Editor’s Note: Today’s column comes from David Rainer of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The subject of his story, turkey hunter Tom Kelly, will need no introduction to most turkey hunting enthusiasts. Incredibly, Tom Kelly is about to complete his 70th season in the Alabama turkey woods with no signs of slowing down. Kelly, [...]

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Shortly after wolves were taken from the federal endangered species list, at least three were taken this weekend by Wyoming residents. According to Wyoming officials, all three of the confirmed kills came in the newly designated predator zone for wolves. Inside that zone, the animals can be shot on sight without limits, as long as [...]

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By the time the sun is high enough to illuminate the patch of oak trees on the hill, a herd of whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus) will have been feeding in the shadows for quite some time. A group of mature does, fawns and a few bucks browsing on the acorns strewn across the ground stop [...]

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This holiday season, consider one of these great gift ideas when shopping for anyone who loves to spend time outdoors. And while you’re at it, pick something up for yourself. New from Berkley (http://www.berkley-fishing.com), Gulp! Alive! is the next generation in fish-catching technology that gives the angler in your life a way to catch fish without [...]

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As I tried desperately to locate a tom willing to investigate my lustful yelps, a pleading hen yelp broke the mid-afternoon air. Every now and then I would get the courtesy gobble as a tom would announce his presence and then follow his hen to abide by her wishes while moving out of earshot. I was hunting [...]

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Bending down to lift my pack, I could definitely feel the wear and tear of seven straight days in the wilderness. Sore muscles, blistered feet and a sticky coating of sweat seemed to cover every inch of my body. We were here by choice, though. After years of hunting accessible lands that posed no difficulty for the average [...]

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Many years ago I watched an elk hunting video with Larry D. Jones and Dwight Schuh as they manipulated bulls with soft cow talk and harsh bugles. I was captivated by all the elk bugling and excitement that these two generated, when in the woods. At that time I was hunting elk in southern Oregon and had [...]

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Perched high in our vantage point, we tried to hide from the falling rain and occasional lightning strikes that had quickly moved in and overtaken us without notice. Hunting in the popular Blue Mountains of Oregon meant lots of elk and an equal number of hunters. Many of our attempts to lure a bull into archery range [...]

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Many of us spend March practicing our turkey calls and scouting. We also pattern our guns, check our camo, but still manage to hit the woods unprepared. That’s because spring is a volatile time in the weather world. How many times have you left the truck with the stars shining overhead only to have a downpour or [...]

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Now’s the time to get in your preseason turkey scouting. It may seem early, but before you know it, you’ll be walking out the door in your favorite camouflage. Heck, Hawaii’s season already has begun and Florida’s starts Saturday, with Alabama and South Carolina’s set to follow March 15. Where to hunt Create a backup turkey-hunting plan now [...]

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