What are chiltepin peppers?

You may be surprised to learn that the chiltepin is actually a pepper native to the United States. In fact, it’s the only one, making it known to many above the border as “the mother of all peppers”. The chiltepin pepper has a rich history in Native American culture. And its tiny size along with its intense (but short-lived) extra-hot spiciness (50,000 to 100,000 Scoville heat units) and smoky, earthy flavor have made it a unique favorite among today’s hot pepper lovers.

Table of Contents

• What are chiltepin peppers?
• Chiltepin fast facts
• How hot are chiltepin peppers?
• Where do chiltepin chilies grow?
• What do they look like?
• What do chiltepin taste like?
• Cooking with chiltepin
• Where can you buy chiltepin peppers?
• Must-read related posts

Chiltepin fast facts

How hot are chiltepin peppers?

For such a small size, they pack a pretty big punch. Be careful if you ever get the chance to pop a few of these peppers in your mouth. Chiltepin ranges from 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville heat units (or SHU), with the chance for a bit hotter if a crop had an ideally wet growing season. This makes it equal with Thai peppers in terms of overall heat and roughly six to forty times spicier than your standard jalapeño. Compared to that cayenne pepper in your cupboard (30,000 to 50,000 SHU), the chiltepin begins in heat wear the hottest cayenne stops.

Let’s also compare the chiltepin to another chili that’s often referenced alongside it: the pequin. Pequin chilies are quite a bit milder: 40,000 to 60,000 SHU. Their floor is near equal, but chiltepin can be, at their hottest, nearly double the heat of pequin peppers.

But the heat of a chiltepin is quite different than most other peppers. They zing you with hotness before calming down quickly. Compare that to a ghost pepper where the heat starts seemingly mild and boils over in intensity over time. It’s definitely a different eating experience.

Where do chiltepin chilies grow?

As mentioned, this is the one wild chili native to the United States. It’s found natively in the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico. For a long time, chiltepin plants pretty much only grew wildly, a treasure of the land. Native Americans adored this chili, and they still do. It’s a food staple and a medicine (due to the capsaicin in the plant).

Rituals were built around the wild harvesting of the chiltepin pepper – it’s something that brought communities and families together. It’s this sort of indigenous North American history and folklore that’s bringing the chiltepin back to the forefront among chilies in America.

Today, chiltepins still grow wildly. The regions of wild growth in the United States are few – totaling 15 locations. But many are all protected national park sites like Coronado National Forest. There are domesticated crops as well, but you’ll find that many packages of dried chiltepins are picked from wild harvests in these regions.

What do they look like?

These are tiny chilies. In fact, chiltepin are sometimes called bird’s eye peppers because of their tininess (not to be confused with the Thai peppers which are also sometimes called bird’s eye chilies.) The chili goes by many other names, too,, including bird pepper, chile tepin, chiltepe, and simply tepin.

Chiltepin are often only a quarter-inch across, so multiple chilies can fit on a United States quarter, and they have a round shape. They follow the common color maturation pattern of most chilies, from green to a beautiful red hue. Overall, they look quite unassuming for the amount of spiciness they hold.

What do chiltepin taste like?

There’s a smoky, earthy flavor surrounding the pepperiness of the chiltepin. And that’s only heightened when they are picked sun-dried from the vine. It’s a common way that these chilies are eaten since they are found natively in the Southwest of the United States.

Cooking with chiltepin

As mentioned, using this chili sun-dried is a favorite for many people. Some simply enjoy this wild North American chili, sun-dried, straight off the vine. Just pop a pepper in your mouth for an intense experience.

And even though these peppers are small, people still cook with them. Chiltepins, in both their dried and fresh forms, are often mixed in with sauces and salsas. They are also ground into powders for spices. They even make their way into spicy desserts. A favorite for many is pickled chiltepins. When pickled, the chili is mixed with other spices to create one of the most unique condiments imaginable.

And, of course, chiltepin are a favorite for Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican foods of all types. It’s an excellent chili for burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and more.

More cooking tips:

• When cutting into chiltepin, handle with care. The heat level of these chilies is low enough that you can typically handle them whole without concern for chili burn. But cutting into any chiltepin, like with any chili, releases the capsaicin (the compound that creates the spiciness.) Wear gloves when cutting them to keep the potential for pretty significant chili burn at bay.
• Use sparingly, then add as you like. The small size of chiltepin can really fool you into overusing them. That’s especially true if you’re swapping chiltepin into a recipe that called for larger chilies. Don’t think that you need to match size for size (like five chiltepin for one jalapeño.) You’ll be in for a surprising amount of spiciness.
• Chiltepin are also an excellent chili for read meats and barbecue. It’s that earthy, smoky flavor. It maps very well to the bolder tastes you get from grilled steaks and heavily marinated meats and bolder barbecue sides.

Where can you buy chiltepin peppers?

You won’t often find these peppers in a grocery store outside of the southwestern United States, that’s for sure. And even specialty stores may not carry them. But you’ll definitely find them online, along with chiltepin seeds, whole chilies, and other products.

With its rich North American history and surprising taste, the chiltepin is no longer a forgotten pepper. If you’re a chilihead, exploring what this pepper has to offer is an interesting way to experience both one of the earliest known peppers as well as the rich Native American history of the United States. It may be tiny, but its significance is grand.

Must-read related posts

• The Hot Pepper List: The chiltepin is only one of over 150 chilies we profile here at PepperScale. Our list lets you filter chilies by spiciness, flavor, origin, use, and more.
• Small Peppers Guide – Tiny Delivers Big: This chili is among the smallest on the Scoville scale. Which others share that distinction? Take a look.
• Our Hot Sauce Rankings: We rank over 100 hot sauces, covering overall flavor, heat balance, usability, and collectibility. Explore the rankings and even sort by the chilies used.

Many deer and elk hunters consider antlers to be a major part of the pursuit. To others, antlers are important only to determine the legality of a buck or bull in areas where there are minimum antler tine restrictions. Hunters interested only in meat could care less about what the animal wears on its head. A cow elk or doe deer is most welcome. But those antlers have another value. Each year, in mid to late winter, all members of the deer family (all subspecies of deer, elk, moose and caribou) shed their antlers. The peak of the shedding season depends on the region. For example, bucks in Florida may shed at a different time than bucks in Texas.

Shed hunting has been growing in popularity for several reasons. One is simply the thrill of discovering an antler lying on the ground. To many, especially folks from more urban areas, this is a big deal. The antler will be cherished and perhaps displayed in their home. Hunters also use sheds as clues betraying the patterns of deer. The location of the shed tells the hunter that the buck was present in that spot in the winter. Perhaps the buck was the target animal that had been viewed via trail cams. The discovery of a particular shed may reassure hunters that the buck survived the season. Now that he’s minus his antlers the buck will hopefully be around next season with even larger antlers. Hunters who want to become familiar with deer behavior and habits in new country can get a good idea of the quality of bucks by locating sheds. Finally, sheds can be worth big bucks (pun intended). In fact, according to serious shed collectors, antler buyers paid more last year for antlers than ever before. Sit down while you read this. Elk antlers were going for $19.50 per pound. Ok, you say, how does that relate to the value of that antler. Consider this— the average weight of a single six-point antler from a mature bull is right at 10 pounds, give or take a pound. If you have the other antler, you have 20 pounds. Put a pencil to that figure. At $19.50 per pound you’re looking at right around $400 for one bull’s shed antlers. Not a bad piece of change for a hike in the woods. Now suppose you’ve stumbled into the mother of all shed areas and find several antlers. You might not make enough to buy a tricked-out bass boat but you might be able to purchase that nifty four-digit rifle you’ve been coveting. But that $19.50 is the very tops for the best quality antlers. Like furs, they’re graded by the buyer. If they’re fresh and nicely browned you should get top dollar. If you find a shed that’s been lying around in the sun for a year or more it will likely be bleached white. Those sheds will have a lesser value. Generally speaking, elk antlers are worth more than deer antlers, and moose antlers get top dollar — if you’re lucky enough to find any.

So why are antlers in such high demand? Here’s some history. Initially they were considered to be aphrodisiacs. That’s a big word that means the antlers are supposed to add virility and energy to those that consume them. The antlers are ground into a powder and added to a beverage. The powder commands very high prices. Now then, if buyers can get antlers that are in the velvet stage they’re believed to be much more potent and bring even higher prices. Of course, the velvet stage occurs when the antlers are growing. By the time hunting season rolls around the velvet is already gone, with the exception of some late summer hunts, especially bow seasons. Interestingly, elk are commonly raised in game farms where their antlers are removed during the velvet period.

Soon another market sprung up. Antlers were used to make lovely chandeliers, lamps, and all sorts of rustic items used in homes, even chairs and bed frames. But the demand for antlers changed for yet another use — doggie chews. Yes, you read that right. Antlers are cut up in pieces, placed in cute bags and boxes and sold in pet stores for a pretty penny.

Ok, so if you’re thinking about getting in on this bonanza, and I don’t blame you if you do — there are some things you need to know about hunting for antlers. If you live in a region of the country where there’s little public land you mind have a tough time finding a place to hunt for sheds. You might try state and federal wildlife management areas or refuges, but you’re apt to find plenty of competition from other shed hunters in states where there are few such public lands. There are several public land agencies in the US where you can hunt sheds with no permission necessary from landowners. The two major agencies are the US Forest Service within the US Dept. of Agriculture and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the US Dept of Interior. The Forest Service administers around 190 million acres in the country with most of them in the west but there are several scattered around the US. The BLM administers about 250 million acres with almost all of it in the west. Though these are public lands where you can hunt for free, be aware that there may be restrictions on shed hunting in various states. For example, in Wyoming you cannot hunt sheds on any public lands from Jan 1 to April 31 on all land west of the Continental divide. There are no such restrictions on lands east of the divide. Another example. Montana offers excellent shed hunting on several WMA’s. In many you cannot hunt sheds after hunting season closes to May 14. Rules may vary with the area, so be sure to check regs. There are some areas in Montana that are so popular that hundreds of vehicles line up for the opener. When that time arrives there are vehicles tearing around hell bent for leather with anxious occupants looking intently for the prized antlers. There are reports of fistfights and even shootouts that were luckily averted because of the intense hunt. Why are there closures at all? Here’s what the Wyoming Game and Fish Department says: “the purpose of the seasonal closure is to minimize harassment or disturbance of big game animals on their winter and spring ranges when animals are most vulnerable to stress and displacement to less productive habitats.” In other words, shed collectors may actually harm animals by running them off the habitat they prefer to be on to areas which have less forage and cover. After surviving the winter, animals are weak. Pushing them around is not a good idea. In fact, some people will deliberately chase a herd of elk into a stand of timber, hoping that the bulls with strike their antlers on trees and branches, causing them to fall off. In my opinion this is unethical and uncalled for.

Before attempting to search an area for sheds you should have an idea where deer were in the winter when they dropped their antlers. For example, in the Maine woods deer often spend the winter in cedar swamps, especially if it’s a tough winter with deep snow and extreme cold. That’s where the sheds should be. This behavior holds true wherever there is some sort of migration, whether you’re considering deer, elk or moose.

In the west, mule deer and elk are champion migrators in many areas, often traveling a hundred miles or more to reach winter range after they’ve exited the high country where they spent spring, summer and early fall. That being the case, you’ll want to focus your efforts in lower elevations. Some elk herds seldom descend to the very lowest regions but will spend the winter in foothills where they feed on windblown ridges where the snow is blown away, exposing the grass which is preferred by the big animals.

Generally speaking, bull moose shed their antlers earliest – typically in December. Mule deer and whitetails in the west shed theirs by late January. Elk lose their antlers the latest, usually in March and early April. Often the largest animals lose their antlers first. A mature bull elk typically drops his antlers long before spike bulls. Because of the competition, shed hunters comb the woods thoroughly as soon as the snow allows access or the collecting season is open. By far the most successful hunters are those who ride horseback. Two reasons. One is that they can cover far more territory then a foot hunter, and the second is that a horseback rider is sitting high in the saddle and has much more visibility. Antlers lying on the ground are more easily spotted. Be aware that if you find one antler the matching set may be lying very close by. When a bull drops an antler his head is off balance. He may shake his head briskly or strike the antler on trees to get rid of the confounded thing. Nowadays dogs are trained to sniff out and retrieve antlers. This is done typically in whitetail country on farms and ranches. Fido becomes a valuable asset when he/she runs back to the owner with an antler!

The holy grail of all antler collecting is on the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. There, upwards of 10,000 elk migrate to the refuge from the surrounding mountains and spend the winter there. They’re fed hay by the wildlife managers. Bulls drop their antlers on the refuge. Picture, if you will, thousands of antlers lying on the ground. What happens to them? Interestingly, the local Boy Scouts are allowed to help refuge employees gather the antlers and sell them. In the beginning the boys sold antlers and bought camping items for their troop. As the years passed and antler values increased, the money was donated to charities. Imagine a thief looking at those antlers from outside the refuge’s formidable fence, lusting for the money that could be made, and stealthily cutting a hole in the fence and retrieving some antlers. Sounds like an easy way to make money, right? Problem is, all those dudes get caught. I think the refuge must have one heck of a surveillance system! What happens to those antlers? The scouts and wildlife managers pick them up and store them in a locked facility until the second Saturday of May when they’re auctioned off to the public in Jackson’s town square. It’s a gala event, drawing folks from around the country as well as countries overseas. Shed antler hunting is just that- hunting, like hunting for wild asparagus or mushrooms. It’s a big thrill to find one, not just because you know you can make some money, but because that antler represents part of an animal that lives in the wild and may be around for years to come. Collecting is also a wonderful family activity. More and more Americans are discovering it every year.

Home | Category: Reef Fish

LARGE REEF REEF PREDATORS

Black tip reef sharks and white tip reef sharks are commonly seen at reefs. There have been few reports of human attacks. Scuba divers tend to seek them out rather than avoid them. See Sharks

There are many species of predator in the reef. Sometimes they prey on the smallest of fish and it is hard to think of them as predators. Squirrel fish are predators that spend much of the day in reef crevasses. Trevallies, or jacks are medium-size predators that travel in schools. Reef skimmers and snappers have piranha-like teeth.

Several species of fish are often seen in the company of large predators. Pilot fish are small- to medium size fish with black stripes are that are often swim with fish such as sharks and rays. The large fish help the pilot fish by protecting them from potential predators and the pilot fish return the favor by feeding on parasites on the sharks.

Remoras use their suckers to hitch rides on sharks, whales, turtles, rays, dolphins almost any fish or sea mammal that is large enough to carry them. The they have a sucking disk under their head The sucker allows the fish to save energy. It is not used to suck blood like a lamprey, its is merely a fastening devise Its host provided with transport and gill venilable and protection from predators and food scraps. In return the remora cleans off parasites from its host’s skin.

Related Articles: Groupers: Characteristics, Behavior and Big Species ioa.factsanddetails.com ; Groupers in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico ioa.factsanddetails.com ; Reef Sharks: Blacktip, Whitetip and Grey Reef Sharks ioa.factsanddetails.com ; Lemon Sharks: Characteristics, Behavior, Feeding, Mating ioa.factsanddetails.com ; Nurse Sharks: Characteristics, Behavior, Feeding, Mating, Attacks ioa.factsanddetails.com ; CORAL REEFS ioa.factsanddetails.com ; CORAL REEF LIFE ioa.factsanddetails.com REEF FISH ioa.factsanddetails.com

See Sharks

Websites and Resources: Animal Diversity Web (ADW) animaldiversity.org; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) noaa.gov; Fishbase fishbase.se ; Encyclopedia of Life eol.org ; Smithsonian Oceans Portal ocean.si.edu/ocean-life-ecosystems ; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute whoi.edu ; Cousteau Society cousteau.org ; Monterey Bay Aquarium montereybayaquarium.org ; MarineBio marinebio.org/oceans/creatures

Grunts, Hawkfish, Snappers and Jacks

Spanish grunts, snappers, porkfish and French grunts hunt the reef alone looking for crustaceans and small fish. Spanish grunts sometimes feed on sea urchins, whose spines leave behind a purple stain on the grunts’s face.[Source: Walter A. Stark II, National Geographic. December 1972 ╆]

Bluestriped grunts sometimes approach each other with their mouths wide open, looking as if they about to kiss or swallow each others face. No one is sure why these foot-long fish do this although scientist speculate it is a male territorial thing.╆

The 35 species of hawkfish are found in tropical waters and tend to lie on the sea bottom around coral and rocky reefs, waiting for prey come by, snatching them when they do. They feed mainly on crustaceans and small fish. If they feel threatened they use their pectoral fins to lodge themselves in a crevice making it difficult for predators to get at them and extract them. The fish tend to live on their own. Sometimes males form harems in their territory.

Jacks swim in schools during the day for protection against barracuda and other predators and separate at night to hunt smaller fish. Sometimes they rotate in near perfect gyres when they school.

Red snappers can are among the more aggressive predators on the reef, The have need sharp teeth and a voracious hunger and reach lengths of 70 centimeters. unless provoked. Red snapper is a name used to describe many species of fish served up at restaurants. They are not necessarily the ones you find at the reef. The American red snapper reaches a weigh of 35 pounds but is usually eaten when it weighs 10 pounds. Adults live around rocky reefs. Juveniles along sandy or muddy bottoms. They are often caught by dredges on shrimp trawlers.

Groupers

Groupers are generally solitary predators. Like other predatory fish such as barracuda, they are most active at dawn and dusk. Some prefer deep waters. Others are found in warm, shallow coastal waters, often in coral reefs and sometimes in estuaries. Groupers have been described as patient hunters because they like to lurk in caves or crevices and wait for a crustacean or slow-moving fish to pass their way and then lunge, open their large mouth and suck in the prey. Coral groupers catch fish with the suction created when it opens its huge mouth.

Groupers live for a long time and reproduce for short periods. Some species gather in large groups to spawn. Groupers tend to be fond of spiny lobster and also frequently eat crabs, small fish and juvenile sea turtle. When they are young they are fed on by other predators but if they manage to make it to adulthood the only real threat they face comes from humans.

There are several species of grouper. The giant grouper, which lives in the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific, is one of the largest species and is known to occasionally feed on small sharks. Other large species include the jewfish and goliath grouper. Many kinds of groupers can change their color to match their surrounding. Some species register victory or defeat by changing color.

See Separate Articles: GROUPERS: CHARACTERISTICS, BEHAVIOR AND BIG SPECIES ioa.factsanddetails.com GROUPERS IN THE ATLANTIC, CARIBBEAN AND GULF OF MEXICO ioa.factsanddetails.com

Trevallies

Trevallies are large marine fish in the Carangidae jack family that often travel in schools. They are is classified within the genus Caranx, that includes of a number of groups known as jacks. Caranx itself is part of the larger jack and horse mackerel family Carangidae, which in turn is part of the order Carangiformes. [Source: Wikipedia]

Trevallies are relatively big fish with a wide body. They have ovate, moderately compressed bodies with the dorsal profile more convex than the ventral profile, particularly anteriorly. The dorsal fin of the giant trevally is in two parts, the first consisting of eight spines and the second of one spine followed by 18 to 21 soft rays. The anal fin consists of two anteriorly detached spines followed by one spine and 15 to 17 soft rays. The pelvic fins contain 1 spine and 19 to 21 soft rays. The caudal fin is strongly forked, and the pectoral fins are falcate, being longer than the length of the head. The lateral line has a pronounced and moderately long anterior arch, with the curved section intersecting the straight section below the lobe of the second dorsal fin.

Giant Trevally

The giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis), also known as the lowly trevally, barrier trevally, giant kingfish or ulua, It is found throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, from South Africa in the west to Hawaii in the east, Japan in the north and Australia in the south.[Source: Wikipedia]

The giant trevally is distinguished by its steep head profile and strong tail scutes. It is normally a silvery colour with occasional dark spots. Males are sometimes black once they mature. The largest fish in the Caranx genus, it reaches lengths of 170 centimeters (67 inches) and a weight of 80 kilograms (176 pounds). The fish inhabits a wide range of marine environments, from estuaries, shallow bays and lagoons as a juvenile to deeper reefs, offshore atolls and large embayments as adults. Juveniles tend to live in waters of very low salinity such as coastal lakes and upper reaches of rivers, and tend to prefer turbid waters.

The giant trevally is an apex predator in most of its habitats, and is known to hunt individually and in schools. It mainly eats fish of various kinds but also preys on crustaceans, cephalopods (octopus, squid and cuttlefish) and molluscs, making up a significant portion of its diet in some regions. Among its interesting hunting strategies are following monk seals to pick off escaping prey and using sharks to ambush prey.

Footage shown in the 2017 documentary series “Blue Planet II”, shot in the Farquhar Atoll in the Seychelles, shows a group of approximately 50 giant trevally hunting fledgling terns learning to fly and crash landing and the fish taking birds, including adults, that flew low enough over the water for the fish to grab them.

The giant trevally reproduces in the warmer months, with peaks differing by region. Spawning occurs at specific stages of the lunar cycle, when large schools congregate to spawn over reefs and bays. The fish grows relatively fast, reaching sexual maturity at a length of around 60 centimeters at three years of age.

The giant trevally is both an important commercial fish and sport fish, with 4,000-10,000 tonnes of the fish caught in the the Asian region. The taste of the fish varies from poor to excellent depending on the source. Despite having relatively low numbers in some places,the fish has been designated as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Bluefin Trevally

The bluefin trevally(Caranx melampygus) is also known as the bluefin jack, bluefin kingfish, bluefinned crevalle, blue ulua, omilu, and spotted trevally. It is found throughout tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, ranging from Eastern Africa in the west to Central America in the east, Japan in the north and Australia in the south. The bluefin trevally is sought after by both commercial and recreational fishermen. It has been designated as a species of least concern by the IUCN.[Source: Wikipedia]

The bluefin trevally reaches the length of 117 centimeters (46 inches) and a weight of 43.5 kilograms (96 pounds), however ones over 80 centimeters (31 inches) are rare. It is easily recognized by its electric blue fins, tapered snout and numerous blue and black spots on their sides and inhabits both inshore environments such as bays, lagoons and shallow reefs, as well as deeper offshore reefs, atolls and bomboras. Juveniles prefer shallower, protected waters, even entering estuaries for short periods in some places.

The bluefin trevally is a powerful predatory fish that mainly eats fish but also consumes cephalopods and crustaceans as an adult. It uses a wide array of hunting techniques ranging from reef ambushes, midwater attacks and foraging on prey missed by larger species (See Above). The bluefin trevally reproduces at different periods throughout its range, and reaches sexual maturity at 30-40 centimeters in length and around two years of age. It is a multiple spawner, capable of reproducing up to 8 times per year, releasing up to 6 million eggs per year in captivity. The fish reaches 19.4 centimeters in its first year, 34 in the second and 45.6 centimeters in the third year.

Trevally’s Extraordinary Hunting Skills

Trevallies are fast swimmers and feed mainly on fish. Two studies of adult giant trevallies in Hawaii found fish to be the main food type, making up over 95 percent of the trevally’s stomach contents. Most of the fish were small reef-dwelling wrasses (Labridae), goatfishes (Mullidae), parrotfish (Scaridae) and bigeyes (Priacanthidae). Trevallies seem to have a preference for fish of a specific size, which depends on their own length and age.

Trevally displays a wide and innovative array of hunting techniques, ranging from midwater attacks to ambushs to working with other species of fish. fish. The bluefin trevally hunts during the day, particularly at dawn and dusk as a solitary individual and in groups of up to 20 members. Most prefer the lone wolf approach. In groups, they fish rush their schools of prey fish, breaking up the school and picking off isolated individuals. Giant trevallies in captivity have been observed doing the same thing. In some instances, only one individual in a group attacks the prey school. When hunting in midwater, trevally swim both against and with the current but mostly with it,

The stealthy barcheek trevally sometimes hides behind large non-threatening fish such as triggerfish and darts out from its hiding place to snag prey unafraid of the clown triggerfish. When in ambush attack mode the blue trevally change colour to a dark pigmentation state and hides behind large coral lumps close to where the aggregations (often spawning reef fish) occur. Once the prey is close enough to the hiding spot, the fish ram the base of the school, before chasing down individual fish. Bluefin trevally also enter lagoons as the tide rises to hunt small baitfish in the shallow confines, leaving as the tide falls. The species is also known to follow large rays, sharks and other foraging fish such as goatfish and wrasse around sandy substrates, waiting to pounce on any disturbed crustaceans or fish which are flushed out by the larger fish.

Barracuda

Barracuda are strong, fast-moving predators that have few enemies other than large sharks. They have a long muscular body, a large head, long snout, a forward-projecting jaw and scary-looking spike-like teeth. They are found in all the world’s oceans, although they seem to be biggest and most plentiful in the Caribbean.

Barracuda can reach lengths of two meters and weigh up to 50 kilograms although usually they are around one meter or a little more in length. They tend to stay close to the surface in warm waters and are rarely seen in cold water or below a depth of 100 meters. Juveniles are sometimes found in large groups but most of the time adults are found in small groups or alone. Many fisherman used to think that barracudas were closely related to pikes because of the similarity in their body form.

Barracuda look menacing and are very curious. They often follow divers around, but they rarely attack anyone. Fish don’t have it so easy. When a barracuda clamps its jaws around a snapper divers have said they heard the crunching of bone under water.

If you go snorkeling or diving in waters with barracuda, don’t wear glimmering metal objects like jewelry or a watch; barracuda are attracted to these things and you. Also don’t provoke the, A barracuda bite can cause serious injury. often her stories about women wearing anklets whose feet were attacked when they dangled in the water. Such attacks often occur in murky eater when the barracuda mistakes the jewelry for a fish.

Barracuda’s long body and sharp teeth are adapted for swimming fast for short periods of time and biting. attacks by lying relatively motionless and then suddenly lunging forward. To grab prey. They are most active at dawn and dusk. Barracudas catch prey by circling round a school and choosing a moment when they might be confused, especially around dusk to dawn and biting a skalsing and hoping to snag a confused fish

Some people like the taste of Great barracuda meat but ciguaterra is an issue with the fish. Large individuals in particular can cause ciguatera poisoning,a serious illness that can result in some severe nausea and other nasty symptoms, sometimes even death. Very little barracuda meat is eaten in the United States.

The barracuda belong to the genus Sphyraena, which contains 29 species. Among them are the Sharpfin barracuda, Arabian barracuda, Pacific barracuda, Great barracuda, Northern sennet, Yellowstripe barracuda, Mexican barracuda, Yellowtail barracuda, Bigeye barracuda, Pelican barracuda, Japanese barracuda, Australian barracuda, Red barracuda, Sawtooth barracuda, European barracuda and Yellowmouth barracuda,

Great Barracuda

Great barracuda (Scientific name: Sphyraena barracuda) have an average lifespan in captivity is 14 years. They are found in tropical waters in the Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and western Pacific Ocean. They have been found in the Red Sea and as far north as Massachusetts in the Atlantic. They are often seen in the Caribbean Sea and prefer clear water with temperatures between 23 and 28 degrees C (74 and 82 degrees F), although they have been found in much colder water. Few people like to fish them although they can put up a good fight. Great barracudas can be dangerous and have attacked snorkelers and divers.[Source: Brianne Fuller, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

You can typically find great barracudas in reefs or other coastal areas. Adult live in and around the edges of coral reefs and tend to avoid brackish water unless they are preparing to spawn. Post-larvae live on the margins of and in the estuaries where they are protected. When they get large enough to protect themselves, they head to open ocean and later to the margins of the coral reefs./=

Great barracuda at all ages eat other fish. Their large teeth are quite useful for snagging prey. They hunt using both sit-in-wait and active predator styles. As juveniles, they fish compete with needlefishes and small snapper for food, which consists of killifishes, herrings, sardines, gobies, silversides, anchovies small mullets, and lizardfishes. As the barracuda get older and bigger, they may compete with larger fish like mackerel, or even dolphins, depending on their habitat. Then great barracuda feed on both bottom-dwelling species as well as species of the higher water column, They been observed herding schools of fish into shallow water and guarding them and eating them when their last meal is digested and they are hungry again

Great Barracuda Characteristics and Behavior

Great barracuda are large, long fish with two widely separate dorsal fins. They can reach a length of around two meters. Their average weight is 40 kilograms (88.11 pounds). According to Animal Diversity Web: They have large scales and a pointed head with a large mouth and long knife-like teeth. Great barracuda have a large gape, which allows them to feed on very large fish by chopping them in half. Their lower jaw project forward more than the upper one and this is helpful in biting. Their bodies are grayish brown above and silvery below.They often have dark ink-like spots that are arranged in no pattern on their sides. The young have dark crossbars on their backs and blotches on their sides. The young also have a soft dorsal fin and the anal and caudal fins can be blackish. Males and females are roughly the same in size, shape and coloration. [Source: Brianne Fuller, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Great barracuda sense using touch and chemicals usually detected with smell. They tend to be solitary fish as adults, especially at night. But juveniles and adults are often observed traveling in schools during the day. Groups of hundreds and even thousands of great barracudas have been observed but are rarely seen. They kill compulsively and destroy more than they eat. Most often, great barracudas attack humans only when provoked. /=

Great Barracuda Mating

barracuda Great barracuda oviparous (young are hatched from eggs) and iteroparous (offspring are produced in groups). Reproduction is external, meaning the male’s sperm fertilizes the female’s egg outside her body. On average females reach sexual or reproductive maturity at age 1460 days while males do so in 730 days. [Source: Brianne Fuller, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

According to Animal Diversity Web: It is still unclear about the timing and location of spawning of great barracuda. Some research reports that they spawn in the spring. Others claim that they spawn in association with particular phases of the moon. Still others claim that great barracudas spawn throughout the year with the exception of the winter months when it is cooler. It may be that great barracudas show different spawning patterns in different areas of the world. /=

Great barracuda do not care for their fertilized eggs. They are left to drift out into the ocean and eventually take form. When the fish spawn they enter shallow waters such as estuaries. The larvae hatches and seeks shallow weedy areas on the margins of clear-water estuaries. When the larvae reach a length of about 80 millimeters they move to the deeper waters of adjacent reed beds. At about 300 millimeters they move to open waters and eventually they move out of the estuaries completely at about 500 millimeters in length.

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons; YouTube, Animal Diversity Web, NOAA

Text Sources: Animal Diversity Web (ADW) animaldiversity.org; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) noaa.gov; Wikipedia, National Geographic, Live Science, BBC, Smithsonian, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, Reuters, Associated Press, Lonely Planet Guides and various books and other publications.

Last Updated March 2024

Look at you, smart feller, searching for the next piece of the archery puzzle. Savvy hunters like you need the skinny on 2024’s best compound bow stabilizers for your hunting rig, and, by George, you’ve come to the right place. With hunting season fast approaching, get your bow dialed in now and not the week before the season starts.

Some sports, like football and golf, are a game of inches. The sport of hunting can be a game of millimeters. One smidge to the left, you hit the shoulder, wound your game, and it’s never to be seen again. Or, if shooter panic sets in and you float your pin too high, you may miss the vitals completely.

Situations like this are heartbreaking, which is why you need a good stabilizer to help steady your shot, increase accuracy, and extend your range. To help you find the best solution, I created this guide with 2024’s top options, from the best vibration dampening front stabs to the world’s elite front, back, and sidebars for increased balance.

The products on this list encompass a wide range from the who’s who of stabilizer brands like BeeStinger, Limbsaver, Mathews, CBE, Dead Center, and more. I’ve also included some friendly, affordable options for those hunting on a budget.

No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find something tailor-made for you on this list of 2024’s best compound bow stabilizers. Buckle up, and let’s get this show on the road.

Why Do You Need a Bow Stabilizer for Hunting?

Target archers have been using stabilizer bars to fine-tune their shots for a long time; I’m talking about the long and fancy contraptions you see extending as much as 30 inches from their bows. On the other hand, you’ve likely also seen shorter stabilizers on the front of hunting bows.

So, what’s the difference? In short, longer stabilizers are more focused on balancing your compound bow, which creates less pin float, and short stabilizers that come standard on hunting bows are more for vibration reduction than for balance.

You may wonder, why do I need a stabilizer when hunting? Why are some people using longer stabilizers and more complex front, back, and sidebars when hunting? Which type of stabilizer is going to work best for me?

If you’re asking these questions and are a bit newer to the sport, here are some important concepts you need to understand before purchasing a stabilizer:

Standard Front Stabilizers for Compound Bows

Best Overall Bee Stinger MicroHex

Lengths: 6″, 8″, 10″, 12″ Materials: Lightweight counterveil carbon Weights: Three 1 oz weights included

“No games, no gimmicks.” That’s how Bee Stinger promotes their stabs. They’ve tapped into the minds of their customers and learned one valuable lesson that second-rate pretenders never seem to understand: hunters want their archery gear to function as advertised.

The MicroHex line is their most popular stabilizer to date because it has everything a hunter needs to customize their setup to their specific needs and style. The weights stay snug where you want them to and can be adjusted easily to balance your shot.

I like BeeStinger’s MicroHex for two main reasons. First, they make their rods with cutting-edge materials with counter-veil anti-vibration carbon used in fighter jets. Second, their mounting studs have teeth that forcefully clamp down when screwed to your compound bow. A solid fit prevents slop and creates a rigid and seamless energy distribution throughout your shot.

Best High-End Mathews Flatline

Lengths: 6″, 8″, 10″, 12″ Materials: High modulus carbon fiber, stainless steel machined weights Weights: Comes with one 1-oz weight, but you can purchase more here

If you’re shooting a flagship bow, and want maximum performance during the process, grab this top-notch stabilizer from Mathews. Many users claim there’s no better tech on the market.

The Flatline is made from ultralightweight carbon fiber that utilizes the industry’s top anti-vibration and noise-dampening technology. When you combine this feature with Mathews’ patented harmonic dampener — which spools extra energy during your shot and then releases it at the perfect moment of inertia — you’ve got one Steady Eddie on your hands.

Mathews markets this professional tool for any type of shooter, whether experienced, novice, or somewhere in between. It’s compatible with a v-bar bracket and can customize weights for your exact needs. The different ways you can mod this stabilizer to your setup are endless, and if it’s in your budget, you should consider it seriously.

Top-Notch New Product for 2024 Axcel Archery Antler Ridge

Lengths: 6″, 8″, 10″, 12″ Materials: Ultra-high carbon, cutting-edge flax material Weights: Four 1 oz weights included + 1 oz dampener on the end

Stabilizers are only as good as the materials they’re made from. Axcel Archery’s newest line is made from the latest and greatest technology and is designed meticulously to set itself apart in an otherwise flooded marketplace.

The Antler Ridge is the only stab on the market to feature Axcel Archery’s all-new Flax material, which has never been seen in the world of stabilizers. Flax is one of the most anti-vibration-friendly materials in the world and plays perfectly with its rigid and lightweight design.

The cool graphics and personalized color options have nothing to do with performance, but they do let you know one thing: Axcel Archery created a product that stands out in every possible way, from its technology to its aesthetic.

Best for the Money Limbsaver LS Hunter Micro Lite

Lengths: 8″ Materials: Small diameter carbon Weights: 5.6 oz + ability to add more weight as needed

At around 90 bucks, the Limbsaver LS Hunter Micro Lite isn’t the cheapest stab on this list. I do believe it offers the best value you’ll find, however, in that it lands at an approachable price point without sacrificing high-end features.

This streamlined, wind-resistant, small-diameter eight-inch carbon bar is designed specifically for hunters and will handle all the rugged demands of the backcountry while helping you maneuver through the tightest situations. Whether in a treestand, blind, or even a mountain hunter traversing over craggy rocks, you’ll find its compact, forward-thinking design very useful.

Its superb balancing comes from heavier-than-usual front weights that tip the scales at around 5.6 ounces. You can add or subtract weights as needed to create a more dialed-in feel. The Limbsaver LS Hunter Micro Lite will work for anyone who wants a no-fuss solution for their next hunt.

Affordable but High-Tech Option TRUGLO Cadence

Lengths: 8″ Materials: CNC Aluminum Weights: 8.5 oz

From bow releases to bow stabilizers, TRUGLO is an industry leader in high-quality archery equipment. When it comes to stabilizers, they’ve truly outdone themselves by engineering the Cadence stabilizing bar with the average bowhunter in mind. TRUGLO talks the talk and walks the walk.

Since I’m on a budget this year, I will pull the trigger and grab myself one of these bad boys for the upcoming archery season. It has a rigid bar made from CNC aluminum that doesn’t have any give during your shot and is treated with a quiet, soft-touch coating, making it perfect for spot-and-stalk hunters that want to eliminate noise.

Much like the Mathews Flatline, the TRUGLO Cadence has a vibration dampener that reduces noise and play in your shot. As a matter of fact, it has two dampeners, and what’s even more incredible is that it costs one-third of the price of the Flatline.

Best Budget Stabilizer SAS CNC All Aluminum

Lengths: 5″, 8″, 11″ Materials: Aluminum Weights: 5.3 oz, 6.5 oz, 10 oz

Too many hunters and “ethical” outdoorsmen clown on people for asking about budget hunting gear. I can’t count the times I’ve heard in forums and Facebook groups, “Why would you buy X when Y is so much better?” I’ll tell you why: not everyone has a Mathews budget.

Regular folks have lives, kids, jobs, and priorities that take precedence over high-priced and top-end gadgets. However, just because they’re trying to save money doesn’t mean they lack the desire to be prepared and have a stable shot.

Luckily, if you’re on a budget, you can still have your cake and eat it too. SAS’s CNC stab is one of the highest-rated and most affordable stabilizers on the market and comes in various sizes and colors. Most importantly, it does precisely what you’ll need it to: stabilize your shot by reducing vibration and balancing the weight of your compound bow.

Made in the USA Viper SX Aluminum

Lengths: 6″, 8″, 10″, 12″ Materials: Aircraft grade aluminum Weights: 4 oz + ability to customize in 1/2 oz increments

Made right here in the good ol’ US of A, the Viper SX sits up near the top in terms of performance and lands at a very attractive price point. It boasts rigid strength thanks to its aluminum end caps and wind-resistant, lightweight rod that keeps the overall weight at a minimum.

Viper SX does utilize some serious balancing weights, however, as it’s equipped with one four-ounce weight at the end of the shaft. The combination of its lightweight bar and well-placed steel weights gives it superior balance by placing the weight where you need it most.

Furthermore, you can remove the end weight and add a variety of configurations that Viper offers. It comes in four lengths and is easy to make into a front and back bar kit using a v-bar bracket. Considering all its versatility comes at a lower cost than its higher-priced counterparts, what’s not to love?

Bow Stabilizer Kits (Front and Back Bars)

Best Overall Kit Dead Center Dead Level Verge V2

Lengths: 6-8″, 8-10″ Materials: Vibration dampening carbon Weights: Some with six 1 oz weights; you can purchase more here

Gone are the days of your stabilizer bars vibrating loose. With this v-bar setup from Dead Center, you can rest assured that your stabilizers will be rock solid when that shot of a lifetime presents itself.

If you want the most steady shot possible, join the ranks of archers who shoot with an added back bar. They’re increasing in popularity, and what was usually more mainstream among target shooters is becoming commonplace in the field. (For what it’s worth, I only rock a front stabilizer, but I don’t shoot with a quiver attached or have issues with pin float.)

If you want to join the bandwagon and aren’t out here taking any chances, look no further than the Dead Center Dead Level Verge 2. It’ll come perfectly tuned with the right amount of weight straight out of the box, and its light bars will hold steady against your bow. With a kit like this, you’ll be able to take long-range shots with a high degree of confidence.

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Best High-End Kit Bee Stinger Sport Hunter

Lengths: 6-8″, 8-10″ Materials: SRX Carbon Rods Weights: Two 2oz weights on each side

Here we go again with Bee Stinger. Some hunters may say I’m a bit of a fanboy, but I have zero shame plugging their stellar products. My job is to pair my readers with products that won’t let them down on their 2022 hunt, after all.

The Bee Stinger Sport Hunter is tailor-made for the craft of chasing game, as its features are cleverly designed to accommodate hunters. It has a low profile to help you get through sticky situations and can be easily adjusted in a variety of scenarios.

The Sport Hunter has everything you could ask for from a stabilizer kit: maneuverability, ease of use, quick disconnect brackets, and an adjustable weight system. Now all you need is for some critters to show up so you can show them how steady your shot is.

Best Mid-Range Kit CBE Torx

Lengths: 7.5 – 11″ Materials: High mod lightweight carbon Weights: Two 2 oz weights on each bar; if you want more customization, grab a few more here

Next time you’re at the range, check out what types of stabs other archers are rocking. I kept a close eye on other shooters my last time out and saw loads of them using the CBE Torx. When I asked one guy why he was using this kit, they responded that it’s simple to use and easily adjustable to his bow.

The rods on CBE Torx are made from lightweight carbon, and their interchangeable weights are placed towards the end of the bar with precision. This customization makes for a great balancing act when shooting from any position.

If you want a set-it-and-forget-it stab that doesn’t rattle loose when climbing in your tree stand or crawling through some thick oak scrub, look closely at the CBE Torx. It has many of the same features and weight distribution as others on this list but will cost you a little bit less dinero for the entire kit.

Editors Choice Stabilizer Kit Trophy Ridge Hitman

Lengths: 6-8″, 8-10″, 10-12″ Materials: Durable target carbon Weights: Two 2 oz weights per bar; you can find more here

Would you get a load of the Hitman stabilizer kit? It’s right up there with the best in terms of research and development but with a much more approachable price tag. Trophy-Ridge really stands out in this class of stabilizers in form, function, and cost. They’re out here playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers.

The Hitman’s standout features include a unique design that allows for effortless energy transfer through its carbon rod and two cleverly placed dampener rings. It’s lightweight, compact, won’t be affected much by the wind, and comes standard with a top-notch v-bar bracket that the user can easily adjust for a custom feel.

Why is this the editor’s choice stabilizing kit, you ask? Well, in my opinion, it leads the pack in quality, performance, and consistency. In a sport where every millimeter matters, the Hitman series of stabilizers won’t let you down. If, at this point, you’re still confused about which stabilizer kit to go with, snatch this one up. You can thank me later.

Best All-in-One Stabilizer Bar Bee Stinger Counterslide MicroHex

Lengths: 10″, 12″, 15″ Materials: Five 1 oz weights; need more? Grab them here Weights:

If you want both a front and back bar stabilizer, go with a v-bar setup like the Bee Stinger Counterslide MicroHex. It’s more of a sidebar than a stabilizer kit, but many hunters prefer it since it keeps their weight down while still allowing them to have reliable balance in their shot.

Here’s my issue with this setup: unlike a v-bar setup in which you can move in centimeter increments at an angle, the Counterslide can’t be adjusted away from your bow. It stays in a straight line. That said, some hunters swear by this style, and if you’re one of them, the Bee Stinger Counterslide is as good as it gets.

This system is useful since it allows you to move your bar forward or back with a dovetail mount, meaning you can make adjustments in the field without adding or subtracting weight. Bee Stinger Counterslide’s single bar is also effective for those that shoot with their quiver attached, as it’s pretty remarkable at counterbalancing the side torque caused by an arrow holder.

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