Today I’m going to show you the best 22LR scope for target shooting.

In fact:

I’ve hand-tested 18 scopes alone for this review.

The best part?

I’ve sorted the scopes by use. So whether you’re on a budget or need the best 22LR optic, you’ll find it here.

Let’s dive in!

The 4 Best 22LR Scope for Target Shooting

If you’re pressed on time, here’s a quick list of the best 22LR scopes:

1. Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire: Best Overall 22LR Scope
2. Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Rimfire: Best Close-to-Medium Range Scope
3. Bushnell Drop Zone-22 2-7×32: Best Short-range Varmint Hunting
4. Athlon Argos BTR 6-24×50: Best Short-to-Long Range 22LR Scope

1. Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire: Best Overall 22LR Scope

The Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire is the best overall 22LR scope.

I’ve used it for hunting, target shooting, night time hunting and more.

What makes it so versatile?

Keep reading and I’ll show you…

Glass Clarity & Reticle

Here’s the thing:

When a scope is positioned at a low price point like the Leupold Freedom Rimfire, it usually equates to reduced quality.

But that’s wasn’t the case here.

In fact, the glass on this scope is just as crisp and clear as the glass used on more expensive Leupold sights.

It’s also great in low light conditions, making the visibility problems I usually face with early morning shooting nonexistent.

But what about the reticle?

It’s a standard duplex reticle set in the second focal plane.

This allows you to have a strong and easy to see reticle at all magnifications.

Eye Relief & Eye Box

It has a whopping 4.1” of eye relief!

That’s more than any other scope on this list.

The best part?

You can shoot with both eyes open, and accurately hit your target without worrying about getting a black eye 🙂

Durability & Weight

The VX-Freedom Rimfire is well built.

It’s crafted with lightweight aluminum that is O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged.

In other words:

It’s completely shockproof, waterproof and fogproof.

In the dead of winter, with snow actively falling, I didn’t have a single temperature or fog related problem.

Elevation & Windage Knobs

The dials worked correctly, and are set at ¼ MOA with audible clicks to ensure precision.

However, the knobs feel cheap. The plastic used on the knobs is soft and feels like something you find in a dollar store.

Don’t get me wrong:

The knobs work fine and do exactly what they are supposed to do. I just wish Leupold used a higher quality plastic or even aluminum for the knob.

That being said, they are accurate, easy to use and track true. It’s also easy to zero, and holds zero even with strong recoil or accidental drops.

Magnification & Parallax

The 1.5-4x magnification is perfect for hunting and target shooting.

In fact, I’ve used it up to 200 yards without a problem. Further than that would require more magnification. I’d recommend checking out myVortex Viper HST 4-16×44 Review.

Although parallax is fixed, I experienced no blurriness or fuzziness when shooting within 100 yards.

Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire Review: Is It Worth It?

If you’re looking for the best overall 22 LR scope that will work in almost any situation, then the Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire is for you.

Here’s why. It’s:

• Affordable
• Clear glass
• Lightweight
• Works well in low light
• Short-to-medium range magnification

In short:

The Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire Riflescope is budget friendly and easy to use scope. Plus, it’s backed by Leupold’s lifetime guarantee.

You break it, they’ll fix it…free of charge.

2. Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Rimfire: Best Close-to-Medium Range Scope

Looking for the best close-to-medium range scope for target shooting? Then get a Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32.

Not only is it affordable, but the scope’s features is built with quality.

Like what?

Keep reading to find out…

Glass Clarity & Reticle

Glass clarity is always one of the defining features on a Vortex optic and the Crossfire II 2-7x is no exception.

This scope has a fully multi-coated lens that provides a stunningly bright and clear view of your target.

The lens also has an anti-reflective coating. This reduces light absorption to minimize any glare that could appear in your sight,

What’s better is the V-plex reticle.

It’s a popular hunting reticle that can be used for about any hunting applications. That’s why I recommended it in my 4 best scopes for Ruger 10/22 guide.

However, it’s wire constructed. Although it’s not bad, it can break and occasionally lose their position.

This reticle is a second focal plane (SFP) which lets you increase or decrease magnification without changing the size of the reticle.

So the reticle gets to do its job without obstructing your view of the target.

Eye Relief & Eye Box

One sure sign of a quality optic is the eye relief.

A good scope should allow you to have a comfortable distance between your eye and the eyepiece while still being able to clearly see the full field of view.

The Crossfire II really delivers in this area. It offers a very forgiving 3.9 inches of eye relief at the lowest magnification and 4.7 inches at the highest magnification.

The eye box (range of positioning behind the eyepiece) is also really generous. This allows for faster target acquisition and is a big reason why this optic can be recommended for both tactical use as well as for hunting.

Durability & Weight

The Vortex reputation is built on the company’s resolve to make a product that endures.

Crossfire II displays all the signs of the vortex standards

Like other Vortex products, the Crossfire II has been designed to surpass the standards of similarly-priced riflescopes.

The hard-anodized tube is made from aircraft-grade aluminum which protects it against scratches and dings.

The design is also shockproof, ensuring that the components aren’t easily jumbled by the movement of your gun. Not to mention movements that come with normal use, such as, having it packed up with the rest of your gear in the back of your truck, or even accidentally knocking it over or dropping it.

The scope is O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged, making it both waterproof and fog proof.

If for some reason any of these features fail or your scope is damaged in any way, Vortex covers it with its VIP lifetime warranty.

The company will either repair or replace your Crossfire II, no matter what the problem is or how long you’ve had it.

To top it all off, this heavy-duty scope weighs just 14.3oz. — a comfortable addition to most rifles.

Elevation & Windage Knobs

The turrets on the Crossfire II are medium height and finger adjustable.

The knobs have a sturdy feel to them and can be easily manipulated, even with a gloved hand. Both turrets are capped to protect your settings and can be reset back to zero after sighting in.

Windage and elevation can both be adjusted to 60 MOA with each click measuring ¼ MOA.

Magnification & Parallax

With a magnification of 2-7x, this is a scope meant for close to medium-range shooting.

The parallax adjustment is fixed up to 100yds which is a good fit for this level of magnification.

Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 Review: Is It Worth It?

With a price tag of only $129, you are getting a great scope with quality features that many people pay twice as much for.

Not only that, but when you take into account the lifetime warranty, it’s almost a no brainer.

In short:

If you’re looking for a solid tactical scope that excels in hunting, then I’d recommend the Crossfire II.

3. Bushnell Drop Zone-22 2-7×32: Best Short-range Varmint Hunting

Want to do short-range varmint hunting?

Or rimfire tactical matches?

Then take a look at the Bushnell Drop Zone-22 2-7×32. It’s literally designed for the .22 LR round.

The best part?

It’s super affordable. Let’s take a closer look…

Glass Clarity & Reticle

The glass is surprisingly good.

In fact, I didn’t notice any tunnel vision from the bezel like I do with other similarly-priced optics.

But what’s even better is the Drop Zone-22 BDC reticle.

It’s specifically engineered for 38-40 grain, .22 LR high-velocity loads, with a 50-yard zero.

What that means is it specifically measures the .22 LR’s trajectory, giving you completely accurate bullet drop estimates.

This is perfect if you do short-range varmint hunting or rimfire tactical matches.

Eye Relief & Eye Box

The 3.6” of eye relief is very forgiving — even at full magnification.

Also, the eye box is generous. I didn’t experience any eye fatigue.

Durability & Weight

The Drop Zone-22 is built like a tank.

It’s O-ring sealed, argon purged and crafted from durable aluminum. Which means, the scope is waterproof, fogproof and shockproof.

However, it comes at a hefty cost:

Heavy weight.

At about 19.5 ounces in weight, the Drop-Zone 22 is one of the heaviest scope in its class.

Elevation & Windage Knobs

The exposed target turrets are reliable.

They produce positive, crisp clicks. No tools are required. And the ¼ MOA is very precise.

However, the dials are a bit stiff to turn…at first. With usage, it’ll loosen up.

Moving on, zeroing was easy. After 7 rounds, I was zeroed in. It also held zero like a champ. 82 rounds and a few hikes later, I still haven’t lost zero.

Magnification & Parallax

Just like the turrets, the power ring is also rather stiff.

The solution?

Use a throw-over lever. This makes turning the knob a breeze.

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The scope is also equipped with an adjustable side parallax knob. This is gold…considering the price of the optic.

It can adjust as low as 10 yards to infinity. A plus if you’re plinking, engaging close targets or rimfire shooting.

In short:

The 2-7x magnification and parallax adjustment is clean and precise.

Bushnell Optics Drop Zone-22 Review: Is It Worth It?

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly 22LR scope, then get a Bushnell Drop Zone-22.

Here’s why. It’s got:

• Durable
• Clear glass
• Long eye relief
• 22LR BDC reticle
• Side parallax adjustment

It’s literally designed for small game hunting, plinking and rimfire shooting.

The best part?

It’s backed by Bushnell’s lifetime warranty. So if ANYTHING happens to the scope, they’ll fix er’ up for free.

4. Athlon Argos BTR 6-24×50: Best Short-to-Long Range 22LR Scope

The Athlon Argos BTR 6-24×50 is the best short-to-long range scope for your 22lr rifle.

In fact:

The Argos BTR packs in many of the features of top-dollar scopes, but for a fraction of the cost. Like what? Keep reading to find out…

Glass Clarity & Reticle

The glass on the Argos BTR is very high quality, which means the image you see through your scope is clear and crisp. In fact, the Argos BTR excels in low-light conditions.

I’ve found that it’s the perfect scope for dusk and dawn hunts. This is because the BTR is made with a fully multi-coated lens which provides fantastic light transmission.

I’ve noticed that when I zoom in to 18-24x, I get a little bit of blurriness. That said, for under $400, you really can’t beat the image clarity of the BTR.

Now let’s take a look at the reticle.

I was expecting a pretty basic reticle from this scope, especially considering the price. However, the BTR uses an illuminated, etched APMR MIL reticle. It’s anything but basic!

Here’s a look at the APMR MIL reticle:

I really like the illuminated reticle, especially when I’m shooting in low-light conditions. There are 11 brightness settings which means that I can find the perfect illumination level every time.

I do wish that the BTR had an auto-shutoff feature to help save on battery life, but I tend to keep an extra Lithium battery in my bag just in case.

Also, since the reticle is etched into the glass, you don’t need to turn on the illumination at all if you don’t want to. The etched reticle is also much more durable than a wired crosshair, so you don’t have to worry about your wires getting knocked off center.

One of the best things about the Argos BTR is that it is a first focal plane riflescope, which means that the reticle grows as you zoom in on your target. No more calculations for holdover or windage when you change your magnification.

I love that the MIL reticle works at all ranges, and this feature usually only comes in scopes that cost over $1000.

Eye Relief & Eye Box

The eye relief on the BTR is a nice, comfy 3.3 inches. This is perfect for low-to-zero recoil calibers like 22lr.

The eye box is also nice and generous, although I’ve noticed it does shrink a little as you zoom in to max.

Durability

The Argos BTR is incredibly durable. The tube is made from heat-treated, aircraft grade aluminum and is sealed with O-rings.

As if that’s not enough, the whole tube is made from a single piece of metal, which makes it stronger and more waterproof than multi-piece scope tubes. The BTR is also argon-purged and uses an etched reticle.

All of these features mean that the scope is able to handle any kind of conditions and take any kind of punishment that I might throw at it.

Elevation & Windage Knobs

Here’s the scope’s biggest con…

The turrets move very easily, with almost no resistance…which can lead to over adjusting.

However, I spent about ten minutes re-greasing the turret caps. When I was done, the turrets felt much less mushy and the clicks were a lot louder.

If you’ve never regreased turrets before, here’s a quick video showing you how to do it:

Zeroing was a very easy process. I was able to zero the scope in less than ten rounds once I was hitting paper.

And I’ve put hundreds of rounds through my 22lr since, and the zero has held true.

In my experience, these turrets have proved to be very reliable.

Parallax & Magnification

The parallax adjustment knob works very well. It’s easy to turn and accurate. This makes for easy adjustments in the field.

The 6-24x magnification is probably my favorite thing about this scope. Whether I want to shoot something ten yards out or plink a target at 1000 yards, the BTR is my go-to.

The scope image is very clear up until about 20x. After that it gets a little bit blurry, so you may want to invest in a higher-end scope if you want to do a lot of extreme distance shooting.

That said, I’ve found that the Argos BTR still functions well at 1000 yards, especially when you consider the price.

Mounting & Rings

The Argos BTR doesn’t come with any rings or a mount, so I’d suggest getting a set of High Scope Rings that fit your 22lr.

The scope does come with a set of lens covers, which is nice. It also includes a battery for the illuminated reticle.

I went ahead and bought a 50mm Athlon Sunshade to use for my daytime shooting.

It helps a lot with glare and reflections.

Is the Athlon Argos BTR 6-24×50 Worth It?

If you need an all-range scope for your 22lr, you can’t go wrong with the Argos BTR.

Here’s why. It has:

• First focal plane
• 6-24x magnification
• Excellent in low-light
• Reliable, hand-adjustable turrets
• Illuminated, etched BTR MIL reticle
• Fully multi-coated glass for clear, crisp image

And all of this comes in a package that costs a fraction of what other competing scopes cost.

If all of that wasn’t enough, the BTR comes with Athlon’s Gold Medal lifetime warranty, so you know you’re covered if anything happens to your riflescope.

If you want all these features in a low-cost riflescope, then the Argos BTR 6-24×50 is for you.

Looking for a riflescope for your AR? Here’s our list of the 7 Best AR-15 Scopes and Optics.

Now It’s Your Turn

I hope you enjoyed my best 22LR scope for target shooting guide.

So as a recap:

If you’re looking for the best overall .22LR target shooting scope, then get the Leupold VX-Freedom Rimfire.

What about the best close-to-medium range optic? The Crossfire II 2-7×32 is for you.

If you’re into short-range varmint hunting, then opt-in for the Bushnell Drop Zone-22.

Or if you’re looking for the best short-to-long range scope, then get the Athlon Argos BTR 6-24×50.

Whichever .22LR scope you choose, you’re bound to hit a reliable, yet effective optic. I’ve spent hundreds of rounds through each one with no failure.

Now I want to turn it over to you:

Which rifle scope will you pick for your .22LR?

Let me know by leaving a quick comment down below.

A 33.24-kilogram lake trout.

A greenish-grayish speckled whopper the weight of a golden retriever.

That’s a big fish.

And that’s the fish that Scott Enloe reeled in from the Blue Mesa Reservoir, a man-made lake in Colorado, last week.

Enloe’s catch poses a challenge to the record set by angler Lloyd Bull, who pulled a 32.6-kilogram lake trout from waters in the Northwest Territories in 1995.

“It’s obviously the largest one I’ve ever seen,” Enloe said of his remarkable haul.

“It was exactly 47 inches long and it had a 37-inch girth … I’m a 35-inch waist and it was bigger than me.”

Catch may not officially break record

But Enloe’s catch may not make it into the International Game Fish Association’s (IGFA) record books, where Bull holds the top lake trout spot.

That’s because the organization requires that fish be weighed on land.

Enloe weighed, measured and photographed his fish on his boat — and then he let it go.

“Whether I get my name in the books or not, that’s irrelevant to me,” he said. “I was not going to kill the fish regardless.”

Zac Bellapigna, angler recognition coordinator for the IGFA, said Enloe wouldn’t have had to kill his trout, necessarily. Fishers can bring their fish to shore, weigh them, and release them alive.

“I commend him for releasing the fish alive, that’s a good thing,” said Bellapigna.

‘One of the best fishing spots in the world’

About 3,000 kilometres north of the Blue Mesa Reservoir sits the majestic Great Bear Lake, site of an Indigenous-led UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserve. It’s known for producing some of the biggest lake trout ever caught.

“Growing up, we caught a lot of pretty big trout,” said Naokah Bailes, who was raised in the Sahtu region and has been fishing in Great Bear Lake since she was small.

“Little did I know I was actually fishing at probably one of the best fishing spots in the world.”

The people who know Great Bear Lake, or who’ve visited, give many reasons for why the lake is a unique place to cast a line.

For one, it’s huge — one of the world’s largest — and there’s only one community on its shores: Délı̨nę, which has a population of a little over 600.

“It’s such a small community, right?” said Bailes. “Even if someone’s out there fishing all day, the lake is so big we would never have an actual impact on the fish populations.”

Even bigger fish netted in Great Bear Lake in 2009

Ask people in the Délı̨nę about fish, and one name comes up again and again: George Kenny.

Kenny netted a lake trout from Great Bear topping 38 kilograms in 2009.

That fish didn’t survive, and it’s now memorialized in the community’s Great Bear Lodge.

“There’s something about the genetics, also, in Great Bear Lake that produces very large fish,” said Mike Bryant, who once penned a column as the “Fishin’ Technician” and is now the group publisher for Northern News Services in Yellowknife.

Not all its trout grow to “super sizes,” he said, but a strain of them do.

Bryant, who visited the lake in 1997 and plans to return this summer, pointed out that a good chunk of IGFA’s lake trout line class records have been set at Great Bear Lake.

“Great Bear Lake is like an aquarium. It’s full of fish,” said Danny Gaudet, Ɂekw’ahtide (leader) of the Deline Got’ine government.

Gaudet also fishes — but for food, not trophies.

There’s nothing that compares to the meat on a Great Bear Lake fish, he said, and you’re always guaranteed to catch one.

Gaudet said that if more tourists travel to Great Bear Lake for fishing, and fish in a sustainable way, it could benefit the community’s economy.

It’s one reason why he says he’s actually happy for Scott Enloe, because big catches like that draw in tourism.

“If it sustains that economy for them, that’s great,” he said. “Of course, we’re from Great Bear Lake and we will break the record again.”

Humans are curious being, often intrigued to know about obscure things, including food that doesn’t fall under the conventional realm.

In this case, slugs may not be mainly known as a kitchen delicacy but have stirred interest among a specific section of the people.

However, is this shell-less mollusk edible or safe to eat? Unless you’re into unconventional foods, these questions are probably in your mind.

In this post, we’ll reveal what slugs taste like. Not only that, we’ll answer crucial aspects related to it.

Let’s get into it without further ado.

What are Slugs?

The term ‘slug’ refers to all forms of gastropod mollusks without a shell.

It’s also commonly known as a land slug.

Various kinds of this species are found across the globe, varying in shapes and sizes, but the external anatomy remains the same.

Like snails, it has tentacles on its head, giving sensory and optical senses.

Instead of a shell, it has a mantle covering the top of the head.

Although these species are categorized under the same class-Gastropoda, significant differences start from behavior to anatomy.

Water comprises half of the slugs’ bodies. These mollusks are found primarily on moist ground after heavy rain.

You’ll find them in the damp area under rocks, tree bark, and fallen logs during the dry season.

They have soft tissues which make them highly prone to desiccation due to the absence of an outer shell.

Hence, mucus generation is vital for this mollusk in order to survive.

What Do Slugs Taste Like?

Most people might be familiar with snails as part of kitchen delicacy compared to this shell-less mollusk.

However, some people consume slugs.

It may not be the aesthetically pleasing creature, and to have it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

That said, unconventional food like this tends to have divided opinions.

Some people like it, while others may not. It also mainly depends on how you prepare it.

The texture is rubbery, and its outer body is quite slimy.

The taste of a slug would be best described as mild, closely similar to snails.

It also largely depends on the ingredients and the preparation process involved.

Because of the presence of mucus, it has a hint of bitterness.

In this case, proper cleaning is required before you proceed with the cooking.

Not many are enthusiastic about eating slugs, which is understandable.

However, some people relish this mollusk. Regardless, it has high nutritional value.

It’s a good source of protein and minerals and also has a high caloric value.

Cleaning these critters is crucial if you plan to have them.

Since they’re scavengers, they may carry parasites that might cause a potential health risk.

Once cleaned, you may prepare it any way you want, from stir-frying to backwoods boil.

We suggest using richly-flavored ingredients since it has a mild taste.

Want to know how to prepare these critters? Keep reading below.

How to Prepare and Eat Slugs?

Since slugs are scavengers, thorough cleaning is to prevent potentially life-threatening diseases.

They’re considered safe but come with a caveat.

If you plan on having these critters, putting them in a container filled with damp cornmeal for a day or two is highly advisable.

Or, put it in wet lettuce, and let them purge.

Once done with toxic cleansing elements, proceed with your culinary adventure.

Some of the ways to have these shell-less mollusks are as follows:

• Stir-fry slug.

Stir-frying these critters is one of the best ways to relish their taste.

First, you need to blanch slugs in boiling water and then slice them.

Take a wok or skillet to stir-fry along with vegetables.

Add soy sauce to enhance the taste further.

• Slug pasta.

Give your pasta a new taste by adding these critters.

Stir-fry them in butter first, and then add the pasta sauce.

Let it cook under low-medium heat for ten minutes.

Fold cooked pasta in the mix and then serve it.

• Deep-fried slugs.

Another great way to enjoy these mollusks is by deep-frying them.

Preparing this way will be an excellent introduction to slugs if it’s your first time.

First, you need to boil them in hot water for two minutes.

After this, immerse them in egg and then rub them in bread crumbs.

Deep fry them like how you do with fried chicken. Fry until it’s golden brown.

Conclusion

Slugs may not be the most pleasant-looking creature, but they are essential to our ecosystem.

Consumption of these critters is a personal choice but comes with a caveat.

Although it’s considered safe to eat, it’s prone to carry parasites that may pose a potential health risk.

If you plan to have it, ensure it’s adequately cleaned and thoroughly cooked.

Avoid raw slugs since they’re scavengers and are likely to have toxic elements.

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Varmint hunting is more than just an adrenaline-pumping sport, hobby, and means to earn a living.

It’s a way to manage pest populations from getting out of hand, reduce predacity on your livestock, and prevent the risks associated with disease transmission. Sounds a little more serious now, right?

So, what’s the best scope to mount on your scout, AR, or .22 rifle when you want to make an example of the jack rabbits plaguing your garden or the coyotes stalking your chickens?

Every stalker’s hunting conditions are different, so you’ll have to answer that question for yourself. But, we’ll give you a hand in which direction to aim when you’re ready to scope-up and eliminate your prey!

Top Varmint & Coyote Scopes

It would be ideal if those pesky pests prowled your property in broad daylight and slept at night like human beings do. Unfortunately, that’s hardly ever the case. Predators like hogs, coyotes, and wolves will require some stealth and the right equipment come dusk. Rodents like squirrels and prairie dogs make for a fun take-down during the day, and you may even have to be several hundred yards away to get that shot.

Because hunting conditions are going to vary widely, you best know what rifle you want to mount your varmint scope to and consider the range of your actual hunting grounds. This means that there’s not going to be the “one” scope that will get the job done, they’re all going to be different. The scope you will need will depend on what, where, and when you’re hunting.

• Are you wild boar hunting at night? Playing whack-a-mole with groundhogs? Out-foxing the kitten-snatching fox?
• Are you in the open plains of Wyoming or are sub-100 yard shots the average distance out where you live?
• Will you be better off with a night vision rifle scope for nighttime hunting?
• Is your rifle a quiet .22 LR for near-shots, or is it a .223 Remington or .220 Swift for long-distance prowess?

If you’re looking for the one-size-fits-all suggestion here, you’re going to be terribly disappointed. But, if you need an idea on what scopes could fit the bill because you already know the essential tidbits of your hunt and prey, you’re in the right place!

We’ll dish up some of the most well-known and approved varmint scopes that should give you a head start in the buying hunt.

Our Picks for the Best Rifle Scope for Varmint Hunting

1. NightForce NXS 5.5-22X56

Yeah, we went all out with this one. The NXS is good for everything, and it looks like a bad-ass that will get the job done – because it can! It has the best of everything you’d need to take down prairie dogs at 1000 yards and beyond. Crank up your power and expect to see image quality stay true.

The SFP, glass-etched, illuminated reticle with 2 MOA tall and 2 MOA wide crosshairs means extreme precision on small targets for those really long distances. The 30mm tube, Hi-Speed Turret System, and 1250G-resistance all speaks to its expertise in the field.

If there’s a scope you want on your varmint rifle or really any rifle you’re serious about hunting with, it’s going to be this NightForce. With the NXS on your side, vermin won’t stand a chance!

2. Vortex Crossfire II 3-12X56 AO Hog Hunter

If you’re in the South, you might already own one of these bad boys, and you can probably attest that it’s true to its name. The Crossfire II is an ideal scope for the avid hog hunter. When nighttime looms without the right gear and equipment, feral hog hunting shouldn’t be attempted. Instead, head out with the right stuff to be better prepared for success. What’s the right stuff? We’re glad you asked.

It would look like an illuminated center-dot reticle with V-Brite, robust and durable 30mm tube, and provisions for image focus and parallax correction – the AO. The right stuff should also include a weight that can handle heavy recoil for some serious loads barreling out towards the pig.

A lot of the right stuff sounds just like a great Vortex scope. Ha! Whaddaya know? The Vortex has it all.

3. Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14×42

Entry-level price point, mid-range performance, and high-end customer satisfaction. The Fullfield II is the right kind of mid-range scope to take deer, elk, and of course, varmints. Whether it’s squirrels, coyotes, rabbits, or foxes, this Burris scope is a hunter’s scope.

Pros:

• Price
• Adjustable objective
• Ballistic Plex reticle
• Made in Philippines
• Lifetime warranty

Cons:

• No other reticle available

The Fullfield II 4.5-14×42 is only available with the Ballistic Plex reticle. If you don’t like it, you may want to choose a different scope. However, it’s simple, uncluttered, and can be matched with any caliber. The Burris Ballistics Reticle Analysis Tool is an excellent calculator that will provide you with the distances for each holdover.

Being in the second focal plane, crosshairs might be a little thick for hitting squirrels at 800 yards, but it will definitely put you in range if you’re looking at bigger prey like foxes and coyotes. As additional info, it’s wire and non-illuminated.

Instead of a side focus, the Burris scope has an adjustable objective (AO) for focusing at various distances. Turrets are capped and offer up ¼ MOA adjustments with a total of 40 MOA in elevation and windage travel. According to buyers, it tracks excellently and remains accurate out to 700-800 yards. It can handle big-boy kick too beyond 50BMG.

Given its low price point, the Burris Fullfield II is a popular, quality riflescope. Since Burris backs it with their Forever Warranty, it makes the deal even sweeter. Even small things like losing the caps have been quickly replaced by the manufacturer. What you’ll need to get on your own are lens caps. It’s not such a big deal when you can grab the scope for less than $200.

4. ATN X-Sight LTV 3-9x

There are hunters that need night vision for their nighttime varmint and coyote hunts. This is where the ATN X-sight is a welcome scope to this lineup. Affordable, accurate, and simple. ATN nails it with the new design.

Pros:

• Price
• Digital NV
• Ultra-lightweight
• One Shot Zero
• Long battery life

Cons:

• Not smart

The LTV series of X-Sight scopes is a simplified and scaled-down version of the older X-Sight II line. Even though it’s done away with all the extra bells and whistles of digital NV, many love the bold move to make this happen.

This results in a scope that is affordable, incredibly lightweight at 1.6 lbs, and it’s a whole lot slimmer than the night vision scopes of yesterday.

It features ATN’s One Shot Zero that allows you get on point with no wasted ammo. They also kept the HD video recording feature that you can upload online to share your hog hunting success on social media.

Like many old scopes that would only last for a few hours on one battery charge, the LTV scope one-ups them all with a long-lasting battery life of 10 hours. That’s plenty of time to make one heck of a night for hogs or coyotes.

With night vision on your scope, you can take your varmint hunting skills beyond your own honey holes. Take on contracts for local ranchers and teach the kids how to rid the farm of rats. Night vision scopes could improve your varmint hunting efforts.

5. Burris Scout 2-7X32

If you haven’t heard of the Scout, shame on you! You need to get moving more as scout rifles are made to see action, and you won’t get any action if you’re not on the prowl. The Burris scope is incredibly lightweight which is perfect for lighter rifles like an AR as it won’t weigh it down or seem top-heavy.

It’s designed to sit forward on your rifle, so you have all that generous eye relief, the ability to keep two eyes open for increased situational awareness, and full clearance for mounting in front of the ejection port.

It might be a little scope, but in no way is it little in performance and quality. Index-matched, Hi-Lume coatings, one-piece tube, double internal spring-tension system, and full weatherproof-ability makes this Burris optic a winner in the field. Since it’s designed to be extremely compatible with scout setups, no vermin will escape your sights. We almost feel sorry for the little guys – not!

6. Maven CRS.1 3-12×40

To hunt in lowlight or to pick out tan varmints against tan terrains calls for the clearest and sharpest of glass. Maven answers that call with the CRS.1 3-12×40 hunting riflescope.

Pros:

• C-series glass
• CSHR reticle
• Lightweight
• Lifetime warranty
• Made in Japan

Cons:

• No FFP model

The CRS series of riflescopes from Maven are designed for the hunter with SFP reticles, mid-range magnification, and are completely fogproof and watertight. While FFP is becoming more popular in the hunt, SFP is still a practical focal plane for many hunting conditions and average distances, and the CRS series cater to that.

Based off the C-series of Maven’s binoculars, the CRS.1 has exceptionally clear, high contrast, sharp glass, as confirmed by my field test. Having been sourced and made in Japan, it speaks to both the optical and build quality of the scope. With superb resolution for picking out details in low light and noticeable edge-to-edge clarity, this is mid-range quality at an entry-level price point.

The CSHR reticle is wire, in the second focal plane, and based off the RS.1 SHR reticle. As such, it remains the same size from low 3x to high 12 power, and I found it to be highly visible in both lowlight and daylight bright conditions.

Very simple yet effective, the reticle has BDC holdovers along the elevation crosshair. Turrets are low-profile and capped. Adjustments are made in ¼ MOA clicks and the 1” tube offers up a total of 50 MOA travel. These are audible and I was also able to feel the adjustments with gloves on.

From the reticle type to the magnification range, the CRS.1 scope offers the varmint hunter extreme close-range work to long-range potential. That reticle has thin center crosshairs to put it on the coyote or prairie dog even at great distances.

Backed by a lifetime unconditional warranty, Maven presents an uncomplicated rifle scope for the straightforward pest hunter.

7. Barska 4-16X50 AO Varmint

The Barska 4-16X50 AO Varmint rifle scope has earned a mention. For a scope under $100, it’s a great buy to get a taste of what high power, illuminated reticles, and parallax correction features can do for your varmint hunting.

It’s in in no way fair to compare this scope to other brands and quality that we’ve mentioned in our lineup. But, if you’re on an extremely tight budget, and you want to plink off some pests around the farm and property line, the Barska rifle scope might just make you proud!

What to Look For in a Varmint Rifle Scope

The oft repeated features are going to be reiterated over and over again whenever we recommend a rifle scope for any purpose. Buying the best of what you can afford will never get old here. Buying the best glass you can afford plus some is a mantra we live by.

To help clarify what your needs could be, let’s start with magnification. Go higher for long ranging distances, and stay with low power scopes for close-mid ranges. The higher the power, expect to spend more for ultimate clarity.

Illuminated reticles are essential to varmint hunting since critters come out of the woodworks when the sun calls it a day. Variable reticle brightness may also make all the difference when it can potentially wash out your target and sight picture.

BDC reticles are nice to have and can be vital for extreme long-range shots. However, a complicated reticle at night can easily complicate things. Know your gun and your what your rounds will do at given distances, and then a simple duplex reticle should be all you need.

Lastly, your rifle matters a lot. High-velocity and flat shooting caliber guns get it done! But, whether you’re a .22-250 or .223 loyalist, we’re not going to join in on the age-long debate right here.

• Quality glass – The best glass is always the best buy. You’ll see a lot more and a lot further versus trumped-up scopes with poor glass.
• Quality coatings – Same rules apply when shopping for quality glass. The coatings should match the quality glass and cost of the scope.
• Magnification – 1-9x is plenty enough power for close-mid range shots. Higher power scopes are for long shots – you won’t need it in the woods, but you will need it for wide, open plains over several hundred yards.
• Repeatability – Scope has to hold zero. Check on track record or be brand-specific.
• Reticles – Opt for an extremely accurate BDC reticle for extreme long-range shooting. Basic crosshairs should get the job done for most hunting if you intimately know your rifle and loads.
• Illuminated reticles – Enables fast target acquisition and better low-light potential.
• Low light quality – Varmint hunting at night can’t be done if you have a low-grade scope. For nocturnal creatures or varmints that are most active at night, a night vision rifle scope or high-quality low-light scope will go miles in how long you can stay out.
• Cost – Hunting closer to dusk? Spend more. Daylight hunting rodents sub-400 yards? You can compromise on price if budget limits you. Otherwise, spending more money on a quality scope will never be a regretful purchase.
• Warranty – Optics will fail at some point in time. Whether it fails after a few hundred rounds or after decades of service is what matters. Invest in your scope, and ensure you buy from a company that can offer a warranty that matches the quality of the scope. Warranty not good enough? Be brand-specific.

“Last Call”

Deer and elk hunters get to mount their trophy racks to their walls. Do varmint hunters feel swindled out of their physical show of success? Not at all! While a feathered mess of a crow might not be wall-worthy, a handsome pelt makes for a conversation starter, gift, or a comfy pair of slippers.

Vermin can spread disease, cause harm to livestock, and devastate crops. The potential dangers are enough of a reason to assuage the threat – a call which many hunters are more than willing to answer. We wish you happy hunting after you’ve checked in with local, state, and federal regulations. Good luck!

Further Reading

• How to Measure Scope Ring Height (With Pics & Calculations)
• How to Adjust a Rifle Scope: 6 Scope Adjustments Explained!
• How to Level a Scope on a Rifle [Step-by-Step With Pics]
• What is a Rifle Scope Ruler (Mildot Master) & How to Use It?
• How to Lap Scope Rings (& Is Lapping Really Necessary?)

Meat Block

10 lb of Venison 2.5 lb of pork straight pork fat or 10 lb of untrimmed pork butts 1 Bag of Taco Snack Sticks 10.75 oz for 12.5 lb 1 oz of Sure Cure (Included with purchase) 14.1 grams for 12.5 lb Water (2 lb per 25 lb batch of meat) 16 oz of water for a 12.5 lb batch

OPTIONAL Additives 1 Bag of Sure Gel 3 oz for 12.5 lb Encapsulated Citric Acid 2 oz for 12.5 lb

Equipment

Walton’s 50 lb Meat Mixer Walton’s 11 lb Sausage Stuffer Walton’s #12 Meat Grinder

Casing Preparation

We are using 19mm Smoke Collagen Casings, which will fit easily over our 12mm stuffing tube. These casings require no preparation; simply take them out of the package and put them on the stuffing tube.

Process

This meat was already ground once through a 3/8 plate and frozen. We defrosted it and ground it again through a 1/8 plate. The fact that it was still partially frozen sped up the 2nd ground significantly. What would normally be a process of 10 minutes was finished in under 3.

Pork Fat –

If you are adding just pork fat to your meat block, you should add somewhere between 20-25% of the weight of your venison meat in fat. In this case, that meant we added 2.5 lb, and we added that while we were grinding, this allows it to start mixing in with the venison as it grinds. We also made sure the pork was almost frozen to help it grind faster and better.

Pork Butts –

If you are adding pork butts, make sure that they are untrimmed, meaning that they have a good fat cap on them and that the skin is removed from the pork butt. You will be able to tell if the skin is still on by looking for small hair follicles; if you see that, then the skin is still on, and you will need to trim that off while leaving as much fat as possible on the meat.

Meat Mixing

Next, you need to mix the seasoning and cure into your meat. To do this, you can either use a meat mixer or do it by hand. Because this is a product that we are going to cure and smoke, we need to achieve a high level of protein extraction, so doing this with your hands is difficult but can be done. When using a mixer, add the meat to the mixer, then the seasoning and cure, and finally, the water. You will want to mix in both directions until all seasoning and cure have been mixed in and you have good protein extraction. You will know that a good level of protein extraction has been achieved when the meat is sticky and tacky; if you can pull a handful of it apart and it stretches, that is a good sign.

Sausage Stuffing

Next, choose the largest stuffing tube that your casings will fit over and begin stuffing. Stuff until the casings are full and smooth but leave yourself enough room on the end to close with a hog ring.

If you can just faintly see a swirl pattern running down the casing, that means you have stuffed them correctly. If that pattern is obvious, then they are understuffed, which will lead to excessively wrinkled casings and an odd texture.

If you cannot see that pattern at all, then you have overstuffed the casings, and you run a risk of the casings popping when you hang them in the smokehouse.

Note

If you added Encapsulated Citric Acid or other cure accelerators, you need to go directly from stuffing to smoking. If you did not use a cure accelerator of some sort, then after you’ve stuffed everything, the product has to be held in the refrigerator overnight to allow the cure time to work.

Thermal Processing & Smoking

Set up your smoker and hang your sausage on smoke sticks or lay on racks and smoke at: 125F for 1 hour 140F for 1 hour 155F for 2 hours 175F until internal meat temp of 160F

When they have reached 160 internal temperature, remove them from the smoker and put them in an ice bath to bring the heat down and help set the casing.

A water bath is not sufficient for this; the water needs to be ice water or shower them with a fan pointed at the hanging sticks.

Cooling

Lastly, leave them out at room temperature for about an hour before vacuum packing them; this will ensure you don’t get additional moisture in the vacuum bag, which would affect the shelf life of your meats.

Wrap up

Adding pork fat instead of pork butts will give them a more distinct taste and color. The intensity of the difference will depend on the protein you are using; deer works well with pork fat, so the 50/50 mix of venison and untrimmed pork butts will work well, but with something like goose, you really want to find straight pork fat.

Other Notes

Depending on your pH and your Water Activity, your sticks might be shelf-stable, but without a way to test this, you should vacuum pack and refrigerate these, and since these are wild game, they wouldn’t be considered “shelf-stable” technically.

What Is A Snack Stick?

Snack Sticks are meat snacks and semi-dried sausages that are stuffed into smoked collagen casings and then hung in a smokehouse for cooking. Many Snack Sticks will have a pH between 4.5 and 5.2 to give them some shelf stability and the classic tangy flavor.

Shop waltonsinc.com for Bratwurst Seasoning

Shop waltonsinc.com for Meat Grinders

Shop waltonsinc.com for High-Temp Cheese

Shop waltonsinc.com for Boning Knives

Watch WaltonsTV: Wild Game – Venison Snack Sticks

by Tom Gaylord, a.k.a. B.B. Pelletier

Part 1 Part 2 Secrets of loading the Benjamin Marauder magazine

Benjamin Marauder

Today, I’ll begin a look at accuracy for the Benjamin Marauder precharged pneumatic air rifle. If the Marauder was a normal PCP, this would be one quick report, but it isn’t. The owner has the ability to change not only the rifle’s power, but also the fill pressure the reservoir will accept. That makes testing a Marauder potentially complex if you want to try everything, and we certainly do want to do that here. So, today will just be a first look at potential accuracy, after which I’ll determine the shot count the rifle now gets with the best pellet, and then tune it to a preselected optimum range and test it again to see if the shot count increases. Neat, huh?

I know I’m going to shoot this rifle a lot, so I selected one of the best scopes I have — a CenterPoint 8-32x with parallax adjustment. The scope I chose is an old one from the time when Centerpoint was having Leapers make all their scopes. It’s no longer available, but a close equivalent would be this UTG scope.

Where to begin the test Oh, boy, where do I start? I thought it would be good to test a number of premium pellets and try to find 1 or 2 that stand out for accuracy. Then, I’ll concentrate on those pellets, which will help me focus on what has to be done.

I shot at 25 yards indoors because that’s the distance at which things start to happen. If a pellet is going to be accurate, 25 yards is usually far enough for it to stand out.

This is one time where 5-shot groups come in handy. I decided to shoot all the pellets I’d selected in 5-shot groups and see if 1 or more of them stood out as exceptionally accurate. Five-shot groups save time, pellets and air; and when you’re faced with testing 8 different pellets, as I was, it makes a big difference.

If there was no favorite pellet, I would just have to pick a couple pellets and proceed to work with them. But as it turned out, this rifle does have a favorite. When I show you how much better it is than the others, you will probably say what my wife, Edith said when she saw the groups. She couldn’t believe that 1 pellet was so much better than all the rest, and exclaimed, “Woohoo,” involuntarily.

Marauder’s noise level But before I get to that, when I walked into her office to show her the groups, Edith asked me what airgun I was testing because she couldn’t hear it. She thought it was some low-powered air pistol. And our female cat, who normally runs around the house complaining whenever I shoot, slept through the whole session. As it stands right now, the Marauder I’m testing is about as loud as a politician volunteering to do something proactive in a non-election year.

Pellets tested I selected the following pellets to test:

Crosman Premier 10.5-grain Crosman Premier 7.9-grain JSB Exact Heavy (10.34 grain) JSB Exact RS RWS Superdome Beeman Kodiak JSB Exact Monster JSB Exact Express

I did sight-in the rifle, but not so it would hit the center of the target because that would destroy the aim point. Nevertheless, a couple pellets did do just that. Fortunately, it was at the end of the 5 shots and no harm was done.

Average groups The Marauder is accurate no matter what pellets it shoots. It’s better with some pellets than others. Take a look at some of the 5-shot groups.

Five RWS Superdomes made this 0.528-inch group at 25 yards.

Five 10.3-grain JSB Exact Heavys made this 0.376-inch group at 25 yards. It’s better than the Superdomes, but still not great.

Five JSB Exact Monsters made this 0.316-inch group at 25 yards. It’s the second-best 5-shot group of the test.

Okay, I could live with the JSB Monster group, and there were a couple other pellets worthy of further examination if that was the best the Marauder was going to do. But it wasn’t. When I shot 5 Crosman Premier lites, the whole test changed.

Five Crosman Premier lites made this 0.139-inch group at 25 yards. It is hands-down the best 5-shot group of the test.

It should be obvious that Crosman Premier lites are the best pellet of those tested. On the basis of the 5-shot group, they’re twice as accurate as the next best pellet. Now, it was time to shoot a 10-shot group with them and see where that took us.

Ten Crosman Premier lites made this 0.285-inch group at 25 yards. This is exactly what I was looking for.

Obviously the 5-shot group was no fluke. This rifle really likes this pellet.

What’s next? Where do we go from here? First, I’m going to fill the rifle again to 3,000 psi and shoot nothing but Premier lites to determine the total shot count with the gun as it’s currently tuned. You may remember that we found this rifle was tuned to the max when we did the velocity test in Part 2. While that high speed obviously doesn’t hurt the accuracy of the Premier lite pellet, wouldn’t it be nice to get several extra shots from a fill and keep the same accuracy? The rifle currently shoots Premier lites at an average 1,015 f.p.s., and I think an average 900 f.p.s. will be just as good. That’s where I’ll be adjusting the rifle. Several of you have asked how the power is adjusted on the Marauder, so this will give me the opportunity to show how it’s done.

Then, I’ll count the total number of shots at that new velocity, and we’ll see what reducing the velocity gains, if anything. I’ll also test the accuracy at the new lower velocity to see if the rifle is still just as accurate.

After that, I plan to adjust the maximum fill pressure of the rifle. I’ll experiment with the rifle operating at a lower fill pressure while still getting the same velocity. This will be at the new velocity of around 900 f.p.s. We’ll see what benefits there are to having a lower fill pressure.

I do plan on shooting the Marauder at 50 yards, too, but that will come after all the adjustments have been made and evaluated. By then, we should know the test rifle very well and be able to tune it for the best performance. There’s a lot more in store for this rifle!

After five long tiring days of hunting, a 200-plus pound mountain lion fell from a tree, possibly putting Mitchell resident Jeff Jarman in the record books.

Four years ago, Jarman, an Aberdeen native, went to a convention in Reno, Nev., called Safari Club International and met long-time mountain lion hunting expert, Marc Hubbard.

Although there was a four-year wait to hunt with Hubbard in his hometown of Penticton, British Colombia, Jarman wanted to cross a big-cat hunt off of his bucket list. So they made the appointment.

Jarman, who works at American Garage Door, hunted at Hubbard’s business, Okanagan Outfitters, a guide service that has led easily over 400 hunts to mountain lions in Canada, including four of the top 10 in the world. Little did Jarman know, Hubbard’s son, Russ, would lead him to the fourth-largest mountain lion in the world.

“The second I pulled the trigger, he was coming down out of that tree,” Jarman said. “Usually around here when you shoot a buck, and as you get closer to it, it has ground shrinkage. As we kept getting closer to the cat and looking him over he just was bigger and bigger. I couldn’t get my hand around his tail.”

When Jarman was traveling to the Hubbard’s outfitters club in Canada earlier this month, he thought he was headed to the boondocks. Instead, when he arrived, he saw beautiful mountain ranges surrounding a huge lake with wineries along the shore. Penticton sits on the south side of Lake Okanagan, which is over 80 miles long and three miles wide.

The hunt was scheduled for seven days, and Jarman and Russ looked for lynx and mountain lion tracks while riding snowmobiles on trails in the dense, tree-filled, snowy mountains.

Russ guided the hunt for Jarman. Russ, 23, said he shot his first cat at the age of 12 and has been guiding people under his dad’s business alone since he was 18. Russ had guided at least 100 people cat hunting, he said.

After the fourth day of snow fall and not finding many promising tracks, Jarman admitted he was getting a little nervous. He and Russ were working from sun up to sun down, not wasting a minute of daylight, looking for a cat. His $500 license for an international mountain lion was running dry.

The next morning the fun started. Russ spotted some tracks at about 9:30 a.m. on a blue-bird sunny day, giving Jarman the decision to go after the cat.

“(Russ) explained that before the hunt, he said ‘even though I tell you the track is average size, it could be a small cat or a big cat or even a female,’ ” Jarman said. “He had a hard time telling exactly the size.”

Russ explained the fresh snow gave him some trouble indentifying the size of the tracks, confusing him on the size of the cat.

But Russ told Jarman he thought the cat had probably been through that area the previous night, could be an average-size male and had “good stride” on it.

Three English Red Tick dogs were released after Jarman made the decision to go after the cat.

“That’s when the fun started, when the dogs went crazy and started howling,” Jarman said. “Once you release the dogs, it’s a full-day deal.”

Russ described the dogs as like a German-shorthaired pointer, while Jarman said they were like bloodhounds.

Each dog had its own separate GPS unit on its collar, allowing Russ to track the dogs while they tracked the cat. Then, while the dogs were out, Russ and Jarman drove around to the opposite side of the mountain, near where the dogs had posted. At about 2 p.m., and over 10 miles from the original track sighting, they got within roughly 1,000 yards of the dogs, and they hiked on foot the rest of the way.

But as Jarman and Russ were about 100 yards from the dogs, they quit barking. The guide didn’t like his ears.

Russ explained then that sometimes the cats will jump from tree to tree, and the dogs will lose track of them, but that time, the dogs did a great job finding the cat.

As they reached ground zero, where they found the most tracks, they spent about 20 to 30 minutes with their heads raised to the sky, looking for a treed mountain lion.

“After searching for that thing I about had enough, but he called me up to where he was with his dog, and calm as day he said, ‘the cat’s right above us,’ ” Jarman said.

Russ pointed to a 100-foot spruce-like tree, which was canopied above him and Jarman.

“The dogs came back toward me, and I was joking with the lead dog, like ‘find the cat,’ and then he was barking at the tree, and I saw a little twitch of the black trail,” Russ said. “Then I spotted it.”

With his heart pumping and after the dogs were tied up, Jarman positioned himself, looked through the scope of his .270 caliber and thought, “that’s a little guy.”

Quite an interesting thought from a man who was about to the pull the trigger on a 200-plus pound mountain lion, but Hubbard assured him it was a good animal.

“I could tell from his body and head alone he was huge,” Russ said. “I told Jeff to set up against a leaned-down tree. Then, one shot dropped the cat. That cat didn’t move an inch.”

Added Jarman: “I hit the cat square-on in the chest, probably about 50-70 feet up in the tree. There was no hesitation. He just fell from the tree immediately.”

That’s when Jarman saw exactly how big it was.

The mountain lion had about a three-foot long tail and was roughly 10-feet long from nose tip to tail tip. Each razor sharp claw was at least three inches of shredding power and Russ said, by looking at teeth length, the cat was 8 to 10 years old.

“He was much more excited about the size of the cat than I was,” Jarman said.

While taking photos of the animal, it took both men to lift it up initially. Then, they skinned it and drove back to camp on the snowmobiles, as the dogs rode happily alongside on the sleds.

When they got back to the house, Russ explained to Jarman the cat he shot may be a record holder. Marc Hubbard is an official measurer and initially said the skull size gave it the fourth-largest mountain lion in the world title.

“We have to re-measure the skull, it’s a length by width measurement,” Russ said. “I’ll measure it first and get it down to 1/16th of an inch. Then, once it’s certified by my dad, than gets submitted to Safari Club International trophy record book.”

Since the cat was shot recently, it needs to wait 60 days to dry to become an official measurement, but Jarman said he feels good about Hubbard’s measurement.

“It’s a feeling of luck,” Jarman said. “If it was a cat half as big as that, I would have shot it. But to have it hit the record books is just the cherry on the cake. It’s pretty exciting.”

The skin won’t be shipped back into the United States until March or April, Jarman said.

This wasn’t Jarman’s first big trip. He said he’s gone to New Mexico hunting elk, Alaska hunting brown bear and to the Arctic Circle for polar bear.

When you think of trophy whitetails, public land likely isn’t the first thought to pop into your head, and that’s understandable. However, monster bucks get taken off public tracts year after year, leaving us scratching our heads. Not all public lands are created equal, though. Some offer little resources to produce magazine-quality deer. Others are so highly pressured by hunters that you’ll likely see an orange vest before you see a buck. However, the Midwest has a reputation for its strictly managed public lands and vast agriculture that will make public land feel like whitetail heaven.

Ohio, in particular, is one of the best states in the nation for hunting public whitetails, with woods packed to the gills with the kind of trophy bucks you will be raving about for the rest of your life. Of course, Ohio is a big state, with numerous major cities and suburban areas, but it has quite a bit of public land available to deer hunters, much of which is home to big bucks. Here are some of the best public hunting tracts that every avid hunter needs to experience when coming to Ohio.

Check out the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) for updated maps and info on Ohio hunting.

Woodbury Wildlife Area

If you ask a few Ohioans to point you toward a good slab of public deer hunting land, few spots will come up in your conversations as often as the Woodbury Wildlife Area. Located in Coshocton County, about an hour-and-a-half drive northeast of Columbus, the Woodbury Wildlife Area covers some 20,000 acres and is overflowing with trophy bucks.

Woodbury and Coshocton are popular spots for hunters and other nature enthusiasts, so you may have to take the less traveled paths to find the prime deer areas. Still, Woodbury is a beautiful piece of Ohio public land, and the adventure is worth it.

Dillon Wildlife Area

If the wide-open expanses of Woodbury sound appealing, but the crowds turn you off, then the Dillon Wildlife Area is a similar whitetail deer hunting area that you might be interested in.

The deer in this area are under moderate pressure from hunters. Considering Ohio’s hunting reputation, public lands like Dillon and Woodbury are in high demand for destination hunters—but it’s not too tricky to find less-traveled spots and the deer herds that take refuge there. The Dillon Wildlife Area is located in Nashport, just a half-hour jog from Woodbury, so you can quickly try both out on the same trip.

Conesville Coal Lands

The northeast region of Ohio is a thriving deer habitat, loaded with great places to set up camp and hunt. If you are heading to Coshocton for the Woodbury or Dillon Wildlife areas, complete the hat trick with the Conesville Coal Lands.

The hunting pressure on this 12,000-acre piece of land is slightly lower than the Woodbury or Dillon areas, partially because you need a permit to hunt here. Don’t be scared away by that statement, though: permits are free and can be picked up at local bait shops or secured online.

Shawnee State Forest

If you want public hunting land in Ohio but need to get away from the northeast triangle, head to southwest Ohio for the Shawnee State Forest area. At 60,000 acres, Shawnee is the single most extensive public forest area in Ohio and is a prime deer hunting spot as a result. Many Boone & Crockett bucks have been taken off this public tract, and it’s easy to see why.

The woods are thick and scattered with overgrown trees and plants, but if you are game for a more rugged hunting experience, there is little doubt that you can be successful here, especially during the gun season at the tail end of the rut.

Eagle Creek Wildlife Area

The Eagle Creek Wildlife Area was newly established as a public hunting tract in 2018. Two thousand three hundred acres may not seem like much, but nestled in between agriculture and thick timber, located in the heart of the famed Brown County, this is a spot you don’t want to overlook.

What makes this piece so unique, as well as a honey hole for mature bucks, is that it is a controlled access property. Only 65 people are drawn annually, allowing each hunter to spread out and have a great chance at harvesting a trophy whitetail.

READ MORE: The Best Time of the Day to Hunt Deer

Draw weight is the necessary force, in pounds, needed to bring the compound bow to full draw. Shooting the proper poundage is very important so that required kinetic energy needed is met without sacrificing proper shooting form.

Before adjusting your poundage, the limbs may be “locked” into their current position by locking bolts. These would be located just below the top limb or above the bottom limb and are screwed into the riser. To adjust the limb bolts, these bolts must be loosened first. After adjustment, they can then once again be tightened.

To adjust the draw weight, we have to unload or load more stress (flex) on the limbs; we do that by tightening or loosening the limb bolts.

To raise draw weight to maximum poundage, tighten the limb bolts (clockwise) until both limbs are tight against the riser.

To lower the draw weight we unscrew the limb bolts equally on each limb (counterclockwise).

Safety Precaution: Be careful that you do not unscrew the limb bolts passed the bow’s lowest weight setting. If the limb bolts are unscrewed too much, the limb bolt’s threads can come out of the riser and cause damage to the bow and injure the mechanic.

Every bow’s limbs have a specific draw weight rating: 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, etc. To check to see if a bow is in “spec” (at its specified manufacturer’s measurements) tighten (clockwise) the limb bolts until the limbs are against the riser. The bow will now be at the maximum poundage and maximum draw weight, ATA measurement, and brace height measurement can be verified.

To raise draw weight

Tighten the limb bolts until the limbs are tight to the riser.

To lower draw weight

First, raise the drawing weight to its max. Next, unscrew both limb bolts one revolution (360°) and check the poundage on a bow scale. Repeat this process until you reach your desired draw weight. Only attempt to shoot draw weights in the limb’s specified range (50-60 lbs, 60-70 lbs). If they are not marked, max out the draw weight and your lowest draw weight will be 10 lbs lighter in most cases. When using a bow scale, hook the string to the scale’s hook at the nocking point and pull down on your bow’s riser until your bow is at it’s “roll over” spot on the cams and look at the scale for its draw weight. Try not to roll the cam(s) over, but if you do, make sure you keep a good grip when raising the bow back up to take it off the scale… it’ll try to take you for a ride!

How To Find Your Ideal Draw Weight

To find your ideal poundage, sit down on a chair or tailgate of a truck and pull your bow back with your feet off the ground. If you are comfortable with the poundage and can hold full draw comfortably, the poundage is where you need it. If the poundage seems high (it was tough to pull back and hold) lower the draw weight in 2 lb increments until you have found a comfortable draw weight.

Average draw weights

• Smaller children (45-65 lbs) = 10-20lbs
• Children (65-95 lbs) = 20-35lbs
• Women and boys (95-125 lbs) = 35-45 lbs
• Larger women and boys (125-145 lbs) = 45-55 lbs
• Men (145-175 lbs) = 55-65 lbs
• Muscular men = 60-70 lbs
• Muscular barbarians = 70-100 lbs

Although these are average drawing weights, it is important to shoot what is comfortable for you. Any attempt to draw more weight than you should will result in improper archery form and affect accuracy.