Have you ever wondered if deer are nocturnal, diurnal, or crepuscular?

Many people assume that because deer are often seen at night, they must be active primarily during the dark hours.

However, a closer look at the habits of deer reveals that they are actually quite versatile when it comes to their activity levels.

So, what’s the truth? Let’s take a look at the evidence and find out!

What Is The definition of Crepuscular?

The word crepuscular comes from the Latin word crepusculum, which means twilight.

Crepuscular animals are those that are most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk.

This is when light levels are low but there is still some visibility.

Several factors contribute to why some animals are more active during these times.

For example, predators typically hunt during the day when visibility is good.

This leaves many prey animals with a window of opportunity to feed during the low-light periods of dawn and dusk when predators are less likely to be out hunting.

In addition, temperature changes throughout the day can also influence animal activity levels.

For example, many reptiles become more active in the mornings as they bask in the warm sun to help regulate their body temperature.

What Is The Definition of Diurnal?

The word diurnal comes from the Latin word diurnus, which means day.

Diurnal animals are those that are most active during the daytime hours.

This is when light levels are high and visibility is good.

(Can Deer Swim? See this post for more)

What Is The definition of Nocturnal?

The word nocturnal comes from the Latin word nocturnus, which means night.

Nocturnal animals are those that are most active during the nighttime hours.

This is when light levels are low and visibility is poor.

Are Deer Nocturnal?

The word nocturnal comes from the Latin word for night, and it refers to animals that are most active during the darkness of night.

Many people assume that deer are nocturnal because they often see them at night.

However, deer are actually quite versatile when it comes to their activity levels.

While they may be more active at night, they are also known to be active during the day.

(Do Female Deer Have Antlers? See this post for more)

One of the main reasons why deer are often seen at night is because they are less likely to be disturbed by humans during this time.

Additionally, nighttime provides deer with a cooler temperature which helps them stay comfortable while they are active.

Nighttime also offers deer increased protection from predators.

So, while deer may be more active at night, this does not mean that they are strictly nocturnal animals.

Instead, deer are crepuscular, which means that they are most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk.

(Deer, Elk, Moose: What’s the Difference? See this post for more)

Are Deer Diurnal?

The word diurnal comes from the Latin word for the day, and it refers to animals that are most active during the daytime hours.

Many people believe that deer are diurnal because they often see them in the daytime.

However, as we mentioned before, deer are actually quite versatile when it comes to their activity levels.

While they may be more active during the day, they are also known to be active at night.

When Deer are Most Active?

Deer are known to be crepuscular, which means that they are most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk.

However, they are also known to be active during the daytime and nighttime hours.

One of the best ways to determine when deer are most active is to track their movements.

By doing this, you can better understand when they are moving around and how often they are changing their patterns.

Additionally, you can use this information to help you decide when the best time to hunt deer is.

If you’re interested in tracking deer, there are a few things you’ll need to get started.

First, you’ll need to purchase a wildlife camera.

These cameras can be placed in areas where deer are known to travel and they will take pictures or videos of the animals as they pass by.

You can then use these images to track the deer and see when they are active.

Additionally, you’ll need to purchase a trail camera mount.

This will allow you to attach your camera to a tree or other object so that it does not get knocked over or stolen.

Once you have your camera and mount, you’re ready to start tracking deer!

(What is a 10-point buck? See this post for more)

Are deer crepuscular all the time?

No, deer are not crepuscular all the time.

While they may be most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk, they are also known to be active during the daytime and nighttime hours.

Ultimately, the time of day when deer are most active will depend on a variety of factors, including the temperature, the availability of food, and the presence of humans.

(What Is A Baby Deer Called? See this post for more)

Factors That Make Deer Active During The Day

There are a few factors that can make deer more active during the day. One of these is the temperature.

If it is too hot or too cold, deer will often seek shelter and become less active.

Additionally, if there is not enough food available, deer may travel further distances during the day in search of sustenance.

Finally, the presence of humans can also impact deer activity levels.

If deer feel safe and comfortable around humans, they may be more likely to be active during the daytime hours.

However, if they feel threatened or scared, they will typically avoid humans and be more active at night.

What Makes Deer Nocturnal?

There are a few factors that can make deer more nocturnal.

One of these is the presence of predators.

If deer feel like they are in danger, they will often travel and feed at night when predators are less active.

Additionally, if food is scarce, deer may be more likely to forage at night when they are less likely to be seen by other animals.

Finally, humans can also impact deer activity levels.

If deer feel threatened or scared by humans, they will typically avoid them and be more active at night.

What Do Deer Do At Night?

When deer are nocturnal, they typically spend their night feeding and traveling.

They will often move to different areas in search of food and water.

Additionally, they may use this time to mate or care for their young.

Tips For Hunting Deer That Are Nocturnal

If you’re interested in hunting deer that are nocturnal, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of success.

First, try to avoid hunting during the daytime hours when deer are more likely to be active.

Second, use a wildlife camera to track the movements of deer in your area.

This will help you to see where they are traveling and when they are most active.

Finally, consider using a trail camera mount to attach your camera to a tree or other object. This will help to keep it from getting knocked over or stolen.

FAQs

Do Deer Sleep At Night Or During The Day?

Deer do not sleep at night or during the day. Instead, they take short naps throughout the day and night. These naps usually last for a few minutes to a few hours.

Do Deer Hibernate?

No, deer do not hibernate. However, they may become less active during the winter months when food is scarce and temperatures are cold.

What Does Baby Deer Eat?

Baby deer, or fawns, typically eat the same things as adult deer. This includes plants, fruits, nuts, and insects. However, they may also consume milk from their mothers.

When time do deer come out to eat?

Deer typically eat during the early morning. However, they may also feed at night if they feel threatened or if food is scarce.

How long do deer sleep?

Deer do not sleep for long periods of time. Instead, they take short naps throughout the day and night. These naps usually last for a few minutes to a few hours.

Conclusion

So the answer to the question: Are deer nocturnal? is No. Deers are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at twilight hours, but they can also be active at other times of the day and night.

Originally published on February 2,2023, this article has been updated on June 4, 2024 to reflect the latest research and statistics.

The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) from the Florida Museum of Natural History looked into 120 reported shark-human interactions across the globe in 2023. Among them, there were 69 unprovoked shark attacks, exceeding the five-year average of 63 attacks per year. However, experts stress that this doesn’t necessarily mean shark attacks are on the rise.

Many people have a firm view on sharks; however, the following shark attack numbers will highlight the truth behind these majestic creatures.

Sharks are intensely beautiful creatures. I have long been fascinated by them, from the monstrous creatures of Jaws and the Meg to the real creatures that gracefully dominate our oceans. Sharks are all around tremendous animals.

Peter Benchley, the man behind Jaws, wrote his book about the killer shark but spent the rest of his days undoing the devastating image he created. Sharks have a fearsome reputation, and while they are undoubtedly apex predators, they are much more than that.

Key Facts You Need to Know

• In 2023, There Were 36 Unprovoked Shark Bites on Humans in the US
• 16 Cases in Florida Represent 44% of the US Total Shark Attacks in 2023
• Stats Show There Were 69 Unprovoked Bites on Humans and 22 Provoked Attacks in 2023
• The Number of Highest Unprovoked Shark Attacks in the US
• The Second Place with the Highest Number of Shark Attacks after the US Is Australia
• One of the Most Dangerous Shark Beaches in the World Is Gansbaai
• The Likelihood of Fatal Shark Attacks Is 1 in 4,332,817
• Shark Attacks Are Highest in the Month of September
• Most of the Fatalities in 2023 Were Due to White Shark Bites
• The Biggest Shark in the World Is the Whale Shark

Why Do Sharks Attack People?

The main reason sharks attack people is because of curiosity. While it doesn’t make a very good catchphrase, curiosity is what draws sharks to humans. When humans enter the water and start swimming, paddling, or splashing around, they draw a shark’s attention.

There is no objective evidence to suggest that sharks actively hunt humans in the water. More attacks usually happen because more people are in the water, not because sharks are getting more dangerous. It’s all about the numbers. The more we swim in their home, the more we might run into them.

Below are some statistics discussing why sharks attack people.

How Many Shark Attacks Happen Each Year?

On average, there are about 63 unprovoked shark attacks each year, with 5 to 6 of these attacks resulting in death. In 2023, there was a slight increase to 69 attacks, but this number still fits the average trend over the past five years.

In 2022, attacks dropped to 57, marking a 10-year low. The ISAF’s annual report mainly looks at unprovoked shark attacks, where sharks bite without human provocation, like approaching them or swimming near the bait. These incidents help us understand shark behavior better. So, although attacks by sharks do happen, the overall risk remains quite low.

Shark Attacks in the US

In 2023, There Were 36 Unprovoked Shark Bites on Humans in the US (ISAF)

Shark attack data confirms that the US is the geographical home for shark bites. In line with ongoing trends, the United States had the highest number of unprovoked shark bites in 2023, with 36 confirmed incidents.

This figure is a slight decrease from the 41 cases in 2022, accounting for 52% of the global total number according to a report of all known attacks by sharks compiled by Florida’s Museum of Natural History.

In 2022, there were 108 shark interactions reported worldwide. Of these, the ISAF recorded 73 unprovoked shark bites or attacks in the United States.

There Were Also Two Confirmed Deaths in the U.S. (ISAF)

Last year, the number of fatal unprovoked shark attacks increased to ten, doubling from five the previous year. In the US, two of these attacks resulted in deaths, with one occurring in California and another in Hawaii.

In 2023, Hawaii Recorded Eight Shark Attacks, While California Recorded Two Attacks (ISAF)

In 2023, Hawaii had eight shark bites, with one being deadly. This is a bit more than usual, but the number of bites in Hawaii changes a lot each year.

California had two shark bites, one fatal. New York saw four bites, North Carolina three, South Carolina two, and New Jersey one.

A Fatal Shark Attack Occurred in Massachusetts for the First Time Since 1936 (CNN)

As reported by CNN, 2018 saw the first fatal shark bite recorded in Massachusetts in 82 years. Before the attack on the 15th of September 2018, the most recent fatal attack was recorded in 1936.

Many believe the surging population of seals on the coast has beckoned more Great White shark populations to the area.

Shark Attacks Florida

16 Cases in Florida Represent 44% of the US Total Shark Attacks in 2023 (ISAF)

Florida continued to lead the world in shark bites in 2023, with its 16 cases making up 44% of the U.S. total and 23% of the global unprovoked bites. This number is below Florida’s recent five-year average of 19 incidents.

23% of the Unprovoked Shark Bites Worldwide Occur in Florida (ISAF)

The same source data can be used to determine that Florida is responsible not only for 44% of unprovoked shark bites across the US but also for almost a quarter (23%) of unprovoked bites worldwide.

Volusia County in Florida Had the Highest Number of Shark Bites (8), Representing 50% of the State’s Total (ISAF)

The same ISAF study examined the total number of unprovoked shark bites in Florida to determine that Volusia County is the hotbed of Floridian shark activity, accounting for 50% of all Florida’s attacks. This represents a slight increase from 44% in 2022, indicating a modest uptick in shark activity in the area.

In Florida, Volusia County recorded the highest number of shark bites at 8, accounting for half of the state’s total. This matches the area’s five-year average of 9 incidents.

Of the Eight Remaining Bites, Two Were in Brevard County, Two in St. Lucie County, and One Each Occurred in Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Escambia, and Pinellas Counties (ISAF)

Of the remaining bites, Brevard and St. Lucie counties each had two, while Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Escambia, and Pinellas counties each reported one.

Most Shark Attacks Worldwide Statistics

Stats Show There Were 69 Unprovoked Bites on Humans and 22 Provoked Attacks in 2023 (ISAF)

In 2023, there were 69 shark attacks worldwide, similar to the average of 63 a year from 2018 to 2022. However, there were 14 deaths from attacks this year, with 10 considered unprovoked, which is higher than the usual annual average of 6 unprovoked deaths.

It’s normal for the number of attacks and deaths to vary each year. Even though there were more deaths in 2023, similar spikes have happened before, like in 2011. The recent increase in deaths, especially from white sharks, might be due to more sharks gathering near popular beaches, especially in Australia, where many surfers go.

The Number of Highest Unprovoked Shark Attacks Are in the US (ISAF)

According to data from the ISAF, the US has the highest rate of unprovoked bites in the world, and within that, Florida accounts for 44% of all US-based shark bites.

The USA reported 1640 attacks since 1580, which is almost double that of Australia, which is the country with the second most attacks.

The Second Place with the Highest Number of Shark Attacks after the US Is Australia (ISAF)

An attack map published by ISAF confirmed that after the US, Australia is the second most active country for shark attacks.

However, while it may rank second for activity, Australia is the number one country for fatal attacks.

Australia accounted for 22% of Attacks, Resulting in 40% of Fatalities. (ISAF)

Australia recorded 15 unprovoked shark incidents in total, matching the region’s five-year average. Australia experienced a higher number of shark bite fatalities, making up 22% of all global attacks and resulting in four deaths, which is 40% of the total fatalities.

Of these, seven happened in Western Australia, with one fatal incident involving a bull shark, and five occurred in South Australia, where three were fatal and involved white sharks. Additionally, there was one shark bite each in Queensland, New South Wales, and Tasmania over the year.

From 1931 to 2022, Brazil Had 111 Shark Attacks (ISAF)

In 2023, Brazil reported three bites, none of which were fatal. Research collected in the International Shark Attack File confirms that between 1931 and 2021, Brazil saw 111total attacks by sharks.

Out of those 111 incidents, 65 occurred off the coast of the state of Pernambuco.

One of the Most Dangerous Shark Beaches in the World Is Gansbaai (American Oceans)

Sharks are found in seas and oceans the world over, and despite the record number of attacks and incidents in the US and Australia, one of the most heavily shark attack hotspots of the world is off the South African coast.

Getaway reports that Gansbaai sees anywhere between 5 to 10 shark attacks per year. Sharks have become one of the key tourist attractions in the area.

In 2019, 2 Fatal Shark Attacks Occurred in the Bahama Islands and Reunion Island (Florida Museum of Natural History)

According to data gathered and published by the ISAF at the Florida Museum, 2019 saw a drop in the total number of shark-related incidents. Only 64 unprovoked bites were reported.

However, two particular bites proved fatal – one in the Bahamas and one on Reunion Island. Interestingly, this also represented a 50% decrease compared to the average.

Shark Attack Statistics

The Likelihood of Fatal Shark Attacks Is 1 in 4,332,817 (Florida Museum)

According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, it was revealed that the odds of dying as a result of a shark attack in the USA is 1 in 4,332,817.

This means that you are more likely to die from an attack from wasps, dogs, or snakes than you are from sharks.

The Rate of People Getting Drowned Is Higher than Getting Bitten by a Shark (Florida Museum)

As per a study by the International Shark Attack File, you are more likely to die by drowning than be bitten by a shark. To further quantify those statistics, you are 3,820 times more likely to drown than die from a shark bite.

The chances of drowning are 1 in 1,134 compared to the 1 in 4,332,817 odds of being bitten by a shark.

Shockingly, Deaths Due to Selfies Are Higher than Being Eaten by Sharks (NY Post)

In an article published in the NY Post, more people have died while taking a selfie in recent years than from attacks by sharks.

Between 2011 and 2017, 259 people died while taking a selfie, as opposed to just 50 shark-related deaths in the same time span.

Board Sports and Surfing Are Involved in 42% of Shark Attacks (ISAF)

In a report published by the ISAF, more than half of all reported shark attacks are a direct result of board sports and surfing. The article specifies that swimmers and waders were involved in 39% of the incidents, while snorkelers and free divers accounted for 13%.

Shark Attacks Are Highest in the Month of September (ISAF)

The ISAF is the only known repository for shark altercation statistics. According to their research, the most active month for shark attacks is September. The data relates to attacks in Florida, which is the most active location in the US for shark bites.

Stats Show Several Factors, Including Climate Change, Are Involved in Shark Attacks (BBC)

A BBC report concludes that a rise in the rate of attacks on humans is related to a number of different factors. As the number of unprovoked shark bites worldwide seems to be on the increase, the reasoning behind it is linked to multiple environmental factors.

Climate change is altering water temperatures worldwide, and as a result, shark’s natural habitat and shark attack migration paths are growing. In addition, conservation efforts are seeing seal colonies and other shark prey populations increase, thus luring even more sharks into coastal waters.

There Are Three Types of Unprovoked Shark Attacks (ISAF)

The ISAF curator, George Burgess, documented that there are three different types of attacks by sharks. These were examined in detail by Wildlife Online.

The three types of shark bites are:

• Hit and Run attack: Often unseen, a shark will attack quickly, take a bite and disappear. A hit-and-run attack is the most common shark interaction.
• Bump and bite attack: The bump and bite is most commonly related to feeding. These are most often severe or fatal attacks. Sharks bump their prey before circling back for multiple attacks.
• Sneak attack: Sneak attacks are a combination of the above. They occur without warning and often result in multiple bites.

Shark Attack Statistics by Species

There Are Almost 500 Known Shark Species, among Which Only 30 Are Involved in Attacks on Humans (Florida Museum)

Between sharks and rays, there are approximately 1,000 different species on the planet, yet according to statistics from the Florida Museum of Natural History, only 30 have ever been involved in unprovoked bites on humans.

This means that only between 3 and 5 % of shark species have ever attacked a human.

Since 1580, 949 Unprovoked Shark Attacks Have Been Documented Globally. (ISAF)

Since 1580, there have been 949 unprovoked attacks globally. Great white sharks were involved in 37% (351 attacks) of these, with 59 being fatal.

Most of the Fatalities in 2023 Were Due to White Shark Bites (ISAF)

In 2023, most fatalities were caused by white shark bites, with three in Australia and one in California. According to the Florida Museum, the Great White is the most dangerous shark to humans.

Most unprovoked attacks by sharks are test bites, where a shark senses humans (mistakenly) as their usual prey and often leaves after one bite. However, because of their size, many species, like white and tiger sharks, can cause fatal injuries with just a single bite or two bites.

Since 1580, 351 Unprovoked Bites Have Been Attributed to White Sharks. (ISAF)

The Great White has been responsible for a record 59 fatal human bites over the centuries. They have also been involved in a staggering 351 unprovoked shark bites, which accounted for 326 attacks and 52 fatalities earlier.

The Bite Force of a Great White Shark Is More than 4,000 PSI (American Oceans)

According to American Oceans, the great white shark has a bite force of 4,000 pounds per square inch (psi).

To add some perspective, the force of a Great White shark bite is approximately 10 times more than a lion!

The Second Most Dangerous Sharks in the World Are Tiger Sharks (ISAF)

While Great White sharks are regarded as the most aggressive ocean predator, they are followed close behind by the Tiger shark.

Tiger sharks are, according to the ISAF, unaggressive and often docile sharks; however, they are still second in the number of human attacks and shark-related fatalities. Tiger sharks have been involved in 103 unprovoked attacks and caused 39 fatalities.

Stats Show the Incidence of Bull Sharks Attacks Is Highest in Shallow Waters (NWF)

Bull sharks are clever creatures that can move from freshwater to saltwater without issue. As a result, they often move into shallow rivers and bodies of water. This brings the bull shark into close contact with humans.

According to NWF, Bull sharks are also naturally inquisitive and use their mouth as a way of exploring and investigating.

Tiger sharks caused 142 unprovoked shark bites, and bull sharks caused 119 during that period since 1580. (ISAF)

ISAF warns that shark unprovoked attack figures might not be precise due to misidentification. Yet, bull sharks, tiger sharks, and great white sharks, known as “The Big Three,” cause about 65% of attacks worldwide. They’re known for serious injuries and often roam near human areas.

Hammered Shark Attacks on Humans Didn’t Cause Any Casualties (Newsweek)

According to an article in Newsweek, Hammerhead sharks have not been the cause of human fatality for over 120 years.

While the Hammerhead is the most recognizable of all shark species, it is highly placid. There have been just 16 incidents involving people, and none of them have been fatal.

The Biggest Shark in the World Is the Whale Shark (Oceana)

The largest shark in the world is the Whale shark. However, as confirmed by Oceana, despite being the largest living fish, the whale shark is utterly harmless. One of three filter-feeding sharks, Whale sharks pose no threat to humans.

Interestingly, the spotted pattern on a Whale shark’s hide is as unique as a human fingerprint.

How Many Sharks Are Killed by Humans Statistics

Globally, There Are More Than 100 Million Shark Deaths (American Oceans)

While sharks kill around 10 people a year, humans are responsible for killing tens of millions of sharks. According to American Oceans, approximately 6.4 to 7.9% of all shark species are killed each year.

To further quantify that, there are approximately 11,000 sharks killed every hour!

1.3 To 2.7 Million Sharks Are Killed To Fulfill the Fin Soup Demand (Smithsonian Ocean)

In a piece published by the Smithsonian Ocean, it was reported that anywhere between 1.3 and 2.7 million sharks are killed every year for their fins.

In shark finning, sharks are caught, their finds are removed, and the shark is returned to the ocean, alive, and left behind to drown. It is the major cause of shark mortality.

Overfishing Has Dropped the Level of Sharks by 71% Since 1970 (Nature)

Research released in 2021 and published by Nature confirms that wild shark populations have dropped by 71% since 1970. The main reason behind this is the continued expansion of commercial fishing zones.

Overfishing of the oceans has seen a vast reduction in the amount of food available for most sharks. The follow-up from this is that more sharks are dying, which, coupled with the relatively slow reproduction rate, means there are fewer sharks swimming in our oceans.

Ten Critically Endangered Gray Nurse Sharks Were Killed in the Nets in New South Wales from 2017-2018 (The Guardian)

As part of a shark deterrent system, nets were used around beaches in New South Wales with a focus on catching rogue tiger or white sharks, which pose the greatest risk to humans.

However, according to research and an article in the Guardian, between 2017 and 2018, the nets caught and killed 6 critically endangered gray nurse sharks.

Between 1950 to 2008, 577 Great White Sharks And 353 Tiger Sharks Were Killed in Nets (Taronga)

Shark attack mitigation nets in New South Wales, Australia, have caused the deaths of almost 1000 sharks between 1950 and 2008. These deaths were not the goal of the nets but an unfortunate consequence of them.

As discussed on Taronga.org, there are better and more humane ways to limit interactions between humans and sharks, especially when you consider that there were over 15,000 other marine mammals also killed in the same nets during that time.

FAQs

How many shark attacks per year?

In 2023, there were 69 unprovoked attacks, while 2022 saw 57 worldwide. This marks a change from the 10-year average of 63 attacks per year, as noted by the University of Florida.

How many people are killed by sharks each year?

On average, less than 10 people are killed by sharks worldwide each year.

How many shark attacks in 2022?

During 2022, there were a total of 108 shark interactions worldwide, and ISAF documented 73 unprovoked shark bites or attacks in the United States.

What state has the most shark attacks?

Florida has the highest number of attacks.

What are the chances of getting attacked by a shark?

As per ISAF, the odds of being killed or even attacked by a shark is one in 4.3 million around the world. You are 1500 times more likely to be attacked by a bear than a shark.

Conclusion

Sharks are an often misunderstood species that are viewed as nothing more than cold-blooded killers. Yes, sharks are effective eating machines, but they are so much more than that. As per ISAF, the risk of death from a shark attack is one in 4.3 million around the world.

Source

Mark Drury explains the key factors that influence whitetail behavior, advice for beginning hunters and the benefits of onX Hunt and his new DeerCast hunting app.

What if the forecast could tell you where the whitetail will be the night before you head out into the field? What if you could look at a new swath of public hunting ground and know intuitively where the whitetail will be?

Missouri-based Mark Drury, co-owner of Drury Outdoors and a lifetime hunter with 40+ years of whitetail hunting experience, is a firm believer that it’s possible. In his “Thirteen” video series, he talks about 13 different indicators that dictate whitetail behavior and patterning. In a recent phone interview with onX, he noted three factors he always looks for when evaluating a potential hunting location:

– Bed- Food- Water

Food, he reiterated, is perhaps the most important factor.

“Whitetail are slaves to their stomachs,” he shared. “Really focus on your food plots. Befriend a local farmer or someone at the local co-op—they will know crop timing, what sprays and fertilizers to use and more.” That farmer or co-op member may end up being your best friend in the plot-planning game. Consider possibly calling up your local Farm Service Agency office and asking for information; usually they are more than happy to help.

Food is a moving target: a whitetail’s preferred source differs by both region and time of year and can also change on a day-by-day basis. If a deer is feeding on beans and then acorns suddenly start to drop, they’re likely to shift to eating acorns, therefore changing current eating habits and—most likely—movement patterns.

Mark is a steady user of onX Hunt as a tool to manage his food plots. “I absolutely love onX,” he shared. “I like using it to establish the size on all of my food plots. By calculating the correct acreages, it really helps estimate seed and fertilizer needs, which helps reduce costs. No need to guess anymore.”

Pending the time of year, a good water source and potential bedding spots may overtake the need for food.

“At certain times of year, water, food or bed may be the most important,” Mark noted. It’s up to the hunter to problem solve in certain areas—and to look for opportunities. “If they’re lacking cover or food, you can help provide it.”

Another crucial factor for whitetail hunters is weather. “It’s a big one,” commented Mark. “Weather influences whitetail behavior and movement on a minute-by-minute basis.” It’s this level of importance that helped inspire Mark, along with his brother Terry, to develop the DeerCast hunting app. It also inspired us to create our own deer hunting weather and forecasting capability in onX Hunt. Utilizing current weather reports and weather forecasting, DeerCast helps whitetail hunters predict deer movement in the field.

One of the last key factors Mark looks at is overall rut interpretation and dynamics. What does the herd ratio look like? For example, a high doe-to-buck ratio can lead to a prolonged, less-defined rut. Take some time to research the herd you’re hoping to hunt—game cameras are your friend here.

And perhaps most of all: don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty and just learn. As a child, Mark lived in a rural town of roughly 400 residents. His father didn’t hunt, but he knew he wanted to be outside.

“Since the time I was little I just wanted to be in the woods,” he shared. “I took up hunting myself—that’s just what people did in our town; how they approached things. It was a lot of learning by trial-and-error.”

It was that same learning process that has now led to a 40-plus-year career as a whitetail hunter. “Hunters can never stop learning; you need to go at it with an open mind—hunting keeps us learning,” Mark added.

That same spirit of learning dictates the hunting lifestyle, for both first-year and seasoned hunters. Mark notes that 25 years ago, hunting media was largely limited to print magazines such as Field & Stream and Outdoor Life; now it’s easy to find all manner of information online.

His advice for new hunters? “Sit there and soak up as much as possible online—and never stop wanting to learn.”

It’s savvy advice for hunters of all levels, backgrounds, and locales.

header image: Donn Vidosh

Without a place to go, the most outfitted rig to ever grace the backroads is a bit pointless. It’s simple enough to find trails, backroads, or some other adventurous route, but it isn’t easy to find places to call home for the night. Some parts of the country have a distinct lack of public lands. While other areas are fortunate to have plenty of public lands, those come with a host of regulations.

Some overlanders like to wing it, and there’s nothing wrong with the journey being the destination. However, it only takes a couple of times of driving into the night, searching for a place to catch some shut-eye, before you start pre-planning where you’ll spend the night.

So whether you’re a fly by the seat of your pants type, or an expedition detail planning pro, we have some ideas for places to search for your next home away from home.

Camping on Public Lands

Regardless of other factors, most campsites will fall into either the public or private category. On public lands, you’ll often find options to camp in dispersed sites or in a more formal campground.

Many State and National Forest feature organized campgrounds. These vary widely in size, privacy, and amenities. A few might only be a few flat spots tucked into the woodlands off the main forest road, while others are full campgrounds with bathhouses, electric hookups, and concrete pads. Some might have a reservation system in place, but many are first-come-first-serve and fill up quickly during peak seasons.

READ MORE: How to Find Overland Trails

It’s also worth noting that State and National Parks often have campgrounds, but in our experience, they’re usually relatively tame and tightly packed. They’re fine in a pinch, but with a bit of research or willingness to explore, you can generally find better options.

For a truly wild camping experience, most overlanders will look for dispersed camping opportunities. Unless otherwise posted, dispersed camping is allowed on the majority of public lands. These “sites” are usually unimproved and offer a nice isolated spot for individuals or small groups. We say “sites” because that’s a bit of a misnomer. Sometimes it’s just a vehicle-sized flat spot just off of the forest road or trail, other times it might be roomy enough for a few rigs. You never know until you get there, and that’s all part of the fun. Some of the best options for finding dispersed camping opportunities are at the end of spur roads on public lands and the central portions of large sections of public lands.

Private Land Camping

Not that long ago, private camping options in the US would have been limited to campgrounds in popular areas. Many of those are geared towards RVs and rarely offer a very adventurous experience. However, it seems we’re finally catching up to the rest of the world, and people that live in or near wilderness areas are offering up a spot for campers in exchange for a small fee. However, instead of a simple face-to-face interaction, the chosen platform for arranging these sites is usually a mobile application or website. We’ll discuss some of our favorite options for finding privately owned camping options in a bit.

Mobile Apps & Online Trip Planning

We’re fortunate to have a number of online resources at our disposal. These are useful during the pre-trip planning, and they can save the day on the fly.

Several mobile applications and websites are dedicated to sharing information on formal and informal routes. They usually include information about the difficulty of the terrain, camping opportunities, resupply points, and more. Many applications also allow you to build routes or tracks, mark waypoints, and save all of that information for your upcoming trip.

Look for a program that offers both mobile and web-based platforms. That way, you can do your pre-trip planning on a larger screen, then download it to your mobile or a dedicated device. It’s also important to have the ability to store maps offline. You don’t want to get to the middle of nowhere, only to find your cell service is gone, and now you don’t know how to get to the campsite.

Our own Trips & Trails series is a great place to look for your next trip idea. We highlight trails all over the country, ranging from short jaunts to multiday trips, that can match every overlanders skill level.

Dedicated Websites

If you’re looking for more information about camping on public lands, Reserve America and Recreation.gov can be valuable resources. Reserve America manages online reservations for most state and local government park campgrounds in the United States. However, while Reserve America can serve as a good database of sites, campsites on Federal land are only reservable through Recreation.gov. Nevertheless, when used together, these websites are an excellent resource.

Another great online resource is the Hipcamp website and accompanying mobile application. Hipcamp features options ranging from glamping in a luxury tent to tiny house rentals and our personal favorite, a spot in the woods with a fire ring. You can filter by the type of site you’re looking for, search as you move the map, or by specific days and a destination. We’ve found some gems using Hipcamp, particularly on holiday weekends, when dispersed sites are in high demand and campgrounds are jam-packed.

READ MORE: How to Leave No Trace for Overlanders

There are other options available, and when researching sites for a trip, why not use every tool in the box? With a model similar to Hipcamp, thedyrt.com allows you to browse campsites via a location search or by using their map. Most of the results seem to be park campgrounds and larger private campgrounds. Be warned, while exploring our local area on The Dyrt we found an incorrectly listed campsite that was shown to be half an hour away, when in reality it’s in a different part of the state. Other websites and applications such as iOverlander, Boondocking.com, and the USFS & BLM Campgrounds application are also helpful.

Leave No Trace

Regardless if you’re camping in a huge campground, in a secluded dispersed site on public lands, or a nice spot you found on Hipcamp, you should always practice Leave No Trace ethics. Outside of your own minimal impact practices, it’s always a great idea to leave it better than you found by cleaning up trash when you can. When exploring and camping on public lands, familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations of the area. Wildlife Management Areas, State Forest, National Forest, and other public lands can all have vastly different regulations on anything from required permits to bringing in firewood.

Get Out & Explore

While maps, apps, and other forms of research are great, you can’t beat time on the trail. This holds particularly true if there’s a certain area that you frequently visit. If you’re heading to a new destination, try to tag along with a local, or at the very least gather some insider information. In the age of the internet, you can connect with the locals by searching for hashtags and social media groups.

Last Updated on April 25, 2024

When I speak of my experience with squirrel hunting, I frequently receive strange looks from hunters who aren’t used to this particular type of small game.

However, squirrel hunting is pretty popular across the southeastern USA and other regions.

Good squirrel hunting dogs are essential for squirrel hunting, and while any dog can act as a squirrel dog, some dog breeds are born for this job.

History: What kind of dog is a Squirrel dog?

This is a dog breed trained to hunt squirrels scenting, tracking, and treeing them. While many household pets instinctively chase squirrels, they’re not trained to hunt them.

Even untrained canines chase after small animals with passion, which makes many people think that dogs hate squirrels. They’re just merely acting on their instincts to hunt.

Some breeds don’t have a strong prey drive, especially if they grew up with cats or other pets. Dogs and squirrels can even be friends! Just take a look at this video:

This is rare because most dogs chase squirrels without hesitation. This trait is handy in places where wild game and big game are hunted for food like venison and rabbit.

Did you know that squirrels have been a part of our diet for a long time? They say squirrel meat isn’t only sustainable, but it’s also tasty and healthy.

What is the best breed of dog for Squirrel hunting?

I am a subscriber of the theory that any dog can be trained to hunt, but some have better hunting instincts, so they’re easier to train.

The supreme squirrel dog breeds are Terriers, including those breeds with a bit of Terrier in their bloodlines, such as curs and feists.

Some people consider them mutts but these dogs are usually standardized and are bred for hunting bushytails for generations.

Good squirrel dogs are intelligent and have a strong prey drive, but they also need a great nose to be able to “wind” squirrels, meaning to detect squirrels by scent, through air currents.

Once the dog catches the squirrel, visually or by scent, it has to be able to follow it by sound.

They also need stamina and agility to keep up with their prey, the ability to tree the squirrel, and the willingness to stay treed until the hunter arrives.

1. Airedale Terrier

The Airedale Terrier, also known as Waterside Terrier and Bingley Terrier, is a dog breed from England with distinguished hunting instincts, and it’s one the largest terriers.

The colossal size, along with intelligence and treeing ability, makes this dog the “King of Terriers” and an excellent squirrel dog.

2. American Blue Gascon Hound

The Grand Bleu de Gascogne or Big Blu is a loyal, protective breed known as a passionate hunter for raccoons and squirrels. Its loud baying and treeing ability separate him from other squirrel dogs.

3. Black and Tan Coonhound

Derived from a foxhound and a bloodhound, this breed is well-known for its long ears and black and tan coat.

The Black and Tan Coonhounds are talented for many things, including tracking and treeing small and big game species.

4. Finnish Spitz

Known by many names, such as Finsk Spets, Lulou Finnoi, and Suomenpystykorva, this dog breed looks similar to foxes with its long and fluffy reddish coat.

The Finish Spitz is famous for its vocal ability and hunting prowess, including big and small animals alike.

5. Fox Terrier

Fox Terriers come in two variations, with the only difference being the type of coat – these are Wire Fox Terrier and Smooth Fox Terrier.

These smart dogs are mostly known for hunting foxes even though they excel at squirrel hunting too.

6. Mountain Cur

Also referred to as Original Mountain Cur, this breed arrived in America from Europe, and it is one of the most adaptable hunting breeds.

They were bred explicitly for treeing and hunting small game, but they are often used for baying big animals and as water dogs.

7. Norwegian Elkhound

The Norweigan Elkhound, which is the National Dog of Norway and rarely found in the USA, is also called Norsk Elghund Gra and Norsk Elghund Sort.

It is a Spitz type of breed known for hunting, herding, and protecting people and property.

8. Rat Terrier

The Rat Terrier is an American small dog breed used predominantly for hunting rodents like rats and squirrels.

They are infamous farm dogs, which is why they are considered a rare breed today with the diminishment of family farms.

9. Treeing Cur

These medium-sized size dogs have no restrictions regarding colors and markings, making it easier for breeders to focus on their hunting prowess.

Treeing Curs are fast, intelligent, and agile, and their treeing ability makes them quintessential for squirrel hunting.

10. West Siberian Laika

The West Siberian Laika is also known as Zapadno-Sibirskaia Laika and WSL, and it is a dog that looks a lot like a Husky and has a bit of wolf in the bloodline.

They are bark pointers, which is precisely the trait that squirrel dogs need to possess. These dogs are great hunters, but they can also be aggressive towards other pets and strangers.

11. Beagle

Beagles are remarkable companions and family pets that also possess exceptional scenting ability since they were bred as scenthounds for tracking small game, like rabbits, hare, and squirrels.

12. Jack Russell Terrier

Originally developed to hunt foxes, this small English breed is also known as the Parson Russell Terrier. They have considerable energy, so it can be challenging to keep up with them.

A well-trained Jack Russell Terrier is a great hunting dog with unparalleled agility and hunting instincts.

13. Border Collie

Although Border Collies are famous as sheep-herding dogs, they can also become great at squirrel hunting since they are highly trainable and clever.

With their unlimited amounts of energy, exceptional stamina and agility, and highly developed sense of smell, Collies can be used for hunting any wild game.

14. Kemmer Cur

Kemmer Cur is also known as the Kemmer Stock Hybrid Dog or Cajun Squirrel Dog.

This hybrid dog is almost indistinguishable from the Mountain Cur since they come from the same bloodline and they are equally adept at squirrel hunting.

15. Black Mouth Cur

Easily recognizable due to its black muzzle and golden brown coat, the Black Mouth Cur is a loyal, affectionate pet and a fearless hunter.

These dogs are strong, adaptable, and highly intelligent, with a great ability for treeing.

16. Bluetick Coonhound

The beautiful Bluetick Coonhound is a large dog breed named for its mottled or ticked coat pattern of black and blue.

These dogs are muscled but also sleek and athletic, incredibly vocal, and with a high prey drive that needs to be adequately channeled.

17. Denmark Feist

This is a medium-sized breed that is a hybrid of Mountain Feists, along with Thornburg Feist, Kemmer Feist, and a few others.

Also called Denmark Treeing Feist or DenMark Treeing Feist, this dog is a champion when it comes to hunting small critters like squirrels and raccoons.

18. Leopard Cur

Perhaps better known as the American Leopard Hound, this breed is one of the most versatile hunters out there. It is a medium to large dog that is highly energetic and outstandingly adaptable to weather conditions.

19. Treeing Tennessee Brindle

The Treeing Tennessee Brindle is a type of cur dog that has a proficient nose and a powerful voice. These dogs are sturdy, intelligent, and dependable, with short and smooth brindle coats.

When should you start training a squirrel dog?

Squirrel dog training should start while they’re young, preferably three to six months of age.

It’s best to develop a bond with your fido as early as possible, and you can teach him basic commands that will be useful while hunting.

Take this time to introduce your pup to squirrels by tying a squirrel tail at the end of a stick or pole.

This will help him get familiar with the scent, then tie it to a tree to encourage him to bark whenever he’s treeing squirrels. Some owners use live bait.

Hunters have a saying: “A dog can’t learn to hunt in the kennel.” That means you have to take your dog for a live pursuit.

Start in an area with plenty of squirrels so that it’s easy for your dog and it will raise his confidence. Then try different locations later on.

Keep the sessions short and positive to produce the best results as a dog trainer.

How to Successfully Squirrel Hunt with Dogs?

Squirrel hunting may sound simple – follow your dog while he locates the tree where a squirrel is hiding, or chase one up a tree – but in reality, it’s more complicated.

Before anything else, you should know that some squirrels are harder to spot, like gray squirrels.

You should also have a canine companion with a great nose to determine where the squirrel exactly is before you shoot it.

It’s also best that you learn these hunting terms before you and your squirrel dog hang out with fellow hunters:

• Bark Treed – The sound that a dog makes when he locates the squirrel in a tree
• Timbering – A term for a squirrel running through the trees, trying to escape
• Toenailed – When a dog pins the squirrel by positioning himself on the bark of a tree
• Has the Meat – When a squirrel is confirmed on the tree
• Range – The distance between the hunter and the dog while searching for a squirrel

Frequently Asked Questions About Squirrel Dogs

What Time of Day Are Squirrels Most Active?

Squirrels are usually active all day, particularly in the fall and spring when they look for food. However, they are most active during dusk and dawn.

What Happens When a Dog Catches a Squirrel?

Well-trained squirrel dogs will kill the squirrel when they catch it, but they will not eat it. Untrained dogs might eat the squirrel after they catch it.

Will My Dog Get Sick from Eating a Squirrel?

If the squirrel is freshly killed, and your dog is healthy and on parasite control, he will most likely be fine. However, squirrels are hosts to many parasites, so the risk of transmission always exists.

What Diseases Can Squirrels Transmit to Dogs?

Some of the more common diseases transmitted from squirrels to dogs include plague, rabies, and Lyme disease. In some parts of the United States, squirrels can also carry a deadly disease called Leptospirosis.

Can a Squirrel Kill a Dog?

Squirrels can harm your canine with their sharp teeth and claws, but a dog getting killed by a squirrel is highly unlikely and borders on impossible.

Should I Let My Dog Chase Squirrels?

Unless you are training your dog for squirrel hunting, you should discourage such dangerous behavior in public places.

How Do I Stop My Dog from Chasing Squirrels?

Starting obedience training when the dog is young can be very helpful when you try to control his hunting instincts. Get your dog to concentrate on you during walks.

How Much Does a Good Squirrel Dog Cost?

Squirrel dogs from a good stock cost $100 to $200, but you can buy experienced treeing dogs with a price range of $500 to $5,000.

These amounts depend on the dog’s age, gender, whether it was trained, and if it’s squirrel season.

Verdict: Should you get a Squirrel Dog?

If you plan to go squirrel hunting, it is critical to have a good squirrel dog and know how to utilize him.

Otherwise, it might be preferable to choose another breed – squirrel dogs are tremendously energetic and require a job to be healthy and satisfied.

Are you an avid squirrel hunter? Do you have something to add or contribute to more training tips? Let us know in the comments.

Reference

• https://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/pets/infection/index.html

First, let’s get the biggest news about the new LCP MAX out of the way. It has a magazine capacity of 10 rounds, and an optional 12-round magazine is offered as an accessory. That’s twice the capacity of the previous .380 ACP LCP and LCP II pistols, which, by the way, are still in production. Ruger accomplished this increase in firepower by developing a double-stack magazine that is, surprisingly, not much wider than the original single-stack magazine.

Fine Features

Like the other LCP pistols, the new LCP MAX’s slide has cocking ears, grasping grooves (front and rear), and an external extractor. The top edges and the muzzle end are beveled for concealment and a smooth draw.

According to Ruger’s website, the LCP MAX has a 2.8-inch barrel, but according to my Stanley tape measure, the sample barrel measures closer to 2.75 inches, which is the specified length for the LCP and LCP II pistols. Either way, the barrel is finished in black, and the muzzle is crowned. The recoil guide rod is full length. And the chamber has view ports on both sides that serve as loaded-chamber indicators; they are not on top of the chamber like on many other pistols.

Whenever a .380 ACP pocket pistol is reviewed, readers ask whether it is blowback or recoil-operated because a lot of the older small-caliber, small-size semiautomatic pistols are blowback. The LCP MAX is a recoil-operated autoloader.

Like its predecessor, the LCP MAX utilizes a tilting-breech design. When a cartridge is fired, the steel barrel and steel slide remain locked together for a short distance of slide travel, after which the breech end of the barrel cams down, out of engagement with the slide. The slide then moves fully rearward, extracting and ejecting the fired case. Then the dual recoil springs return the slide to its forward position, picking up a cartridge from the magazine and chambering it. As the cycle is completed, the breech-end of the barrel cams up and locks into the slide.

The LCP MAX uses Ruger’s Secure Action fire-control system similar to the Ruger-57 and Security-9 semiautomatic pistols. When the slide cycles, the recessed hammer is cocked fully. Squeezing the trigger (which involves pressing the built-in safety lever to allow the trigger to move fully to the rear) releases the hammer to strike the firing pin. The slide automatically locks back on an empty magazine.

Speaking of magazines, the double-stack 10-round magazine that comes standard with the LCP MAX also comes with an interchangeable finger-extension baseplate. It doesn’t increase the magazine capacity, but it offers a bit more to grab onto. I didn’t use it in my shootout because I had a secure purchase using the flush-fitting magazine baseplate. (For the record, I wear medium-size gloves.)

But switching the baseplates is easy. Just push a pin punch or similar tool into the magazine seat where it protrudes into the hole on the baseplate. Slide the baseplate forward toward the front of the magazine. Use caution because the magazine spring is under heavy tension and can cause the forcible ejection of the magazine spring seat and the spring. The magazine spring seat, the spring, and the follower can be removed for cleaning at this juncture. Then just reassemble the parts, switching the baseplates.

The magazine’s metal tube has two witness holes on the right side; one has the number 5 near it, and the other has the number 10, indicating the round counts. The LCP MAX does not have a magazine disconnect safety, so that means it will fire with the magazine removed just like the earlier LCP and LCP II pistols.

The magazine release on the pistol’s frame can be switched from the left-hand side to the right-hand side. This procedure is a bit more complicated but still fairly user-friendly. The pistol needs to be disassembled, so let’s go through those steps first.

Once you’re certain the pistol is not loaded and the magazine has been ejected, pull the slide fully to the rear and engage the slide stop. Visually check the chamber one more time to be sure it is empty. Retract the slide and release it. Pry loose the takedown pin with a flat-head screwdriver or other blunt tool, then remove the takedown pin entirely with your fingers. Move the slide assembly forward and off the frame. The recoil spring guide rod assembly and barrel can then be removed from the slide.

To switch the magazine latch, first look down into the front of magazine well and locate the magazine latch. A wire coming up from the lower part of the magazine well engages the magazine latch, and it serves as the magazine latch spring and retainer. Use a pointed steel rod, such as a scribe, to approach the spring from the bottom of the magazine well. Push the wire to the side it is bent towards while prying it towards the rear of the magazine well until the wire comes free of the latch. The spring does not need to be removed.

Remove the magazine latch by pushing on the striated button side and pushing it all the way through the grip frame. Rotate the striated edge up to get around the end of the magazine latch spring and then down again to remove it from the frame.

Reinstall the magazine latch by starting the striated end into the opposite side of the grip frame. When the latch reaches the spring, rotate it past the spring and then rotate it back to reach the opposite side of the frame. The spring should lie against the flat on the magazine latch.

Use the pointed scribe to manipulate the wire magazine latch spring sideways, away from the striated button, until it locks itself into the magazine latch.

Reassemble the barrel and recoil spring guide rod assembly in the slide and install the slide onto the frame. Always check for proper function after reassembly before firing live ammunition. The company states it is safe to dry-fire an empty LCP MAX in moderation without damaging the firing pin or other components, but using a snap cap is recommended for continued dry-firing.

The pistol’s rear sight is all black with horizontal striations on the face and a U-shaped notch. The front sight has a green tritium dot with a white-outline ring around it. It and the rear sight are dovetailed into the slide. If windage adjustment is desired, drift the rear sight in the direction you want to move the point of impact on the target.

The high-performance glass-filled nylon frame has an aluminum insert and a rounded trigger guard that has coarse horizontal texturing on the front. The grip portion has fine texturing on the sides, the frontstrap, and the backstrap.

The LCP MAX comes with a pocket holster, a trigger padlock, and a polymer magazine loader.

Range Results

I fired the new LCP MAX with eight .380 ACP factory loads ranging in bullet weight from 60 to 100 grains. The pistol functioned perfectly with all loads. Overall average accuracy for three, five-shot groups with each load at 25 yards was 4.49 inches. Its best single five-shot group measured 2.50 inches, and it came with Federal 99-grain HST ammunition. That load’s average accuracy was 4.00 inches. Shooting offhand at 10 yards with the Federal 99-grain HST ammo placed a full magazine of 10 rounds into a gaping ragged hole with all shots nearly touching.

The LCP MAX weighs just 10.6 ounces, so some recoil is expected even with the low-recoiling .380 ACP round. Some loads were pretty snappy in terms of felt recoil, but none were uncomfortable. The trigger pull averaged 6 pounds, 14 ounces for a series of 10 measurements with an RCBS trigger pull scale.

The only complaint I have from my shooting session doesn’t really have anything to do with the gun’s quality or function, but the sights were a tad fuzzy. But that is due to my poor eyesight.

Obviously, it’s time for me to get some new eyeglasses!

Ruger LCP MAX Specifications

• Manufacturer: Sturm, Ruger & Co., ruger.com
• Type: Recoil-operated, hammer-fired autoloader
• Caliber: .380 ACP
• Magazine Capacity: 10 rounds
• Barrel: 2.8 in.
• Overall Length: 5.17 in.
• Width: 0.94 in. (slide is 0.81 in.)
• Height: 4.12 in.
• Weight, Empty: 10.6 oz.
• Grips: Integral to polymer frame
• Finish: Black oxide
• Sights: U-notch, drift-adjustable rear; tritium/white-outline front
• Trigger: 6.85-lb. pull (as tested)
• Safety: Safety lever trigger, internal striker block
• MSRP: $449

Hornady has an incredible track record with cartridges over the last 20 years: 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 300 PRC, 17HMR. The list goes on. In fact, I’d guess that 60% of the new hunting rifles in most gun stores today are chambered in a cartridge designed by Hornady.

The 7mm Precision Rifle Cartridge is a long-action centerfire rifle cartridge designed to shoot 180 grain bullets at 2,950 fps. It is intended for long-range shooting due to its ability to utilize high BC bullets, and is also uniquely suited for hunting large animals such as elk.

Pros and Cons of the 7mm PRC

Comparing 7mm PRC to Similar Cartridges

The 7mm PRC is similar to a 7mm Rem Mag, but it can shoot heavier bullets with higher BC’s, has no belt which causes problems for reloaders, and slightly less case capacity so longer barrels are not necessary. Think of it as a modernized 7mm Rem Mag.

CartridgeBullet WeightMuzzle VelocityMuzzle EnergyAction LengthCaliber28 Nosler300 PRCGunwerks 7 LRM300 Win Mag300 WSM7 PRC6.8 Western7 SAUM7mm Rem Mag280 AI

The Precision Rifle Cartridge line is now broad enough that for many hunting uses, shooters will have a tough time deciding between the 6.5 PRC, 7 PRC, and 300 PRC.

As you can see from the above table, the 7mm PRC is most similar to the Gunwerks 7 LRM. In fact, Aaron Davidson, CEO of Gunwerks, jokingly said that the new 7PRC is the 7LRM. Obviously, there are many technical differences between the two, but they do fill a nearly identical hole in the market.

Personally, I have said for a long time on the Youtube channel that my ideal hunting cartridge would be a 7mm shooting 180 grains at 3,000 fps. That’s exactly what the 7PRC is, but it is by no means the only cartridge that offers those specs.

My prediction? The 7mm PRC will beat the following cartridges in sales over the next 20 years: 280AI, Gunwerks LRM, and the 7mm Rem Mag. Personally, I like all three of those cartridges for different reasons, but I think this new cartridge will become so popular over the next few years that those cartridges will quickly fade in the rearview mirror. Obviously, the 7mm Rem Mag isn’t going to just vanish in the next 10 years. It’s an incredibly popular cartridge, but over time, I expect the 7 PRC to overtake it.

The following table compares the 7 PRC to several other cartridges using Hornady’s Precision Hunter line of ammunition.

Energy at 200Max Effective Range (2,000 fps)Drop at 400Drift at 400Bullet WeightMuzzle Velocity7 PRC (175gr ELDX)7 PRC (195gr Berger EOL)7 PRC (160gr CX)300 Win Mag7mm Rem Mag280 AI6.5 PRC270 Win308 Win7mm-08 Rem

Recoil

The recoil of the 7mm PRC produces 27.7 ft-lbs of energy at a recoil velocity of 14.1 fps. That is more recoil than a .30-06 but less than a .300 Win Mag. It is on the upper end of what most large adult shooters can comfortably tolerate.

When I first shot the 7 PRC in a lightweight rifle, I was surprised by the stout recoil; however, adding a muzzle brake or a suppressor tames the rifle dramatically. I shot a coyote yesterday with the 7 PRC and had no problem seeing the bullet impact the coyote and the aftermath without losing my view of the target in the scope due to recoil.

CartridgeBullet WeightMuzzle VelocityRecoil EnergyRecoil VelocityPowder Charge28 Nosler300 PRC7 LRM300 Win Mag300 WSM7 PRC6.8 Western7 SAUM7mm Rem Mag280 AI6.5 PRC

7 PRC Cartridge Design

Before SAAMI drawings of the 7 PRC were released, I fully expected the 7 PRC to follow the industry-wide trend of overbore hot-rod cartridges. I thought for certain it would have more powder capacity than a 7 Mag so Hornady could advertise the new cartridge “beating” the old standard.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the cartridge is quite mild. The 7 PRC has very slightly less case capacity than the 7mm Remington Magnum, but also has a twist rate and neck length capable of shooting much heavier bullets than are common in a 7 Mag.

CartridgeH20 CapacityMax COALCase LengthShoulder AngleHead DiameterNeck Length28 Nosler300 PRC7 LRM300 Win Mag300 WSM7 PRC6.8 Western7 SAUM7mm Rem Mag280 AI

Bullet Weights

The 7 PRC is designed around the 180-grain ELD-Match bullet; however, some people will certainly point to the fact that the 7mm Rem Mag has been able to shoot 180-grain bullets for many decades. The specified twist rate for each cartridge dramatically impacts the ability for a firearm to spin a bullet fast enough to stabilize a long bullet in flight.

Shooters will gravitate toward heavy-for-caliber high-BC bullets in the 7mm PRC. I have a table showing the highest BC 7mm bullets, but here are a few bullets likely to be popular in the 7mm PRC:

• 175gr Hornady ELD-X
• 160gr Hornady CX
• 180gr Hornady ELD-M
• 195gr Berger EOL
• 183gr Sierra MatchKing
• 180gr Berger VLD Target
• 180gr Berger VLD Hunting
• 175gr Berger Elite Hunter
• 175gr Nosler Accubond

Below are the specified twist rates for many similar cartridges to the 7 PRC. A faster twist in the rifling of a barrel allows the bullet to spin more quickly to stabilize longer (and consequently heavier) bullets.

CartridgeTwist RateBullet Weight Range28 Nosler300 PRCGunwerks 7 LRM300 Win Mag300 WSM7 PRC6.8 Western7 SAUM7mm Rem Mag280 AI

Converting Your Rifle to a 7 PRC

Backfire was the first publication to put together a 7 PRC as soon as the SAAMI specs for the cartridge were released. Building a rifle with no reloading data and no established manufacturing was a challenge, but now you can easily get a rifle rebarreled for 7 PRC.

I highly recommend Preferred Barrel Blanks for this job. I had them make me a short 20″ carbon fiber-wrapped barrel chambered in 7 PRC. I’m getting impressive velocities despite the short length, and the accuracy has been insanely good-one of the most accurate rifles I’ve ever shot.

Be cautious when rebarreling a rifle into any of the “PRC” cartridges. Due to the extremely tight tolerances of these cartridges, I’ve seen MANY manufacturers struggle with delivering barrels that spike pressures or have brass that doesn’t fit right. The #1 reason I recommend Preferred Barrel Blanks is because they’ve sorted through those issues and can deliver problem-free prefit barrels.

The cool thing is that Preferred Barrel Blanks does prefits for just about any action you already have. You can get a new barrel for your Ruger American, Tikka, Bergara, Savage, etc. Or, you can of course use a custom action like a Terminus, Defiance, etc. As long as it’s a standard long-action, you should be just fine putting a 7 PRC barrel on it.

If you’re new to this, just call Preferred Barrel Blanks at (435) 635-6900 and tell them you read about them on Backfire and you want a 20″ carbon fiber-wrapped prefit barrel like the one they made for me. When it gets mailed to you, you screw it on and you have a 7 PRC! Simple as that. Below is a picture of the 7 PRC that Preferred Barrel Blanks built for me (Note: I also bought a MDT HNT26 chassis from them, which they had in stock).

Factory Rifles Offered in 7 PRC

I have a complete article on the best rifles available now in 7mm PRC.

As soon as the cartridge was officially announced, Hornady announced many rifle makers that will be producing factory offerings for the 7 PRC.

I was somewhat surprised by the list of firearms manufacturers who are not yet jumping on board with the 7 PRC. Tikka, Browning, and Bergara are conspicuously missing from the list and yet they all chamber for the 6.5 PRC.

Since this new cartridge has been announced, I’ve talked with my contacts at many of the major rifle manufacturers and have been surprised by how many of them are extremely frustrated with working on PRC chamberings in their rifles. There have been many changes to the reamer specs of the other PRC cartridges, and the tight tolerances make manufacturing difficult.

Reloading for the 7 PRC

I’ve done a significant amount of handloading and reloading for the 7 PRC over the last few months. Using dies from Whidden, I got to work.

Initially, I expected H1000 or Retumbo to be the best powders for the 7 PRC since they are fan favorites of the 7 Mag. I quickly saw that the 4 fewer grains of case capacity in the 7 PRC made these powders not ideal. So far, my favorite powder for reloading the 7 PRC is H4831SC using standard large rifle primers.

The challenge of loading for any of the PRC cartridges is the extremely tight tolerances. Even fairly experienced reloaders sometimes struggle to get reloaded brass to fit properly into the rifle.

Obviously Hornady makes dies for the 7 PRC, but I personally am not a fan of their dies. The only other company I’ve seen with die sets is Whidden Gunworks. They sent me their full-length bushing resizing die and micrometer seating die and I’ve been amazed with the quality. Seriously, it’s by far the nicest die set I’ve ever owned-and I’ve tried just about every brand out there.

Loading the 175gr ELD-X Bullet in the 7mm PRC

Important Note: This is anecdotal testing. Your results may vary. Unlike a load data book from one of the ammunition companies, I am not measuring pressure with a computer. I’m just looking at the brass for symptoms of being over-pressure, but sometimes those symptoms don’t show up until a cartridge is significantly overpressure as could be measured by a computer. This is for academic purposes only. Do not rely on my anecdotal testing for your rifle. If ya do… you might blow your face off.

First, let’s take a look at H4831SC powder loaded with a 175gr ELD-X bullet. This is using CCI Large Magnum primers, and shooting out of a 24″ test barrel.

Powder ChargeVelocity (fps)Notes

Next, I loaded H1000. Unfortunately, the chronograph (Labradar) glitched out and didn’t record all the velocities, but I did at least shoot the following two that were recorded. Note that BOTH of these are a compressed load, so you couldn’t really go much faster than this with H1000.

This is again shooting the 175gr ELD-X bullet out of 24″ test barrel with a large magnum CCI primer.

Powder ChargeVelocity (fps)Notes

Last, I shot Accurate Magpro powder with the same 175gr ELD-X and CCI large magnum primer out of a 24″ test barrel. Here’s what I found.

Powder ChargeVelocity (fps)Notes

I also received some information from a gentleman in Canada who built a 7PRC. Here’s what he reported using a 175gr ELDX, Federal 215M primers, and Reloder26 powder. Here’s that data using his 24.5″ barrel:

Powder ChargeVelocity (fps)Notes

After seeing these numbers, I’m most interested in pursuing H4831SC for this cartridge. H1000 ran out of space for powder before I reached max velocity. Magpro had a lot of case capacity left, but wasn’t getting the velocity I’d hope to see without just burning a ton of powder.

Personally, my load for the 175 ELD-X in the 7mm PRC will be 64gr of H4831SC, which should yield around 2,925fps. I believe that should be a max load but still safe in my rifle, efficient loading, and impressive speed.

It seems that the cartridge was designed to compress the load right at the point where you’d reach pressure with these common powders.

Interestingly, I loaded 61.2 grains of H4831SC in a 7mm Remington Magnum, and a 7mm PRC. I used the same primer, and the same 175gr ELDX bullet. However, the 7mm PRC shot on average 105 fps faster.

There is still quite a bit more case capacity left with Magpro (my guess would be you could go to 77 grains before it compresses), so that could be an option for max velocity, but you’d be going through quite a bit more powder to get there.

Loading the 195 Berger EOL Bullet in the 7mm PRC

For this load, I chose the 195 Berger EOL and loaded it to max COAL of 3.34″. I used CCI large magnum rifle primers, and lovingly caressed each bullet before sending it on the ride of its life. I’m still using the same 24″ test barrel by Preferred Barrel Blanks for this cartridge.

Powder ChargeVelocityPressure Signs

Powder ChargeVelocityNotes

Loading the 150gr Hornady CX Bullet in the 7mm PRC

Note that with these loads, I switch to a standard large rifle primer-not a magnum primer.

Powder ChargeVelocityNotes

I personally worked up my load using the 150gr Hornady CX bullet, but now Hornady has announced a new 160gr CX bullet with a much higher BC and only one band instead of the two bands on the 150gr CX. I will likely switch to that bullet once it becomes available.

Surprisingly, the factory ammunition for the 160gr CX bullet offers the same 3,000fps muzzle velocity as the 175gr ELD-X bullet. I expected it to go a little faster in the CX due to the lighter weight, but copper bullets can also increase pressures, so it seems that Hornady wasn’t able to get any increased speed out of it.

History of the 7mm PRC

Hornady officially announced the cartridge on October 26, 2022 at the NASGW Expo. The 7mm PRC was approved by SAAMI on June 7, 2022 and the public introduction was released on June 16, 2022. Backfire’s Youtube channel was the first publication to break the story of the cartridge’s SAAMI approval, and Backfire was also the first group to build a 7mm PRC and show it to the public.

Are Slugs edible? What about Snails?

There is only one rule you have to remember: When it comes to land snails, land slugs, and fresh water mollusks you must cook them thoroughly or they can kill you. Got that? Taste is a secondary consideration.

Okay, why cook them? People do eat slugs raw on a dare, and the Indians used live slugs to numb gums, tongues and toothache. These common little creatures aren’t too bad unto themselves, but some of the land crawlers especially in warmer areas have parasites, one of which they can get from rat feces. That parasite, normally infecting a rat’s lung, goes from your stomach to your brain, crawling there over time — yes, crawling there — and causes your brain to swell. That big head folks have accused you of having will come to pass and kill you. Thorough cooking will kill the parasites.

Some of the freshwater mollusks (clams, snails et cetera) are in water with bacterial waste, be it beavers’ or Butt Head’s. Cooking thoroughly kills all bacteria and parasites. It is recommended you collect said, especially slugs and land snails, while wearing gloves and or be careful, have no cuts on your hands, and wash your hands immediately and until then keep them away from your eyes, nose and mouth… the same precautions you would do if you handling raw chicken. The chances of you getting the disease are really low should you eat a slug raw. A few have been sickened that way, but the possibility is there: Avoid it.

Now what about taste? Some taste good, like escargot, some taste bad regardless of preparation, some have no taste. But there are no truly poisonous slugs or snails. Once cleaned and cooked, or cooked and cleaned, it is a matter or preparation and personal taste. Slugs are just snails with no shells, and snails are really just specialized clams that moved from water to land. By the way, all of this applies only to land slugs, land snails and freshwater mollusks, not slugs and snails and mollusks in salt water. (Salt water slugs tend to be toxic.)

Here in central Florida we’ve had a gourmet invasion of Apple Snails. Thirty years ago they were introduced to such places as Taiwan and Japan as delicacies. They were also favored among aquarium owners because of their looks and speed of growth. They never caught on big with Asian gourmets and some how got released into Florida lakes. One lake near here, Lake Brantley, went from no Apple Snails in 2003 to being overwhelmed in 2004. The battle has been on going since and the fear is from that lake the snails will invade the Weikva River, just a few wet miles away. And the Weikiva leads to virtually half the state. Personally, I haven’t seen any non-native Apple Snail eggs in the Weikiva basin but it’s like having an open gallon of gasoline next to a roaring fireplace. It only takes one bird to drop one uneaten snail in the river.

Let’s hear from an expert on the edibility of snails, Dr. Tim Pearce, Assistant Curator and Head, section of Mollusks, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:

“As far as I know, any land snail is edible. Although I don’t know any land snails that are poisonous, I do know one species that tastes very bad (Anguispira alternata, the tiger snail). Most species of land snails are very small (less than 1/8 inch or 3 mm), so eating them would be a challenge. But (despite being a vegetarian) I have eaten some of the native snails with shells 3/4 inch (20 mm) diameter. Maybe you want to know where to find the snails that are commonly eaten as escargots. Those species are from Europe. Some of them have been introduced into the United States, but most of them are considered pests. For example, Helix aspersa, one of the most commonly eaten land snail species, is a very abundant garden and agricultural pest in California. I think Cepaea nemoralis is also eaten; it is another introduced species and not generally considered a garden pest. There are populations of C. nemoralis in eastern New York, and a few populations in Pennsylvania in the Philadelphia area. Be sure to get permission from the land owner. Note also that transporting living land snails is now regulated by the federal government . Also, if you collect the native species, be careful not to over collect. The native species generally reproduce more slowly than the introduced species, so over collecting could wipe out a population.”

Locally, the easiest way to identify snails in a given body of water is to look at their eggs, their size and color, usually found on stems of water plants above the water line. You can also find their empty shells on shore where they’ve been dinner already. Native Florida Apple Snails lay white eggs on the large size, like peas. Island Apple Snails lay small pink eggs that turn white. The Skipped Topped Apple Snail lays salmon colored eggs and the Titian Apple Snail lays eggs that are pastel green or sea foam green.

How do you get the snails? You can noodle around for them or use a trap. There are commercial traps or you can make one out of an oil drain pan.

So snails are edible, you’ve got that. You’ve heard of escargot, but what about slugs? Dr. Pearce again.

According to Dr. Pearce, counting all gastropods in the sea, freshwater, and land, a good estimate is that there are about 80,000 species. For just the land snails, they estimate about 35,000 species in the whole world. In North America north of Mexico, there are about 1,000 species of land snails. Pearce says he can almost guarantee that in eastern North America, all the slugs in your garden are non-native species from Europe. Incidentally, the gigantic land snails native to Africa and now found in Florida are edible.

“Species that are successful invaders tend to have fast reproductive rates, probably explaining why there are so many of them in your garden. For some reason, slugs seem to be better invaders than snails do,” he said.

So, we know slugs are edible, unless they been feeding on some poisonous plant. Ray Mears, best known of the professional bush crafters, does not recommend eating slugs because they often feed on mushrooms, and most of them are toxic, and Mears is an expert on edible mushrooms.

To avoid getting mushroom poison from a slug it is usual to either starve the slug before eating or feed them for several days before serving them up. The Romans used to fatten their snails with meal and wine until they got huge and tasty. In Italy they are sometimes kept in bran for several days before eating. In many places in Europe people have home-made snail-preserves, or escargotieres, little corners of gardens enclosed with boards and netted over the top. In these enclosures hundreds of snails are kept and fed vegetables and herbs to flavor them. The same could be done with slugs.

Before I move on to cooking snails, how do you collect them, other than snorkeling? Do what those who capture snails to get rid of them do: Trap them. There are two simple traps. Take a small crayfish trap and either lay it in the water/reeds half in the water, half out. Or in deeper water arrange the tap vertically half in, half out of the water. Surprisingly traps work with or without bait. The second trap looks like an old tire with a grate in the middle and a stake through it. Imagine the grate slightly smaller than the opening and set a couple of inches lower as well. The snail crawls over the tire, on to the grate then off the grate into the trap below. This should be done in water just reaching the top of the tire. An inexpensive alternative is a plastic oil drip pan with the grate cut smaller than the opening and a piece of PVC put through it and the pan to hold it at the right height.

Cooking snails: Put some water into a saucepan, and when it begins to boil throw in the snails and let them boil a quarter of an hour; then take them out of their shells, wash them several times, clean them thoroughly, place them in clean water, and boil them again for a quarter of an hour. Then take them out, rinse them, dry them, and place them with a little butter in a frying-pan, and fry them gently for a few minutes sufficient to brown them.

To cook snails the French way crack the shells and throw them into boiling water, with a little salt and herbs, sufficient to make the whole lot savory. In 15 minutes take them out, pick the snails from the shells, and boil them again; then put them into a saucepan, with butter, parsley, pepper, thyme, a bay-leaf and a little flour. When sufficiently done, add the yolk of an egg well beaten, and the juice of a lemon or some vinegar. Snails have about 90 calories per 100 grams of meat. They are high in protein (12 to 16 percent) and rich in minerals.

Cooking slugs: Slugs, far more than snails, eat toxic mushrooms. If it is the season of toxic mushrooms the slugs should be kept for many days and fed meal or brand or lettuce to purge them. Put pre-fed slugs into a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar. This will kill the slugs and force them to release mucus. Simmer five minutes it boiling water. Change the water and boil again for ten minutes. Change the water a third time and boil again for fifteen minutes (so you have three changes of water and a total of 30 minutes boiling time.) If the slug has a foul tasting digestive organ remove and rinse. The cooked slug is now ready to eat or use in other dishes.

Another way to cook snails is to put them upside down next to your fire and leave them there until they bubble vigorously.

Slug Fritters

Ingredients

10 cooked and cleaned large slugs

1/2 cup of cornmeal

1/2 cup of flour

3 eggs

1/4 cup of heavy cream

4 tbs. Of butter

4tsp.of sour cream

Instructions

First chop the slugs into fine mince, then beat the eggs with the heavy cream together. Sift the dry ingredients and then cut two tablespoons of butter into that mixture. Add the egg and cream mixture to the dry ingredients and whip with a whisk vigorously for one to two minutes. Melt one tablespoon of butter in a sauté pan and pure the batter into 2 1/2 inch cakes in two batches. Serve warm with a dollop of sour cream. Yields four servings.

Slugs that are still in palatable after boiling can be fried until crisp and tried, or ground into a flour and added to other meals for nutrition.

According to the Journal of Experimental Biology, August 2006, slugs are 5.1% carbohydrates, 0.5% fat, 7.1% protein and 85% moisture. When cooked they are probably lower in carbs because that is contained in the mucus which is lost in cooking. Slugs were on the diet of many Native Americans in the northwest US, where they have some 27 different kinds. German immigrants to that area gutted them and fried them in batter.

Incidentally, freshwater clams can make “pearls” and they command a high price. When I was a kid I use to use freshwater clams for bait and collected a few black pearls at the same time. I had a girlfriend at the time who was quite fond of them… probably still is, and she didn’t have to get wet to get them.

Also, check with your local authorities and do not collect endangered species or exceed harvesting limits. Many exotic species have no limit.

Australian doctors issued a warning in October 2003 about eating slugs after a Sydney college student contracted a potentially fatal brain disease when he swallowed some slugs on a dare. Tests found the man’s meningitis was caused by a worm normally seen in rat lungs but carried as larvae in slugs and snails. The worm caused the brain lining to swell, forcing doctors to drain fluid from inside the man’s skull. He was hospitalized for 17 days with brain lesions. It was five months before he could resume his studies. A friend of the student also ate some raw slugs as part of the dare but threw them up, losing the bet.

The doctors said there had been numerous cases of meningitis since 1971 caused by people eating garden snails or slugs. One child died after eating snails and one patient contracted meningitis after eating lettuce covered with snail slime, according to a report in the Medical Journal of Australia.

To watch a video on eating slugs, go here.

Product Description

The ICBM Weighted Long Distance Float – long casting bobber / float – waggler missile will help you reach far-away spots. Goes a long way on light line up to 80 yards and consistently longer than any you have every fished. Try one – Bombs Away.

If you need to launch a float long distance to cover water, the ICBM Weighted Long Distance Cast Bobber is your weapon. Deliver either artificial or live baits long distance with these weighted bobbers. The ICBM offers you the ability to make long-distance casts on spinning tackle to fish your extreme conditions. If you are fishing deep water over 20 ft., or you wish to cast 150 – 200 feet away, these floats will easily work for that distance. A very long-casting float. Long distances can be achieved with very easy casts.

** PRODUCT NOTE -2 Weight size variations are IN STOCK. The float differs in weights and will be either Medium Long (second-heaviest) or Long (heaviest) you may receive different colors when ordering this product. Float tips are all the same high-visibility orange.

These floats have been reinforced and sealed top and bottom with epoxy for added strength and built to last!

The ICBM Weighted Long Distance Float – Bobber can also be fished with 1/32 oz. jig and requires only 2 grams of split shot to balance the float which saves the angler money! The floats are weighted and require the addition of only a couple big split shot to sink the float down lower in the water.

If you are not used to casting this float, your first casts should be soft-medium so you can feel the power of this missile-style weighted waggler float. Slowly add a little more power on your next casts and see the distances you can achieve. The use of a longer rod and light line will create tools for you to reach far out into lakes and reservoirs and even fish 20 – 30 feet below the surface at long-distance.

This is a great float for fishing plastics or small minnows for crappie, perch, walleye, panfish and trout. This can also be fished with small artificial worms for bass as well as half a crawler, leeches (great), grubs, particle baits, red worm, wax worm or crickets – very versitile float. Carp anglers and catfish anglers will love these bobbers.

We suggest using a Quick Change Float Snap or the Pro Float Connector to fish these at their maximum. You can adjust sizes to match changing conditions and swap out a different weight and size of float if needed. If the wind dies down, you should always go with the lightest float possible. This float is great for high winds and in waves.

Use a longer rod like our 9 foot rod or 10 foot float series rod and a big reel loaded with light line (4 lb. or 3 lb.) line to max out your casts. As you use 6 lb. or heavier lines, the casts will go shorter, but still a long way out from your position. After the float lands in the water, you can quickly reel in with your rod tip below the water and sink the line. Sinking the line will keep your float in place even at a long distance away.

The float (bobber) comes pre-loaded with it’s own weight which means you won’t have to use as much split shot to sink your rig, saving you money and setup time. At longer distances, you can leave some split shot off to raise the float antenna upward- offering high visibility at long distance. The high-visibility yellow stem can be seen clear across the lake!

Can be fished on Firewire braided or mono filament lines and using many baits including baits up to medium-sized minnows. When casting the ICBM Weighted Long Distance Waggler, you start slow and pick up the pace during the cast. Make sure you aren’t wrapped around the tip- or you will snap you line on the cast. Take your time, enjoy bombing casts!

Introduction

Have you ever seen a moose in person? If not, you might not realize just how HUGE these creatures are! Moose make humans look tiny in comparison. In this article, we’ll explore how moose size stacks up to the average person.

Moose Height vs. Human Height

First, let’s talk about moose height versus human height. Bull moose, which are the males, stand a whopping 6 to 7 feet tall at the shoulders. That’s before you even count their antlers! Cow moose, the females, are just slightly shorter at around 5 to 6 feet tall.

Now let’s compare that to the size of a typical human. The average adult man is about 5 feet 9 inches tall. That means a bull moose can be over 2 feet taller than a man! If an average man walked up to a bull moose, he would just reach the moose’s shoulder. A cow moose is still at least several inches taller than a man.

Already from the height alone you can tell that moose are huge compared to us. But it gets even crazier when you look at their weight.

The Immense Weight of Moose

Bull moose tip the scales at 800 to 1,600 pounds on average. Cow moose weigh between 600 to 800 pounds usually. How much does a typical grown man weigh? Around 180 pounds.

So if you did the math, you’d find that one bull moose outweighs an average adult male human by 8 times! Picture 8 grown men standing on a scale. Then picture one moose on the other side. The moose side would drop way down with all that weight!

The Incredible Length of a Moose

The moose’s giant body isn’t just tall and heavy either. They also have an incredible length. From their nose to their tail, moose measure between 6 to 8 feet without the tail included. Add another 1 to 2 feet with the tail, and you get a moose length of 7 to 10 feet. How long is the average man? Around 5 feet 9 inches tall.

So a moose is longer than a full grown man is tall! If a man lay down head to toe next to a moose, the moose would be spilling over extra on both ends. These creatures are absolute giants!

Visualizing the Size Difference

Now that you know the basic height, weight and length of moose, let’s imagine what it would look like if a moose and human stood side by side. Picture it: a 6-foot-tall moose shoulder towering above the man’s head. The massive moose weighs 8 times more than the human. And the moose’s body is so long it’s spilling over the man by several feet in both directions.

When you visualize the size difference, it really paints a picture of how small we are next to these giant animals. If you ever saw a moose in the wild, you would have to crane your neck back just to see to the top of its back. And you could stand between its legs with plenty of room to spare.

Comparing Measurements

Another way to get a sense of scale is to think about specific measurements. For example, a bull moose can have an antler spread of up to 6 feet wide. That’s wider than some bedrooms! Their huge antlers alone could cover an entire person underneath.

Or consider that a moose’s shoulder is often 6 to 7 feet high. That’s the same height or taller than a basketball hoop! Imagine a creature the height of a basketball hoop but much, much bigger. That’s a massive moose!

Respecting the Size Difference

Now I know some of you might think, who cares how big moose are? Why does it matter if they’re so much larger than us? Well, the size difference has some important impacts on how we interact with moose.

For one thing, the immense size of moose means they need to be respected. Because they are so giant and powerful, moose can be very dangerous if they feel threatened. They do not run away from humans like deer often do. Instead, their size makes them confident enough to stand their ground if they perceive a confrontation.

There have been instances where moose have seriously injured or even killed people when they felt cornered or provoked. Given their gigantic stature, it’s easy for a moose to view a human as a pest rather than a threat. So people must be mindful to keep their distance and never purposefully approach or chase moose.

The huge size of moose also determines how we have to hunt them. Special rifles and ammo are required to successfully and ethically hunt such enormous game. And once they’re harvested, the meat and antlers are so bulky that machinery is needed to transport them. It takes serious manpower and equipment to hunt an animal as big as a moose!

Conclusion

So in summary, moose are massive creatures, especially in comparison to us humans. A bull moose can stand over 7 feet tall, weigh up to 1,600 pounds, and span almost 10 feet long. That makes them taller, bulkier, and longer than any person.

The next time you see a picture or video of a moose, take a moment to appreciate their immense size. It takes seeing one in person to fully grasp just how much they dwarf us humans. We must respect the incredible stature of these giants whenever we share their wilderness habitat. So think how tiny and fragile we are relative to these mammoth mammals roaming the northern forests!

FAQs

How tall is a moose compared to a human?

An adult bull moose can stand 6-7 feet tall at the shoulders, not including antlers. Cow moose are slightly smaller at 5-6 feet tall. The average adult human male is around 5 feet 9 inches tall. So a bull moose can be over 2 feet taller than a man.

How much does a moose weigh versus a human?

Bull moose weigh 800-1,600 lbs on average. Cow moose weigh 600-800 lbs. The average adult human male weighs around 180 lbs. A bull moose can weigh over 8 times more than a man.

How wide are moose antlers compared to humans?

Bull moose antlers can span 5-6 feet from tip to tip. That’s wider than some door frames and bedrooms! Moose antlers alone can cover an entire human underneath them.