There are a lot of moving parts that go into a successful archery hunt. Broadhead choice is an intricate piece of it. They provide confidence and confidence is as deadly as the broadheads themselves.

After sending broadhead upon broadhead downrange through both targets and animals, we’ve come up with a recipe for success. The broadhead needs to be durable, fly well, and excel at slicing and dicing of course. With that in mind, we’ve put together a heavy hitter list of broadheads that deserve your attention in 2024.

Scroll through to see all of our recommendations, and at the end of our list, be sure to check out our buyer’s guide. Check out our comparison chart when it’s time to narrow down your decision.

The Best Broadheads for Hunting in 2024

• Best Overall Broadhead: Evolution Jekyll
• Best Budget Broadhead: Muzzy Trocar three-blade
• Best Fixed Blade: Day Six Evo
• Best Mechanical: Sevr
• Best Hybrid:Evolution Outdoors Hyde

Broadheads Comparison Chart

Why You Should Trust Us

Failure is something I became friends with early on bowhunting. Through the lessons that came with this failure, it’s become very apparent to me what works and what doesn’t. With broadheads, failure is not an option for me.

If all of the hours got added up of me spending time in the bowhunting woods trying to reach out and touch big game animals with broadheads, well I’d probably consider myself even luckier than I already do. Those woods are a classroom, and choosing which broadheads come along for the ride, could mean the difference between getting an A or an F.

Whether it’s trying to hit a dot on a target or hit a single patch of hair on a live animal, broadhead, functionality, durability, and effectiveness are all things on my radar. When I find one that hits all of those marks, I hang on for dear life, because confidence is not easily earned.

Along with my personal experience, I also took into consideration the opinions and experiences of other seasoned hunters around me. And with that what broadheads were hot on the market was also paid attention to.

Every broadhead listed above will do what you need it to do. If you’re kicking around what broadheads to run for the coming bowhunting season, one of these is going to do you right and then some.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Buy the Best Broadheads for Hunting

Mechanical vs. Fixed

One of the age-old and ongoing debates in archery hunting camps is mechanical broadheads versus fixed-blade broadheads. Passionate arguments exist on both sides of the spectrum and both broadhead designs reliably work. Which one is better, though? The better question is which one is better for you.

The flat-out truth is this — both of these broadhead designs work. Endless success photos from bowhunters across the country are the proof in the pudding. Of course, each has its pros and cons. So, we’re going to break it down.

Fixed Blade

The fixed-blade broadhead has been doing its thing since the beginning of bowhunting. It’s been there and done that millions of times over again. So, it’s no surprise when hunters cling to this style of head. What you get is what you get with a fixed blade.

The biggest advantage of running a fixed-blade broadhead is going to be reliability. There are no moving parts on a fixed blade like there are on a mechanical broadhead. For this reason, there is no worry of failure.

Along with that, these are inherently going to penetrate better, as there is no loss of energy from blades having to open. That means more pass-through shots. And lastly, fixed blades tend to be more durable overall. Especially the one-piece designs and heads made with higher-end steel.

When it comes to downsides, the first that comes to mind is tuning. Fixed-blade broadheads are harder to tune across the board. These vanes on the front end of your arrow influence flight much more than mechanicals do. This makes field point accuracy harder to come by.

Secondly, you might get more pass-through shots, but the wound channels are smaller. Smaller wound channels can lead to tougher blood trails, especially on marginal shots. And the last note is that higher-end fixed blades are also much more pricey.

Pros

• Reliable
• Better penetration
• Durable

Cons

• Harder to tune
• Smaller wound channels
• Higher-end heads are very pricey

Mechanical

Technology is an ever-evolving thing. People see gaps in efficiency and naturally want to fill them. The mechanical broadhead is a perfect example of that. It excels where the fixed blade doesn’t.

A huge selling point for mechanical broadheads is their impeccable arrow flight. It is very unlikely that you’ll need to do any sort of broadhead tuning with these things. This makes things so much easier before a hunt.

And once you do get on that hunt, you’ll hopefully loose an arrow at what you seek. Note that the blood trail is nothing short of fantastic, due to the massive cutting diameter that these broadheads inflict. If that sounds good to you, you won’t have to pay an arm and a leg to get yourself into a quality mechanical broadhead, either.

While the mechanical broadhead excels where the fixed-blade broadhead doesn’t, it also lacks where the fixed-blade excels. First on the list is reliability. These have moving parts and can absolutely fail. With how hard archery opportunities are to come by, that doesn’t sit well with some bowhunters.

And because these heads expand on impact, there is always a loss of energy due to the force it takes to open up the blades. This robs folks of penetration. If the broadhead indeed comes out the other side, it’s also a very real possibility that it won’t all be intact. Mechanical broadheads aren’t nearly as durable as fixed blades.

Pros

• Impeccable arrow flight
• Huge wound channels = Great blood trails
• Affordable

Cons

• Can fail and not open
• Lacks in penetration
• Prone to breaking

Final Thoughts

When the book comes to a close, I’m not going to tell you that there is a right answer here across the board. There are too many variables for that.

Some folks swear by fixed blades and others swear by mechanicals, and that says two things. One, they are both damn good at their job. And two, don’t get too caught up in what other folks think. Mold your arrow setup to you and your style of hunting.

In the end, a broadhead is just a tool. The person wielding that tool is the one really running the show.

FAQ

Many people use the hard hitting and flat shooting 7mm Rem Mag for hunting elk, deer and many other species of game with excellent results. Here are a few great 7mm Rem Mag ammo options that will serve you very well on your next hunt.

The 7mm Remington Magnum cartridge made a giant splash when first introduced in the 1960s along with the legendary Model 700 bolt action rifle. The cartridge quickly became a favorite of North American hunters. Indeed, the 7mm Rem Mag is an incredibly effective and versatile hunting cartridge when using high quality ammunition loaded with premium bullets. Not surprisingly, the 7mm Remington Magnum remains one of the most popular centerfire rifle cartridges in the world today.

For that reason, just about every big ammunition manufacturer like Barnes, Black Hills, Browning, Fiocchi, Federal Premium, Hornady, HSM, Norma, Nosler, Prvi Partizan (PPU), Remington, Sierra, Swift, and Winchester produces several different variants of 7mm Rem Mag ammo for hunting elk, deer, moose, bear, and many other big game animals.

Known for being relatively flat shooting, being really accurate, and for retaining lots of kinetic energy at extended range, versatility is the name of the game with the 7mm Rem Mag. The cartridge is well suited for hunting a wide range of big game at short, medium, and even long range.

However, different situations (like deer or pronghorn at long range vs moose at short range) necessitate the use of different kinds of 7mm Rem Mag ammo for best performance.

Using the wrong kind of 7mm Mag ammunition can lead to disastrous results.

For example, the 7mm Remington Magnum developed a reputation among elk hunters as a “wounder” a few years after Remington released the cartridge.

This was primarily because 7mm Mag factory ammo initially used bullets poorly suited to the high velocities produced by the cartridge. Those lightweight, thin jacketed bullets performed very well at slower 7mm Mauser velocities, but would expand far too rapidly, sometimes explosively, upon impact when fired at 7mm Rem Mag velocities (about 400-500fps faster).

Bullet penetration was terrible in those cases. Sometimes the bullet would “grenade” upon impact and fail to reach the vitals when striking a bone or a heavily muscled shoulder of a big bull elk. The result was some horrific flesh wounds that were often not immediately fatal to the elk.

Fortunately, that problem has since been fixed and hunters now have access to a great selection of controlled expansion 7mm bullets that perform very well on really big game like elk and moose.

Lightweight 139 or 140 grain bullets are great for deer hunting, but hunters who use those lighter bullets on larger game may still experience issues with poor penetration, especially on steeply quartering shots. However, the 7mm Remington Magnum is absolutely deadly on really big game like moose and elk when using premium quality 160-175 grain bullets.

Keep this in mind when you select 7mm Rem Mag ammo for an upcoming hunt.

Additionally, while they are very accurate and are certainly capable of killing big game animals, I don’t recommend using bullets designed for target shooting like the Sierra MatchKing hollow point boat tail (HPBT) or Hornady ELD Match for hunting. The same goes for open tip match (OTM) or boat tail hollow point (BTHP) bullets in general.

This is because target or match bullets usually aren’t designed for optimum terminal performance on big game animals and you may run into issues like I described earlier with poor penetration.

Instead, it’s best to stick with 7mm Remington Magnum ammo specifically designed for hunting that uses soft point, jacketed hollow point, or similar bullets.

Fortunately, there is a wide variety of 7mm Rem Mag Mag factory loads specifically designed for just almost any big game hunting situation from Colorado to New Zealand. So, regardless of whether you’re using a bolt action Remington Model 700, a Ruger Hawkeye, a Savage 110, a Weatherby Vanguard, a Winchester Model 70, or some other hunting rifle, there is pretty much guaranteed to be something for everyone on the list below of the best 7mm Rem Mag ammunition for hunting.

In this article, I’m going to show you the best 7mm Rem Mag ammo for hunting elk, moose, feral hogs, deer, pronghorn, black bear and all sorts of other big game. I’ll also go over the pros and cons of each individual load and help you select the right ammunition for your specific hunting situation.

Note: some of the links below are affiliate links. This means I will earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase of rifle, handgun, rimfire, or shotgun ammunition through those links. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to create free content that’s useful to hunters like yourself. Thanks for your support.

Hornady Precision Hunter

The 7mm Remington Magnum is an excellent long range cartridge and Hornady’s Precision Hunter line contains an outstanding 7mm Rem Mag ammo option for hunters looking to squeeze every bit of long range performance out of the cartridge. Loaded with the extremely aerodynamic Extremely Low Drag eXpanding (ELD-X) bullet, this ammo is perfect for western hunters going after game like elk, mule deer, or pronghorn who need the very best 7mm Rem Mag ammo for a long range hunting situation.

Hornady advertises that the ELD-X bullet has the best-in-class ballistic coefficients over their entire trajectory and that their Precision Hunter ammunition also offers match grade accuracy (usually sub-MOA).

Though the ELD-X does not have a bonded core like the Hornady InterBond, the ELD-X does feature a thicker jacket and an InterLock ring to help control expansion, increase weight retention, and minimize the chances of core-jacket separation. For this reason, the ELD-X is still devastating on deer and pronghorn sized game, but it’s also a much better choice than their SST bullet used in the Hornady Superformance line for use on larger game.

Add it up and you have some 7mm Remington Magnum ammunition that’s capable of delivering great terminal performance on a wide range of big game for shots at 400+ yards.

• Bullet Type: Hornady Extremely Low Drag eXpanding
• Bullet Weight: 162 grains
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .631
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,940 feet per second

GET PRECISION HUNTER 7mm REM MAG AMMO HERE

Also Available at: Cabela’s, Lucky Gunner, Natchez Shooters Supplies, Ochocos Outdoors, Optics Planet, and Palmetto State Armory, Sportsman’s Warehouse

Nosler Partition

Federal Premium and Nosler both produce 7mm Remington Magnum ammunition featuring the legendary Nosler Partition, which will very likely fit the bill for those looking for some seriously heavy hitting 7mm Rem Mag ammo for elk, moose, or bear hunting. Loaded with a 160 grain Nosler Partition bullet, this load is perfect for hunting really big game where it’s really important to use a heavy, well constructed bullet.

If this ammo shoots accurately in your rifle, then it’s hard to go wrong with a 160 grain Nosler Partition for elk hunting.

With that in mind, this is also perfect 7mm Rem Mag ammunition for an African safari where really large or tough game like kudu, blue wildebeest, or eland are on the menu. This ammunition is not limited to really big, tough game either. Indeed, it’s also great for game like whitetail and mule deer.

While this load doesn’t have the flattest trajectory out there, it still retains energy very well and is absolutely deadly on all manner of game at typical hunting ranges. So this is some outstanding 7mm Rem Mag ammo for shots out to several hundred yards.

The Nosler Partition is a very old bullet design, but it remains one of the best hunting bullets around and has a proven track record over the course of many decades and won’t let you down at the moment of truth. There’s a reason why it’s so darn popular with those who prefer to use handloaded ammunition as well as factory loads.

With proper shot placement, this ammunition will deliver excellent performance if it hits bone or soft tissue at short range as well as at several hundred yards. Just aim for the vitals, do your part as a shooter, and the bullet will do the rest.

• Bullet Type: Nosler Partition
• Bullet Weight: 160 grains
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .475
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,950 feet per second

GET FEDERAL 7mm REM MAG PARTITION AMMO HERE

GET NOSLER 7mm REM MAG PARTITION AMMO HERE

Also Available at: Lucky Gunner, MidwayUSA, Optics Planet, & Palmetto State Armory

Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond

Nosler Trophy Grade line of ammo will fit the bill for those looking for some 7mm Rem Mag ammo for deer, elk, bear or moose hunting, but who also want a little bit better performance at longer range than the 160gr Nosler Partition discussed earlier.

This ammunition uses either a 140 grain or a 160 grain AccuBond bullet. It’s not quite as robustly constructed as the Nosler Partition, but the lead core is chemically bonded to the jacket, so you don’t have to worry about the bullet “grenading” or expanding too rapidly upon impact. This makes the AccuBond a much better choice for an elk hunt than other tipped bullet options from Nosler, like the Nosler Ballistic Tip.

At the same time, AccuBond bullets are much more aerodynamic than the Partition and will reliably expand at lower impact velocities. So, this ammunition provides delivers nice extended range performance without being too fragile for close range shots on big game.

I’d recommend using the 140 grain AccuBond bullet for game like deer and pronghorn. The 160 grain AccuBond will also work great on deer sized game (to include antelope), but is also a really good choice for larger and tougher game like black bear and elk.

• Bullet Type: Nosler AccuBond
• Bullet Weight: 160 grains
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .531
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,925 feet per second

GET NOSLER TROPHY GRADE 7mm REM MAG AMMO HERE

Also Available at: Cabela’s, MidwayUSA, Optics Planet, and Sportsman’s Warehouse

Nosler Trophy Grade ammo also made cut for my holiday gift recommendations. To see what other stuff is on the list, check out the following article:

101 Best Gifts For Hunters

Barnes VOR-TX

Fans of Barnes bullets are in luck because Barnes produces some great 7mm Rem Mag ammo as part of their VOR-TX line. Featuring their legendary copper Triple Shock X (TSX) and Tipped Triple Shock X (TTSX) bullets, this ammunition is designed for rapid expansion, high weight retention, and deep penetration. Available using 140 grain, 150 grain, or 160 grain 7mm bullets, Barnes offers three outstanding choices for hunters regardless of what they’re after.

The 160 grain load is an excellent choice of 7mm Rem Mag ammo for elk, deer, bear, and moose hunting. While it’s not designed for longer range performance, it’s great for shots at typical hunting ranges and retains over 1,500ft-lbs of energy out past 400 yards.

The load featuring a 150 grain Barnes TTSX will also work for larger game like elk, but it’s perfect for bigger deer, bear, and pronghorn. That high velocity 140 grain load is great 7mm Rem Mag ammo for deer and pronghorn hunting, especially for hunters who want a couple hundred extra fps and a really flat trajectory to minimize their holdover for a longer shot.

All three loads are also 100% copper, which makes them an ideal choice of 7mm Rem Mag hunting ammunition for use in states like California that that don’t permit the use of lead bullets.

I’m a big fan of the Barnes VOR-TX line and I’ve used this ammunition with a lot of success on both deer and pronghorn over the past few years. This ammo is also a favorite among many North America, New Zealand, and Africa hunting outfitters.

• Bullet Type: TTSX Boat Tail or TSX Boat Tail
• Bullet Weight: 140 grains (TTSX), 150 grains (TTSX), or 160 grains (TSX)
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .412 (140gr) .450 (150 gr), .443 (160 gr)
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,100 feet per second (140gr), 3,060 feet per second (150gr), or 2,950 feet per second (160gr)

GET 7mm REM MAG BARNES AMMO HERE

Also Available at: Brownells, Lucky Gunner, and Optics Planet, and Sportsman’s Warehouse

Remington Core-Lokt

If you’re a “meat and potatoes” kind of hunter who wants some reasonably priced and dependable 7mm Rem Mag ammo for hunting deer, elk, feral hogs, and black bear, then Remington’s 175 grain Core-Lokt soft point will probably work really well for you. It’s also available with either a 140 grain or a 150 grain bullet, both of which are great for deer hunting.

It’s not the latest and greatest stuff by any means. Heavier bullets with a higher sectional density (like the load with a 175 grain bullet), tend to penetrate pretty well, even if they don’t have a cutting edge design. This 7mm Rem Mag ammunition has been around for a long time and countless hunters have successfully used Core-Lokt ammo to take just about every species of big game in North America.

One of those bullets through the vitals of a black bear, elk, deer, or pronghorn will make for a very short tracking job. They don’t call it the “deadliest mushroom in the woods” for nothing.

That said, this would not be my first choice for use on bigger game like elk or moose. However, it will absolutely work in that role and lots of elk and moose hunters use this ammunition successfully each year, especially on cow elk or immature bulls.

However, this ammunition is very reasonably priced and has one of the lowest costs per round out of all the 7mm Rem Mag ammo on this list. If you’re on a strict budget and can’t afford premium ammunition, then I’d suggest using the 175 grain Remington Core-Lokt load above any of the other “budget” 7mm Rem Mag ammo options.

• Bullet Type: Core-Lokt Pointed Soft Point (PSP)
• Bullet Weight: 175 grains
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .427
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,860 feet per second

GET 7mm REM MAG CORE LOKT AMMO HERE

Also Available at: Brownells, Cabela’s, Lucky Gunner, Palmetto State Armory, and Sportsman’s Warehouse

Federal Premium Terminal Ascent

Federal includes the 7mm Remington Magnum in to their Terminal Ascent line, which is great news as it’s another good option of 7mm Rem Mag hunting ammo for hunters looking for really good extended range performance using a tougher bullet. This ammunition uses the new Terminal Ascent Bullet, which is are also extremely aerodynamic and accurate high performance bullets. It’s not quite as aerodynamic as the Hornady ELD-X, but it still has a relatively high BC and is also much more robustly constructed.

With those things in mind, I personally tend to lean more towards the Terminal Ascent over the ELD-X for hunting bigger game like elk with the 7mm Rem Mag. This ammo is another great option for hunters going after game out west like mule deer or pronghorn who need excellent 7mm Rem Mag ammo for a long-range hunting situation.

If this ammunition shoots accurately in your rifle, this is another good option (along with the 150gr Hornady CX) for hunters who need good 7mm Rem Mag ammo for elk hunting because it’s such a tough bullet that can be counted on for devastating performance on all manner of game at virtually any reasonable range.

• Bullet Type: Terminal Ascent
• Bullet Weight: 155 grains
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,000 feet per second (3,097 ft-lbs of muzzle energy)

GET TERMINAL ASCENT 7mm REM MAG AMMO HERE

Also Available at: Cabela’s, Lucky Gunner, Optics Planet and Sportsman’s Warehouse

Federal Fusion

It’s far from the latest and greatest stuff, but this Federal Fusion loading with either a 150gr or a 175gr bullet is really good 7mm Rem Mag ammo for deer hunting.

Fusion bullets have a bonded lead core to help with weight retention. Combined with a skived tip to help initiate expansion, Federal Fusion 7mm Rem Mag ammo delivers a really good balance of controlled expansion, high weight retention, and deep penetration that make it absolutely deadly on deer-sized game.

While Federal Fusion 7mm Rem Mag ammo is primarily intended for deer hunting, it will work on bigger and/or tougher game like black bear and elk under the right conditions. I don’t think this is the best 7mm Rem Mag ammo for elk hunting, but it will definitely work if you can’t find anything better (keep reading for what I think are better options for elk).

All things considered, this is outstanding ammunition for deer hunting though. It will also work great on similar sized game like mule deer, pronghorn, and feral hogs. In addition to being very effective in that role, this ammunition is also somewhat reasonably priced and has been one of the easier to find 7mm Rem Mag ammo options recently. It also has a reputation for being pretty darn accurate.

• Bullet Type: Fusion Soft Point
• Bullet Weight: 150 grains or 175 grains
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .509 (150gr) or .537 (175gr)
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,050 feet per second (150gr) or 2,760 feet per second (175gr)

GET FUSION 7mm MAG AMMO HERE

Also Available At: Cabela’s, Optics Planet and Sportsman’s Warehouse

Federal Premium Berger Hybrid

Berger bullets have long been favorites with handloaders. Fortunately, Federal Premium also offers 7mm Remington Magnum hunting ammunition loaded with the Berger Hybrid Hunter bullet as a factory load, so they’re not limited to those who use handloads. These bullets are known for exceptional accuracy and for being extremely aerodynamic. In fact, this is the most accurate 7mm Rem Mag ammo for many hunters and the Hybrid Hunter is less sensitive to seating depth than the Berger VLD.

Though they do quite often deliver match grade accuracy, the Berger Hybrid Hunter is not a run of the mill match bullet. Instead, it’s designed to provide devastating terminal performance on big game.

While most hunting bullets start to expand immediately upon impact, Berger bullets are designed to penetrate several inches before expanding. Then, according to Berger, the bullet will shed 40-90% of its weight (depending on impact velocity) and send countless tiny fragments off into surrounding tissue.

This produces a massive wound cavity and dumps most, if not all, of the bullet’s energy into the animal.

Those features make this load an excellent choice of 7mm Rem Mag ammo for longer range hunting situations, especially if you’re a proponent of the “energy dump” school of thought when it comes to selecting a hunting bullet.

• Bullet Type: Berger Hybrid Hunter
• Bullet Weight: 168 grains
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .566
• Muzzle Velocity: 2,870 feet per second

GET 7mm REM MAG BERGER AMMO HERE

Also Available at: Brownell’s, Natchez Shooters Supplies, Optics Planet, and Palmetto State Armory

Hornady Superformance

Hornady advertises that their Superformance line of ammunition will safely deliver an additional 100-200 fps of muzzle velocity over than comparable loads. That extra velocity translates into a flatter trajectory, more resistance to wind drift, and devastating terminal effects on game. Since it uses a lighter bullet, it also has less recoil than many other 7mm Mag loads.

This ammunition is loaded with Hornady’s SST bullet, which has a reputation for great accuracy. Especially at the high velocities the ammunition is known for, that bullet will expand very rapidly, often at the expense of penetration. It will deliver devastating results on impact, but don’t expect exit wounds (even on a broadside shot), especially on bigger bodied animals.

With all that in mind, this is great 7mm Rem Mag deer hunting ammo. It is also an excellent choice for pronghorn, but I DON’T recommend using it on bigger game like elk.

• Bullet Type: SST
• Bullet Weight: 139 grains
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .486
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,240 feet per second

GET 7mm REM MAG HORNADY SST AMMO HERE

Also Available at: Brownells, Optics Planet, Natchez Shooter Supplies, and Sportsman’s Warehouse

Barnes VOR-TX LR

Barnes also offers a loading for the 7mm Remington Magnum as part of their VOR-TX Long Range line. This ammunition is very similar to their regular VOR-TX line, but is intended to provide an accurate, flat-shooting bullet that will reliably expand out to 700 yards without sacrificing close range performance.

They were largely successful in that goal and this ammunition is another great choice for hunters who want good 7mm Rem Mag ammo for hunting at longer range.

The Barnes LRX Boat Tail bullets used in this line do expand at lower impact velocities than the standard TTSX or TSX bullets, but they’re still robustly constructed and won’t come apart at high impact velocities. So, you can use this ammunition with confidence on game from point blank range all the way out to 700 yards.

Barnes VOR-TX LR ammunition is also 100% copper, which makes it another good choice of 7mm Rem Mag hunting ammunition for use in states like California that that don’t permit the use of lead bullets.

• Bullet Type: LRX Boat Tail (LRX BT)
• Bullet Weight: 139 grains
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .470
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,210 feet per second

GET BARNES VOR-TX LR 7mm REM MAG AMMO HERE

Also Available at: Brownell’s, MidwayUSA, Natchez Shooters Supplies, Palmetto State Armory, & Sportsman’s Warehouse

Hornady Outfitter

Hornady introduced their Outfitter line of ammunition a couple years ago. Just like you’d think from the name, this stuff is marketed for those going on serious hunting adventures in really tough environments like a moose hunt in Canada, elk in the Rocky Mountains, or a kudu hunt in South Africa. That said, this is also great 7mm Rem Mag ammo to use on a whitetail deer hunt in the back 40 or on feral hogs in the Georgia swamps.

This ammunition is loaded with an extremely tough 150 grain CX bullet that’s designed for controlled expansion, high weight retention, and deep penetration on large, heavy boned animals like elk and moose. The CX replaced the old GMX bullet with the primary difference being that the CX has a higher BC. This ammunition also uses nickel-plated case for reliable feeding and corrosion resistance under the most demanding conditions.

With all those things in mind, it’s easy to see why Hornady advertises their Outfitter 7mm Rem Mag ammo for use on a big hunt that’s the culmination of years of saving and planning. After all, when the chips are down on the hunt of a lifetime, the absolute last thing you need is for your ammo to fail at the moment of truth.

The CX bullet used in Hornady Outfitter ammunition is lead free, which makes this ammo another good choice for use in states like California.

• Bullet Type: CX
• Bullet Weight: 150 grains
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .455
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,000 feet per second

GET HORNADY OUTFITTER 7mm REM MAG AMMO HERE

Also Available at: Cabela’s, MidwayUSA, & Optics Planet

Winchester Deer Season XP

Winchester’s Deer Season XP line of ammunition is another good option if you’re planning on taking your 7mm Rem Mag deer hunting. The Extreme Point bullet this rifle ammo uses is similar to Winchester’s Power Point bullet, but the Extreme Point has a large diameter polymer tip that’s specifically designed to produce a gigantic wound channel along with massive impact trauma.

This normally results in a very short tracking job and a very easy to follow blood trail. Even so, Deer Season XP ammo is designed specifically to compete with popular whitetail deer hunting ammo like the Hornady American Whitetail, Winchester Super-X, Federal Fusion, and Federal Power-Shok in terms of accuracy, reliability, and terminal performance.

The Winchester Deer Season XP line is also competitively priced and has one of the lowest costs per round out of all the 7mm RM ammo on this list.

So, not only is this some very reasonably priced 7mm Rem Mag ammo, but it also has a very good reputation for producing a giant wound channel and minimizing the distance deer run after being hit. In fact, this Winchester ammo is one of my top recommended brands of 7mm Rem Mag ammo for whitetail deer hunting.

That being said, I would NOT recommend using it for bigger game like elk or moose. If you need a budget option for ammo suitable for hunting really big game, go with the 175 grain Remington Core Lokt I previously recommended.

Note: Winchester also makes a lead free version of their Deer Season XP line using copper bullets for hunters in areas where lead free bullets are required.

• Bullet Type: Extreme Point
• Bullet Weight: 140 grains
• Ballistic Coefficient (G1): .484
• Muzzle Velocity: 3,100 feet per second

GET DEER SEASON XP 7mm REM MAG AMMO HERE

Also Available at: Brownell’s and Optics Planet

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The Lyman 50th Edition (p214-216), and Hornady 10th Edition (p406-411) reloading manuals were used as references for this article.

NEXT: BEST 6.5 CREEDMOOR AMMO FOR HUNTING ELK, DEER, & OTHER BIG GAME

NEXT: 270 vs 280 REMINGTON vs 280 ACKLEY IMPROVED vs 7mm REM MAG

NEXT: 270 WSM, 7mm WSM, 300 WSM, & 325 WINCHESTER SHORT MAGNUM ANALYZED

Have you ever landed a fish you’ve never caught before then sat there staring at in the net wondering how you’re supposed to lift it up for the picture, or even how to release it?

WHY IS THERE A PROPER WAY TO HOLD FISH?

Holding a fish properly isn’t just for the benefit of the fish, it also keeps the angler safe. All fish, toothless or not, have defence mechanisms built-in. Whether its a bass with an effectively sharp dorsal fin, or walleye, pike, and muskie with their teeth, all fish can pose a threat to you as the angler. But- with proper holds there is little to no concern in handling them for a photo, releasing them, or even putting them into the live well if you’re planning on keeping them.

Times have changed, and our education towards fishing as our resource has also changed. With the growing recognition of CPR (Catch, Photo, and Release) lodge owners are embracing it. Some lodges won’t even post photos of fish being held improperly, so your trophy fish may not be shared or celebrated as it should be!

The reason lodges and fishing pages don’t post improper holds in photos is that in order for CPR to be successful, fish handling has to be done properly.

Have no fear!

Learning how to hold fish is certainly better done with hands-on practice. But this article will give you the bare-bones, easy to remember approach on handling each fish species that dwell in Sunset Country’s waters! To read more about why, scroll to the bottom of the article!

UNHOOKING FISH

Once you have the fish in the net, take a breath! Having the fish in the net keeps it wet, lively and breathing, giving you time to organize yourself. Pliers are optional and certainly encouraged.

By using pliers you can keep your bare hands free of the hooks and any hazards on the fish, ie, prickly spines. Once you’ve successfully unhooked the fish, take the lure out of the net, taking the time to secure it back onto the rod will keep the workspace even safer. So long as the fishes head is underwater in the net, you can remove rushing from the picture, that’s how mistakes are made.

Once you have hooks clear of the net and away from where you’ll be posing, get the camera out before you even think about lifting the fish out of the water. This way you’re all set for a couple of photos, and a seamless release- which you can capture on camera too!

HOW TO HOLD DIFFERENT SPECIES

Not all fish were created equally which means you’ll hold some of them differently than others. Don’t let this discourage you, all holds are simple and effective.

BASS

Both bass species are one of the few you won’t get much flack for holding vertically. They are also one of the easiest to hold because they can be “lipped,” or held directly from the mouth.

Like all larger fish of each species though, some extra care is required for heavier ones and the fish certainly won’t complain about having some extra help staying healthy.

Here are a couple of hold examples for bass:

This vertical hold is perfectly safe for this bass. They aren’t cranking its jaw and forcing the head to hold the body on an angle, it’s just straight up and down. This hold is also acceptable for crappie, largemouth bass, perch and other small panfish like sunfish.

The horizontal hold below is an excellent example of how to support a larger bass, crappie, or even perch. It also adds a different angle and makes it easier to take horizontal photos, instead of only verticals!

WALLEYE

Similar to bass, you can hold smaller walleye vertically without causing any harm, but you certainly do NOT want to “lip” them as they have some impressive teeth.

Below, Jeff Gustafson explains how the gill plate hold on walleye whether horizontally or vertically helps with catch and release as well as making your photographs look better!

NORTHERN PIKE AND MUSKIE

Perhaps the most intimidating of our fish species in Sunset Country is the Esox family of northern pike and muskie. It’s important to understand how to handle pike because they are especially common in these waters and odds are you’ll be unhooking a lot of them.

All fish deserve our respect, but perhaps the species requiring the most special care is the muskie. These fish grow LARGE. Which means they are especially subject to weight-bearing in the wrong places if held improperly. They may be the apex predator in the water, but when they are removed from their environment the saying “the bigger they are the harder they fall” is very much relevant.

The gill hold is very important to understand for holding pike and muskie. Not only will it protect the fish, but it’ll also protect you and your hands. If done properly, no gloves are necessary.

Here are the steps to make it simple:

1. Following the gill line to the bottom of the pike or muskies head, slide your index finger inside and underneath the jaw of the fish (much like you watched in the walleye video above)

2. Once you know you’re tight to the bottom of the fishes mouth and away from the gills, allow the rest of your fingers to slide in as well next to your index finger

3. Keeping your thumb outside of the mouth in the notch of the bottom jaw, you’ll be able to clamp down onto your index and other fingers inside the mouth of the fish.

4. Once their head is securely in your hands, lift them out of the net and support them horizontally by securing your other hand under their belly like the photos above.

LAKE TROUT/BROOK TROUT

Depending on the trout’s size and species, gill hold may or may not be acceptable. Large lake trout can be held by the gills with their weight supported, but a hold that will give you a more secure hold on their powerful tail may be mistaken for playing air guitar.

This “guitar hold” works for brook trout as well. Using your dominant hand (seems to work best for most) wrap your hand around their tail, with your other hand support the space between their pectoral (front) fins. Tucking your hands underneath will assure your fish looks great, but will also stop you from accidentally strangling the fish. The photo above shows both options for the non-dominant hand, the angler on the left is choosing to wrap her hands around, but keeping control of them not to choke or injure the fish. The angler on the right is tucking her hands below the fish, simply supporting the weight.

DON’T FEEL CONFIDENT YET?

Like with all things learning, practice really does make perfect. You can’t be expected to learn these perfectly the first time. The holds covered above are all focused on what will give you the most confidence, but you may find other proper ways to handle fish.

If you’d like to learn more about these holds, you could consider hiring an independent fishing guide for the day. Be clear with your intent to learn more, guides will be more than willing to help educate you on fish holds, tactics, techniques and even how to land them easier!

Here’s more on why it’s important to learn: Let’s say a large fish is held vertically, that large fish has until this point lived its life suspended horizontally almost weightlessly in water. Being hoisted by its jaw or gills (which acts as lungs for the fish) puts a tremendous amount of pressure not only on those areas, but it’s internal organs that have never felt gravity quite like this before. Larger fish held vertically poses a risk to their organs tearing from place and ultimately causing a delayed death after release.

PLAN YOUR TRIP

You’ve mastered landing countless fish, now you want to go for some true trophies! In Sunset Country you can go for walleye, muskie, northern pike, smallmouth and largemouth bass, perch, crappie, lake trout and brook trout.

If you don’t know where to begin, you can search by the species listed above, or check our Accommodation Finder and use filters such as drive-in, fully guided fishing, wheelchair accessible, fly-in outposts, and more!

You can also order our FREE Travel Guide including a pull-out map of the region and our lodges here. Feel free to call us at the Sunset Country office 1-800-665-7567 as well.

Right now, shooters are obsessed with flat-shooting rifle cartridges. The advent of precision rifle competitions and the laser rangefinder has increased the public’s desire to go long. But what are the flattest shooting rifle cartridges?

The flattest-shooting popular rifle cartridge at 1,000 yards is the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum, followed by the .26 Nosler, the .28 Nosler, the .22 Creedmoor, and the 6.5 Weatherby RPM. These cartridges all drop less than 255″ at 1,000 yards.

The following table averages multiple loads for each cartridge and shows an average amount of drop at 500 yards and 1,000 yards for each cartridge.

The flattest-shooting cartridges usually have Nosler or Weatherby in their name, and the top three flat-shooting cartridges were created by those respected companies. As much talk as there is about the .270 Winchester’s ability to shoot flatly, it does not compare with these three flat-shooting options.

6.5mm and 7mm projectiles offer very high ballistic coefficients, meaning they offer excellent ability to overcome drag and wind deflection over longer distances. When considering cartridges for their ability to shoot flat, overcoming drag is critical.

When a bullet is fired, many forces are immediately working against it: gravity, wind, and atmospheric drag.

As soon as a projectile leaves the muzzle, the earth’s gravity instantly begins to affect the trajectory of the round. Equally, cutting through the air slows the projectile down, eating away at its energy. Wind also affects bullets differently, and a cartridge’s ability to overcome these three forces makes it better or worse for shooting flat and far.

Spinning high B.C. bullets at faster speeds allows the projectile to get to the target sooner, minimizing the amount of time all three forces have to affect the bullet’s trajectory.

The way in which cartridge manufacturers develop rounds to overcome these forces is the twist rates of the barrels in the rifles the cartridges are chambered in, developing longer, more aerodynamic bullets with narrower ogives and case capacity.

Barrel twist rates spin the bullet out of the muzzle in a spiral much akin to a quarterback throwing a football. The spin rate helps to stabilize the projectile along its path, cut through drag and higher case capacities give the projectile more velocity thus delivering the bullet to the target more quickly.

The 26 and 28 Nosler as well as the 6.5×300 Weatherby Magnum all utilize heavy for caliber bullets with high ballistic coefficients that are stabilized by barrels with fast twist rates. All three cartridges also offer ample case capacity, allowing enough powder to send bullets at drag-defying velocities.

Below is a chart indicating the three best flat-shooting cartridges and their muzzle velocity, drop, energy levels, and felt recoil. Recoil statistics are offered for reference.

You can compare these numbers with your favorite cartridge using Backfire’s own table of flat shooting cartridges and you will see that the numbers indicated are in the absolute upper tiers. But let’s take a quick look at a historically popular “flat-shooting” cartridge, the .270 Winchester.

As you can see, one of our gold standard flat-shooting cartridges (.270 Winchester) does not compare favorably with either of the Noslers or the Weatherby Magnum. Of course, the .270 Win was developed in 1925 when 1000 yard shots were effectively unheard of.

This is not just a product of the .27 caliber bullet and its ballistic coefficient numbers. Case capacity is literally and figuratively the driving force here:

Both Nosler offerings are based on the 300 Remington Ultra Magnum and both boast case capacities of 93.5 grains of water. The 6.5×300 Weatherby magnum, as its name suggests, is based on the 300 Weatherby mag and has a case capacity of 98 grains of water. By way of comparison, the .270 Winchester (based on the .30-06 Springfield) offers a case capacity of 67 grains.

Deciding on the three best flat-shooting cartridges does not come down simply to one statistic, but a combination of all the factors inherent to a cartridge. Velocity, drop, energy and the use of bullets with their own factors which create their ballistic coefficients all should be considered.

Any cartridge that drops less than 40 inches at 500 yards or close to 200 inches at 1000 yards should be considered a flat shooting cartridge. The amount of drop is directly influenced by velocity, energy, rifle barrel, and bullet design.

With those thoughts in mind, it is easy to see why the 26 Nosler, 28 Nosler and the 6.5×300 Weatherby Magnums are the best flat-shooting cartridges offered to rifle shooters today.

Does Flat Shooting Even Matter?

Since nearly all long-distance shooters today use a laser rangefinder, does it even matter which cartridges shoot the flattest? Does it matter if there are -30″ of drop or -40″ of drop if the answer is simply to spin the turret a few extra clicks?

One argument for a flat-shooting cartridge is that it covers mistakes. I was once hunting plains game in Africa when my PH told me, holding a rangefinder, that the wildebeest was 155 yards away. I took the shot prone and then stood up after the wildebeest tipped over after a perfect shot.

I was surprised at the distance, so I asked my PH “That’s just 155 yards?” He got a stunned look on his face and said, “No, TWO hundred fifty-five yards!” Our miscommunication during the shot sequence didn’t matter a bit, because I was shooting a .28 Nosler, which put the shot only 2.8″ low at that distance. A flat shooting cartridge matters.

However, I fully admit that that a flat shooting cartridge is not nearly as important as a cartridge which is resistant to wind deflection. Still, a flat-shooting cartridge will often perform well with wind as well, because it is in the air for less time between the shot and hitting the target.

The Elements That Impact How Flat a Bullet’s Trajectory Is

Gravity impacts all objects the same. The longer the bullet is in the air, the longer gravity can pull on the object. Time of flight impacts bullet drop more than anything else. In fact, we may say that it’s the only thing that matters; however, factors that lead to time of flight changes are important to consider.

The ballistics coefficient of the bullet (a formula which considers the mass, diameter, and aerodynamic drag of a bullet to understand its ability to fight wind and continue on its path) greatly impacts time of flight because it keeps the bullet from slowing down due to inefficiency of flight.

Muzzle velocity certainly makes a difference in how fast the bullet reaches the target, but it is by no means the only factor to consider. For example, the .50BMG and the 6.5 Creedmoor both launch bullets at approximately the same muzzle velocity of 2,700fps.

However, the .50BMG bullet will reach the target with 143″ less drop than the 6.5 Creedmoor, because it has more mass which leads to a higher BC, and that higher BC given the same velocity, makes it slow down less during flight. Thus, the .50BMG drops less at 1,000 yards than the 6.5 Creedmoor.

When magnet fishing in Texas, you can find more than the occasional gun or knife. The state of Texas has over 7364 square miles of water area making. Needless to say, there are many different places where you can go magnet fishing. However, some spots are better than others, depending on your interests.

Is magnet fishing legal in Texas?

Yes, magnet fishing is legal in the state of Texas. There are no specific laws or regulations in place regarding the activity. However, as with any outdoor activity, there are some general rules that apply. For example, it is illegal to magnet fish on private property without the owner’s permission.

Of course, what is legal isn’t always ethical. It would not be the first time repeated, reckless or inconsiderate behavior resulted in federal regulation. Please have a look at our magnet fishing etiquette!

‍What are the best places to magnet fish in Texas?

There are many great locations for magnet fishing in Texas. Some of the best spots include lakes, rivers, and streams. In particular, areas with slow-moving water tend to be ideal, as objects are more likely to become caught on something underwater. Here are some of the most popular locations for magnet fishing:

Lake Houston

Located just outside of Houston, Lake Houston is a popular magnet fishing destination in Texas. With numerous lakeside parks and clean water, it is the perfect place for people to try out this fun activity.

Brazos River

Another great spot for magnet fishing in Texas is the Brazos River. This river flows through central Texas and offers many opportunities for magnet fishing enthusiasts to explore its waters.

Clear Creek

Clear Creek is another popular location for magnet fishing, especially among residents of Austin and the surrounding areas. This picturesque creek has long been a favorite of local anglers due to its clear waters and abundant wildlife. It is not the most bountiful magnet fishing location.

Lake Travis

Located near Austin, Lake Travis has become one of the most popular destinations for magnet fishing in recent years. Because it is a man-made lake that provides access to clean water and parks, it is the perfect place for people to try out this fun activity.

San Antonio River‍

If you want to try your hand at magnet fishing in San Antonio, then look no further than the San Antonio River. This river is a great place to find all sorts of lost items, including coins, jewelry, and even the occasional bicycle.

Sabine River

The Sabine River is one of the best places to go magnet fishing in Texas. This river is full of lost items that have been swept away by the current over the years. You never know what you might find when you go magnet fishing in this river.

The Houston Ship Channel

The Houston Ship Channel is known for being a great place to find old guns and knives.

Other places you could try:

• the canals near Lake Caroline
• Lake Texoma
• Red River
• any bridge over the Trinity River in Dallas
• Lake Worth
• Lake Ray Hubbard
• San Jacinto River
• Guadalupe River
• Neches River
• Old Sabine Bottom Bridge
• New Sabine Bottom Bridge
• Lake Conroe
• Cedar Creek Lake
• Richland Chambers Reservoir
• Lake Athens
• Falcon Lake

What can you find when magnet fishing in Texas?

You can find all sorts of lost items when you go magnet fishing in Texas. This includes coins, jewelry, and even the occasional bicycle.

Additional resources

• With the help of this guide, you’ll find the perfect magnet fishing spot near you!
• Here is a detailed map that conveniently shows all the different types of water bodies across the U.S.

Did you stumble upon other useful resources, locations, or maps for magnet fishing in Texas? Feel free to drop a comment down below!

The world of hunting has witnessed an unparalleled revolution since the first introduction of hunting saddles in the 1960s. With an ever-increasing demand for reliable, comfortable, and adjustable hunting gear, the saddle market has transformed and adapted to offer some of the most versatile solutions for contemporary hunters. At the heart of this evolution, Trophyline® has carved a niche for itself, setting the gold standard in hunting saddles and creating a legacy that outshines many.

Trophyline’s® primary objective, since its inception, has always been to design a quality product that ensures the hunter remains both mobile and safe during the pursuit of their game. This commitment is reflected in the impressive range of saddles they’ve developed over the years, with a particular emphasis on the needs of hunters, Comfort, Adjustability, Customization, Mobility, Weight, Dependability, and above all, Safety. Let’s dive into the factors you should consider when finding the best saddle in 2024:

Video: Deciding on a new saddle or an upgrade to your current saddle hunting setup? Robert from Trophyline ® walks you through a a detailed guide on what saddle might be best for you.

Comfort-This factor is slightly subjective and also obvious. Can you sit in your saddle all day? Is it comfortable? Does it support you in all the right places and eliminate things like hip pinch?

Adjustability/Customization-You want to be able to streamline the saddle to your individual figure. Can you adjust it to fit your body? Are the Pouches and attachment points easy to reach? Are there enough places to attach your needed accessories?

Mobility- Can you wear your saddle when walking in miles deep? Is it cumbersome? Loud? Or too bulky to get into your hunting zone stealthily and comfortably?

Weight –At the end of the day you’re either wearing or packing a saddle in, and if it seems too heavy or bulky you won’t take it. Weight is one of the largest contributing factors for a lot of people diving into saddle hunting, so it is in the list of considerations. Too heavy? Too Light? Goldilocks zone?

Dependability-What materials are used to build the saddle and how were they tested? This is the actual physical construction of the saddle. Will it break, rip or come apart? Or was it all built to stay together.

Safety-Safety factors are the features built into the saddle, separate linemans loops, bridge loops, leg straps, fully adjustable belts. These are the things that keep you safe in the tree and should be looked at when considering your safety in a saddle.

Saddle Hunting – It’s a System Not Just a Saddle

Today, saddle hunting is no longer just about having a simple piece of gear. It’s about creating an integrated system that molds to your specific hunting style and scenario, providing an unparalleled level of adjustability and customization. A saddle is the pivot point around which your hunting experience revolves, and Trophyline® understands this better than anyone.

Whether you are walking through the woods or packing your saddle in your backpack, mobility plays a critical role. With the relaunch and introduction of the renowned Ambush saddle (which is no longer available), Trophyline® redefined the standards of mobility and safety. The Ambush saddle was a leap forward in design and technology, merging comfort and convenience seamlessly, thus simplifying the hunt and making it more efficient.

Continuing our commitment to innovation, Trophyline® has launched new additions to our saddle range, such as the Covert Lite 2.0, the Covert Pro 2.0 , and the Venatic. Each of these models has been designed keeping in mind the varying demands of hunters, from the beginner to the veteran. All three models have been rigorously third-party tested, ensuring they uphold the highest standards of safety and quality that Trophyline is synonymous with.

When it comes to dove hunting, one of the most important skills a hunter must master is knowing how far to lead a dove at 40 yards. This distance can be particularly challenging for many hunters, as it requires a great deal of skill and practice to get right. The key to success lies in understanding the behavior of doves and their tendency to fly erratically, as well as the limitations of your shotgun and ammunition.

There are a number of factors that can affect your ability to lead a dove at 40 yards, including the size of your shot, the pattern of your shotgun, and the agility of the bird itself. Hunters must also be aware of any regulations or hunting laws that may apply in their area, as well as the importance of proper clothing, shelter, and camouflage. With the right training and practice, however, even novice hunters can learn to master this challenging distance and become skilled dove hunters.

Understanding Lead and Distance

What is Lead?

Lead is the amount of space that a shooter needs to aim in front of a moving target in order to hit it. When shooting at a moving target, such as a dove, hunters need to lead the target to account for the time it takes for the shot to reach the target.

Factors Affecting Lead

The amount of lead required to hit a dove at 40 yards can vary depending on a number of factors. These factors include the speed of the bird, the distance of the shot, the type of shotgun and ammunition used, and the skill level of the shooter.

How Far to Lead a Dove at 40 Yards?

When shooting at a dove at 40 yards, the amount of lead required will depend on the speed of the bird and the type of shotgun and ammunition used. A general rule of thumb is to lead the bird by about 3 to 4 feet, or about the length of the bird’s body.

It’s important to note that shooting at a moving target like a dove requires skill and practice. Hunters should take a course on shooting moving targets and practice regularly to improve their aim and accuracy.

In addition, it’s important to follow all hunting laws and regulations, including those related to the use of weapons and clothing. Sporting clays can also be a great way to improve your shooting skills and accuracy, as well as to learn more about the sport of hunting.

When shooting at a dove, it’s important to consider the impact of the shot on the bird and the surrounding wildlife and environment. Using a field gun with a tight pattern of pellets can help to minimize the number of pellets that miss the target and reduce the potential impact on other wildlife and water sources.

Practicing Your Shot

The Importance of Practice

For hunters looking to hit their targets accurately, practice is key. Shooting a dove at 40 yards requires skill and precision, and the only way to achieve this is through consistent practice. By practicing regularly, hunters can develop their aim, improve their technique, and get accustomed to the feel of their gun.

Best Practices for Practicing Your Shot

To get the most out of their practice sessions, hunters should follow these best practices:

• Start with closer shots: Before attempting to hit a dove at 40 yards, hunters should start with closer shots to build their confidence and accuracy.
• Use smaller shot sizes: When practicing, hunters should use smaller shot sizes to simulate the size of a dove. This will help them get a better understanding of the patterns their pellets create.
• Practice in different environments: Hunters should practice in different environments to get accustomed to shooting in different conditions. This could include shooting on a rifle course or in a field with agile game birds.
• Use a field gun: When practicing for dove hunting, hunters should use a field gun rather than a sport gun. Field guns are better suited for hunting game birds and will help hunters get a feel for shooting in the field.
• Focus on technique: Hunters should focus on their technique when practicing, paying attention to their stance, grip, and aim. By improving their technique, hunters can improve their accuracy and precision.
• Join a club: Joining a shooting club can provide hunters with access to shooting ranges and other resources for practicing their shot.

By following these best practices, hunters can improve their shooting skills and increase their chances of hitting a dove at 40 yards.

Equipment and Accessories

Shotgun and Barrel Selection

When it comes to shooting doves at 40 yards, the right equipment can make all the difference. A shotgun with a 12-gauge or 20-gauge barrel is ideal for this task. The barrel should be at least 26 inches long to provide a good balance between accuracy and maneuverability. A longer barrel may be more accurate, but it can also be cumbersome to carry around in the field.

Shot Size and Pellet Count

The right shot size and pellet count can also have a significant impact on your success when shooting doves at 40 yards. For this distance, a shot size of 7.5 or 8 is recommended. These sizes provide enough power to take down a dove without causing excessive damage to the bird. As for pellet count, a load of 1 1/8 ounces is a good choice for 12-gauge shotguns, while 7/8 ounces is better suited for 20-gauge shotguns.

Dove Decoys and Camouflage

Using dove decoys and camouflage can help you blend in with your surroundings and increase your chances of success. When selecting decoys, choose ones that are realistic and have natural-looking colors. Place them in a way that mimics the natural behavior of doves. As for camouflage, choose clothing that matches the environment you will be hunting in. This will help you blend in and remain undetected by the doves.

In summary, when shooting doves at 40 yards, it is crucial to have the right equipment and accessories. A 12-gauge or 20-gauge shotgun with a 26-inch barrel, a shot size of 7.5 or 8, and a pellet count of 1 1/8 ounces (for 12-gauge) or 7/8 ounces (for 20-gauge) is recommended. Using dove decoys and camouflage can also increase your chances of success.

Regulations and Safety

Hunting Regulations for Doves

When it comes to hunting doves, hunters must follow specific regulations to ensure the safety of both the hunters and the game. Regulations vary from state to state, so it is essential to check with the local wildlife agency before heading out.

Some common regulations for dove hunting include the following:

• Hunting season: There is a specific hunting season for doves, which varies from state to state. Hunters must follow the designated dates and times for hunting doves.
• Bag limits: There are specific bag limits for doves, which vary from state to state. Hunters must not exceed these limits.
• Hunting license: Hunters must have a valid hunting license to hunt doves, which can be obtained from the local wildlife agency.

Safety Precautions for Dove Hunting

Dove hunting can be dangerous if safety precautions are not taken seriously. Hunters must follow specific safety guidelines to ensure their safety and the safety of others.

Some common safety precautions for dove hunting include the following:

• Shelter: Hunters must seek shelter in a safe area, away from other hunters, to avoid accidents.
• Surprise: Hunters must always be aware of their surroundings and avoid surprising other hunters.
• Hunting laws: Hunters must follow all hunting laws and regulations to avoid accidents and legal consequences.
• Weapons: Hunters must handle their weapons with care and only shoot when they have a clear shot.
• Clothing: Hunters must wear appropriate clothing to protect themselves from the elements and avoid accidents.
• Food: Hunters must bring enough food and water to sustain them throughout the day.

By following these regulations and safety precautions, hunters can enjoy a safe and successful dove hunting experience.

The use of the slingshot is not only intended for children. With the right attributes (power, construction materials, etc.), this tool can become a perfect weapon to practice hunting with a slingshot or slingshot hunting. In this case, how to choose your hunting slingshot? We will find out now in this article.

The different types of hunting slings

You can have a hunting slingshot by making it yourself. This approach does not require much DIY skill. But the easiest way would be to buy one. Moreover, you can find a wide range of choices on the market according to your needs.

According to legislation

According to current legislation on weapons in France, a hunting slingshot is classified into two categories according to its power. Between 2 and 20 joules, it is considered a category D-2-H weapon (free acquisition and possession for adults). For more than 20 joules, it is categorized as a category C-4 weapon (acquisition and possession subject to declaration).

Rustic slingshot

It is a traditional and artisanal manufacture. At the base, the slingshot or the sling was formed of a handle with two branches in Y form, on which were attached elastic bands joined to a flexible band, often in leather. To fire, the projectile (stone or metal ball) is placed on this flexible band by pinching two fingers. Then, the rubber band must be stretched by moving the arm that holds the handle away and the shot is fired after the pressure of the fingers is released on the projectile.

It is a simple manufacture, but generally not very effective.

Modern slingshot,

The modern slingshot is industrially made. Its handle is often made of metal frame or polycarbonate, its grip is designed to be ergonomic and its tubular or flat latex elastic is made to maximize: performance and durability.

For a more comfortable and optimized hunting slingshot, it is also possible to add

• An ergonomic handle: finger shape, non-slip grip, pistol shape, etc. ;
• An armrest: by leaning on the forearm, you can relieve your wrists (when tightening the elastic) and optimize your comfort by leaning on the forearm. On the other hand, opinions are not unanimous regarding shooting accuracy.
• A stabilizer: adding one or more weights stabilizes the slingshot and limits shaking.
• A sight: the addition of a sighting device ensures better shooting accuracy. For example, an optical or laser sighting system allows you to shoot accurately at more than 40 meters.
• Additional accessories: ball holder, flashlight holder, darts.

Varieties of slingshots according to its ammunition

The type of ammunition or projectile used to fire slingshots is numerous. Depending on your slingshot model and your hunting needs, you can choose from the following variety of ammunition.

Steel projectiles

These are metal balls with a diameter ranging from 0.68 mm to 0.44 mm. This type of projectile is extremely dangerous and does the most damage on impact. They have better stopping power and are particularly effective for hunting.

Glass projectiles

Glass ammunition is like a rubber-coated bullet. They can bounce more than steel, so be careful when using them at home.

Copper bullets

Some professional hunters like to use copper ball ammunition in their slingshots. However, these bullets are more expensive than steel and glass bullets. In addition, they tend to deform on impact, requiring experience to shoot them accurately.

Tungsten carbide projectiles

This is a hardened ammunition that is lighter than steel balls for the same strength. However, these bullets are expensive.

DIY bullets

You have a free choice on the type of projectile to use, from hex nuts and pebbles to plastic or wood. Just make sure you choose DIY ammunition that won’t quickly damage the slingshot’s rear firing block.

Choosing the right rubber band for your slingshot

The energy expended to propel the hunting slingshot projectile comes from the rubber band. A good slingshot rubber band provides above-average speed and shooting power. For example, professional hunters and slingshot users can hit targets up to 400 feet away using a professional setup.

You can distinguish between two types of slingshot rubber bands:

• Tubular models: these are the most commonly used in hunting slingshot design. They are known to be strong and durable.
• Flat models: this type of rubber band is characterized by its flexibility and ease of use. They are usually used for introductory slingshots or for defensive slingshots.

The material of your hunting slingshot

In order to have a sturdy, high-performance hunting slingshot, you must be careful to identify the material from which it was or should be made. For this, you will have the choice between metal, wood or plastic.

To know that:

• Metal is known for its lightness and strength, especially against wood. That’s why a metal sling is ideal for hunting and survival.
• Wood is the most common material for making traditional slingshots. It is an easy material to carve in order to make an aesthetic and authentic slingshot. Slingshots made from this material are often used for practice.
• Plastic stands out for its affordable price, its unmatched lightness. Nowadays, you can find durable and efficient slingshots capable of shooting, for example, slingshot balls at high powers and speeds. Only, it is not at the level of metal and wooden models.

Conclusion

There are so many models of hunting slingshots to choose from, whether they are rustic and traditional or more modern. In order to find the right model, it is important to know your needs. This goes for finding the type of slingshot and the type of ammunition that is right for you.

Are you planning to use your weapon for practice or to hunt a particular game? It needs to have sufficient power. This power is based on the choice of rubber band. Between flat and tubular rubber bands, you will have a variety of choices depending on the model of slingshot at your disposal.

For the choice of ammunition, it must match the model of slingshot, as well as your hunting needs. For this, there is a wide variety of ammunition on the market (steel, glass, copper, tungsten carbide, etc.).

If you can’t choose the right model among the many ranges that exist on the market, we suggest you to see our selection of hunting slings.

It is easy to forget the days like the one the duck hunters died. It is easy to forget that there was a time—not so very long ago, really—when there was no Gore-Tex, no Thinsulate, no neoprene and no polypropylene for duck hunters. There was a time when outboard motors, far from the sleek and powerful marvels of today, were crude, cumbersome beasts, unreliable under the best circumstances and all but useless under the worst. There was a time when there were no cell phones, no emergency beacons, no Flight for Life helicopters.

There was a time, too, when there were no weather satellites, no telemetry to provide data that could be plugged into sophisticated formulas and fed into supercomputers for timely forecasts. Indeed, that the weather could be predicted with any degree of accuracy then—November 1940, to be precise—seems almost miraculous, meteorology in those days being one part science and two parts the divination of omens, signs and portents. Nothing brings this into starker relief than the fact that, a little more than a year later, what appeared on radar to be a swarm of aircraft approaching the Hawaiian Islands was dismissed as some sort of malfunction by military officers who refused to trust this newfangled and unproven technology.

Of course, some things do not change with the passage of time, and one of those constants is the love of duck hunters for the kind of wet, raw, blustery, thoroughly miserable days that keep normal people indoors with the fireplace crackling and the teakettle whistling on the stove. And just as absence makes the heart grow fonder, the longer the duck hunter is made to wait for such a day, the hotter burns his pent-up desire to escape the sloughs and bays and marshes, and there—decoys artfully set, blind brushed and grassed, dog expectant and quivering, call poised to be pressed to lips—scan the lowering skies for birds that ride the wind.

The fall of 1940 had been a mild one in the Upper Midwest, an extended Indian summer of warm temperatures and little rainfall. In other words, the duck hunting had been disappointing. Oh, there had been the usual “local” birds in the early season—teal, wigeon, shoveler, the odd mallard—but without any heavy weather to set the migration in motion, the great flocks of northern ducks were still in the prairie provinces of Canada, fattening up for the long flight south. Hunters throughout the region, from the Dakotas across to Wisconsin, from Minnesota down to southern Illinois, were on pins and needles, knowing that the change in weather they so dearly wanted was overdue, that it could happen any day.

Finally, on Sunday, November 10, came a forecast that held promise. The outlook was for clouds, snow flurries, and colder temperatures. Wildfowlers were ecstatic, and what made this good news even better was that Monday, November 11, was Armistice Day—the predecessor to Veterans Day, and, for many people, a holiday. Although as holidays go it was a fairly somber one. The grinding effect of the Great Depression still lingered in the U.S., and in Europe. There, where just 22 years earlier the eponymous armistice had been signed, war raged once again.

Still, it’s not much of a leap to suppose that the typical waterfowler of the Upper Midwest, upon hearing the forecast on the radio or reading it in the local newspaper, felt blessed—even jubilant. Other concerns were pushed aside; nothing mattered now but getting ready for tomorrow’s hunt. Decoys, shell boxes, shotguns, and calls were checked and rechecked. Ditto for boats, motors, gas tanks, and oars. Clothes were carefully laid out; sandwiches were made, wrapped in wax paper and refrigerated; thermos bottles were placed next to coffee percolators. The dog was given an extra bit of food, because in a few hours he was going to be one busy retriever and would need all the energy and stamina he could muster.

The phone lines hummed as hunting partner called hunting partner, their voices crackling with excitement. They knew, with as much certainty as they knew anything, the ducks would be flying, and they aimed to be smack dab in the middle of them.

They got more than they bargained for.

In his magisterial Where The Sky Began: Land of the Tallgrass Prairie, John Madson describes the genesis of a Midwestern blizzard as a “temperature marriage” of cold, dry polar air sweeping down from Canada and warm, moist subtropical air welling up from the Gulf of Mexico.

“Since its primary component is wind,” Madson wrote, “the classic blizzard is essentially a phenomenon of the open lands—particularly the plains and prairies, where the topography offers little resistance to moving air and the great storms can run almost impeded. There may be more snow in northern and eastern forest regions, and certainly much cold. The difference between winter storms there and the classic prairie blizzard lies in the intensity of unbridled wind that plunges the chill factor to deadly lows, drives a blinding smother of snow during the actual storm, and continues as ground blizzards and white-outs long after snow has stopped falling. Depending on snowfall and wind, the storm may leave drifts three times as tall as a man and is usually followed by calm, silver-blue days of burning cold.”

That, in a nutshell, describes the blizzard that screamed across the Upper Midwest on Monday, November 11, 1940, devastating everything it touched along the way. The winds blasted at a constant 40-50 mph with gusts in excess of 80. More than 16 inches of snow fell in the Twin Cities, while more than 26 inches were recorded a few miles up the Mississippi River near St. Cloud. In LaCrosse, downstream on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi, the barometric pressure sank to an all-time low. The temperature dropped 30 degrees—from above freezing to single digits—in two hours and continued to plummet from there. Windchills were virtually off the charts.

Nothing escaped the storm’s furious, relentless, indiscriminate wrath. Livestock perished by the hundreds of thousands. So many turkeys died in parts of Minnesota and Iowa that after the storm farmers were selling whole “fresh frozen” birds for 25 cents apiece. The losses to wildlife, especially pheasants, were spectacular. Communications and power were disrupted across thousands of square miles, and transportation was brought to an absolute standstill. Every town and village close to a main road became a refuge as stranded travelers sought shelter from the storm. Countless people opened their homes to complete strangers, providing whatever they could offer in the way of board and room.

But for some there was no shelter, no refuge. Motorists stuck in snowdrifts on remote stretches of road were buried alive in their cars, their frozen bodies not exhumed for days. On Lake Michigan, the freighter William B. Davock was sheared in two by monstrous waves.

The ferocity of the storm was almost beyond human reckoning. There are accounts of farmers who, after checking their livestock, could not find their way from the barn to the farmhouse. Disoriented, pummeled by the wind, with no visible landmarks to guide them, and no sense of east, west, north, or south, they wandered blindly through a roaring white hell. The lucky ones bumped into something recognizable and groped their way to safety. The unlucky ones didn’t.

Nearly everyone who survived the storm remarked on how incredibly difficult it was just to breathe. The air was so laden with moisture that it seemed as thick as syrup. And even when you were able to draw a deep breath, the cold seared your lungs like a red-hot blade.

This is what thousands of duck hunters, with their wooden skiffs and their cranky outboards and their canvas caps, found themselves caught in. Most of the world knows the Midwestern blizzard of November 11, 1940, as the Armistice Day Storm. To sportsmen, it’s simply the day the duck hunters died.

No one really knows how many people lost their lives as a direct result of the Armistice Day Storm. Although Time put the death toll at 159, the actual figure was probably closer to 200—and about half of them were duck hunters. According to John Madson, 85 duck hunters perished in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois alone. As he wrote in Where The Sky Began, “Caught by the storm with little warning, they drowned as they tried to reach land, or stayed in their duck blinds as waves tore them apart, or simply died of exposure that night on the river islands out of reach of help . . .”

If a storm causing as much destruction and loss of life occurred today, someone like Sebastian Junger or Jon Krakauer would write a best-selling book about it. But while it certainly made headlines—a spread in Life was entitled “Midwest Tempest Strews Death By Land and Lake”—America was preoccupied with other matters. After the dead were buried, the damage was cleared, and the bereaved had ceased to mourn, life resumed more-or-less as usual. And the weather for the remainder of the winter of 1940-’41 was largely unremarkable.

But no one who was there would ever forget it. Nor did their memories, like photos left too long in a show window, pale with the passage of time. It was the persistence of these memories that, 45 years after the event, prompted a Minnesota man named William Hull to track down and interview more than 500 people who’d lived through the Armistice Day Storm. He then selected 167 of these accounts and assembled them into a book called, fittingly, All Hell Broke Loose.

Now in its 18th printing, it’s replete with tales not only of close calls and narrow escapes, but of countless acts of charity, generosity, selflessness, and heroism. (There are a number of humorous, Keillor-esque tales as well, such as the one entitled “Three Hours Digging Path to Outhouse.”) Not a few of these stories were told by duck hunters. While the specifics may differ slightly—some recalled seemingly endless flocks of divers like redheads, bluebills, and canvasbacks, while others remember wave upon wave of mallards—they all agree that they had never seen the sky so full of ducks. They agree, too, that there was nothing in the weather that morning to presage what was coming, that the storm was upon them almost before they knew what was happening, and that it was only by the grace of God that they survived when so many others did not.

Every sportsman who was there has his own wrinkle to add to the story. Cyril Looker of Fremont, Wisconsin,—in the heart of the wildlife-rich Wolf River bottoms—recalls standing on the shore near a power line cut and burning up two boxes of shells as the ducks poured into Partridge Lake. The kicker, notes the 83-year-old Looker, is that the birds—mallards and divers both—were flying beneath the wires.

The account that eclipses all the rest, though—and has made the Armistice Day Storm vividly and chillingly real for generations of sportsmen ever since—is the one written by the great Gordon MacQuarrie. Indeed, it’s entirely likely that if MacQuarrie, then the outdoors editor for the Milwaukee Journal, hadn’t been on the scene, the event would be little more than a footnote in duck hunting history. While a lesser writer might have filed a competent and informative report, MacQuarrie penned a masterpiece.

His story, under the headline “Icy Death Rides Gale on Duck Hunt Trail,” appeared on the front page of the Journal on Wednesday, November 13. It was filed from Winona, Minnesota, a Mississippi River town about 90 miles downstream from the Twin Cities. The river there is a sprawling, two-mile-wide wilderness of islands, oxbows, and backwater sloughs, and Winona was the epicenter of the disaster: At least 20 duck hunters died within 50 miles of the city.

“The winds of hell were loose on the Mississippi Armistice day and night,” wrote MacQuarrie. “They came across the prairie, from the south and west, a mighty freezing force. They charged down from the high river bluffs to the placid stream below and reached with deathly fingers for the life that beat beneath the canvas jackets of hundreds of duck hunters . . .

“The wind did it, the furious wind that pierced any clothing, that locked outboard engines in sheaths of ice, that froze on faces and hands and clothing, so that survivors crackled when they got to safety and said their prayers.

“Mother Nature caught hundreds of duck hunters on the Armistice holiday. She lured them out to the marshes with fine, whooping wind, and when she got them there she froze them like muskrats in traps. She promised ducks in the wind. They came all right, but by that time the duck hunters were playing a bigger game with the wind, and their lives were the stake.

“By that time men along the Mississippi were drowning and freezing. The ducks came and men died. They died underneath upturned skiffs as the blast sought them out on boggy, unprotected islands; they died trying to light fires and jumping and sparring trying to keep warm; they died sitting in skiffs. They died standing in river water to their hips, awaiting help; they died trying to help each other. A hundred tales of heroism will be told, long after the funerals are over.”

MacQuarrie told of Gerald Tarras, a strapping 17-year-old who’d gone hunting in the Mississippi bottoms that fateful day with his father, brother, a family friend, and their black Lab. They set up mid-morning in a drizzling rain; by noon they were trapped by six-foot waves, waves that pounded like huge iron fists and hurled freezing spray that turned instantly to boilerplate ice. The men beat on one another to try to keep warm, but it was a losing battle. At about 2 a.m. the friend uttered one last moan and died in Gerald’s arms. Gerald’s brother held out until 11 in the morning, but after 23 hours of exposure, he, too, succumbed.

Then, shortly after noon, a small plane flew over. Gerald waved, and the pilot signaled that help was on the way. Rescuers in the government tugboat Throckmorton arrived at 2:30—half an hour too late to save Gerald’s father. They found the boy crouched against a stump, holding his dog for warmth, fighting to remain conscious.

Max Conrad, the pilot who led rescuers to Gerald Tarras, was one of the true heroes of the Armistice Day Storm. Dozens of hunters would later acknowledge that they owed their lives to him. On Tuesday the 12th, with the wind still howling but the skies clear, he took off from his hangar in Winona to help find the hunters who hadn’t come home. Flying a redoubtable Piper Cub—and fighting to make even 20 or 30 knots of airspeed against the brutal headwinds—he scanned the frozen margins of the Mississippi for the living, but often as not discovered the dead.

When he located survivors—they were frequently huddled in the lee of a skiff they’d propped up as a windbreak—Conrad would circle low, cut the engine for a moment, and holler “Hang on! Help is coming!” A few minutes later, he’d return and, like manna sent down from heaven, drop a canister filled with sandwiches, whiskey, dry matches, and cigarettes. Conrad would then circle until the Throckmorton or one of the many rescue boats that had deployed in search of survivors could get a fix on the spot. He kept flying until 10 p.m. that night, and he was out again at dawn the following day.

There is no telling how many hunters died for the simple want of dry matches. But even that was no guarantee, as there was still the problem of finding dry fuel to burn. Many a prized Mason decoy went up in flames, and a group of 17 hunters stranded on the same island took turns shooting down limbs for firewood until their ammunition ran out.

The Mississippi River was not the only place where duckboats became sepulchres, of course. Two hunters died on Wisconsin’s Big Muskego Lake, barely 20 miles from downtown Milwaukee. One of these men was alone in his skiff, trapped by waves and ice. Toward the end, another party of hunters glimpsed him standing in his boat with his head tilted back, his arms stretched outwards, and his palms turned up. It was as if he was imploring God—or perhaps commending his soul to Him. While the other hunters, who themselves were fighting to survive, watched helplessly, the man slumped back into his skiff, leaned heavily against the gunwale, and went motionless.

His spirit, like the ducks that drew him out on that terrible day, had flown.

The author wishes to thank Howard Mead of Madison, Wisconsin, for his assistance in providing background research.