blade camp, the younger in the mechanical but this is not the case. One thing all archers can agree on is that broadheads must be sharp, balanced and well-tuned.
Continue reading “Mechanical vs Fixed Blade Broadheads”
Illinois policy makers force medical cannabis patients to choose between medication and firearm ownership.
Continue reading “Yet Another Sneaky Gun Grab Proposal from Illinois”
If you’ve wanted to upgrade your bow for a while, now is a great time to do it! The new bows are out and last years bows are being sold for up to half their original price.
The bow companies’ business year is basically November to November. Each year from October through the trade shows in January, the new bow lines are being released. If you are looking for the latest, greatest, new car smelling bow, they are there for your fondling. If the price new bows have soared to lately, give you sticker shock, last years models are out there as well. Continue reading “Now’s the Time for a New (Almost New) Bow”
You’ve probably read about us in magazines. We’re the guys that do things a little bit differently than everyone else. The old fashioned; the romantics, the guys who are still wearing plaid shirts and bringing heirlooms into the woods. The “odd ducks”
We shoot a little differently than you – without releases, sights, and let-off and our groups aren’t nearly as tight at the range, but our quivers are never empty and we always have a story. More importantly, we always have fun with our bows in hand. Always. Continue reading “So You Want To Try a Traditional Bow…”
My husband and I recently took the ATN DNVM-4 digital night vision monocular into the field for testing and were quite pleased with what we found. The DNVM-4 is part of the ATN night vision family of entry level digital monoculars which also includes the DNVM-2 and DNVM-6 models. The three models are all the same product except for having different objective lenses that provide various zoom capabilities. The DNVM-4 is the mid-range model featuring a 42 mm lens delivering 4x magnification.
Continue reading “ATN-DNVM-4 Gear Review by Lindsay Alm”
A few weeks ago I stepped out of my house to do a little archery shooting. It was a beautiful fall afternoon. I stepped up to the line and knocked an arrow, pulled back, settled into my anchor and watched as my arrow found its mark. I shot another dozen arrows with similar results. And then it happened. I drew back and found my anchor point. I started to settle my pin on the X and then I did a whole body convolution as I jerked the trigger on my release. I said to my self “What the HELL was that?”. Continue reading “3 Steps to Cure Target Panic”
In May of 2013 I had the privilege of participating in the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writer’s Mega Media Cast and Blast in South Dakota.
I was there to turkey hunt for Merriams and mingle with both corporate members and other media members of AGLOW.
The first day we were there, we had a breakout session where we were introduced to new products. One of them caught my eye immediately.
Continue reading “Gear Review: Turkey Tool by Real Avid”
Last summer as I was hanging treestands and preparing for the upcoming archery season I noticed that most or all of my treestand seat cushions were wore out. I needed to purchase some new ones from the stand manufacturer but my esteemed colleague Carrie Zylka told me about Slumperseats. After doing a little research I decided to give them a try and I can tell you that I was not disappointed.
Continue reading “Gear Review: Slumperseats Simple 16”
At the first of every year I go through my hunting equipment and evaluate what items need to be upgraded. This year I decided to upgrade my trail cameras. I started researching the different makes and models out there and decided to purchase the Moultrie M-880. I have used Moultrie products in the past with great success. I have a Moultrie M100 and have never had any problems with it. Which made my decision to stay with Moultrie products that much easier. Continue reading “Gear Review: Moultrie M-880”
