You know what is the most confusing decision if you are a shooter? It is when you have a beautiful rifle and you need to choose the perfect cartridges for it.

So, what are you choosing between 303 british vs 30-06?

Per round of .303 British will cost you $2.50 and .30-06 Springfield will cost $1.90. So, .30-06 is quite cheaper. 30-06 has a velocity of 890 m/s and .303 British has 844 m/s. .30-06 Springfield is more available. But .303 British damages more to the target because of its lower energy than 30-06.

So, let’s get into the article to find the perfect cartridge for you.

A Quick Comparison Between 303 British and 30-06

The 303 British and the 30-06 basically mean .303 British ammo and .30-06 Springfield ammo. Both of the ammo is very popular among shooters. They have some impressive aspects that made them popular among the users.

Now let’s have a quick look into the basic differences between these ammos. For your comfort, I’ve taken the cartridges with the same mass (10g).

Factors.303 British (10g).30-06 Springfield (10g)Velocity844 m/s890 m/sEnergy3,463 J3,820 JMas Pressure (SAAMI)49,000 psi60,200 psiOverall length3.075 in3.34 inAvailablityGoodBetterPrice $2.50/rd$1.90/rd

Though you can compare the cartridges by their aspects the effectiveness also depends on the rifle. So, it is really necessary to have a good rifle to get the best performance from the cartridges.

If there is any defect in your rifle then it can also affect the performance of the cartridge. So make sure your rifle works properly and doesn’t have any defects in it.

Remember there are also differences between 303 enfield vs 303 british.

In-Depth Comparison between 303 British and 30-06

Let’s assume you have a nice rifle and it works perfectly. Then comes the confusion of having cartridges. Because while choosing the perfect cartridges you need to examine so many different aspects.

Now let’s talk about the 303 rifle bullet and 30-06 deeply. So that it will be easier to you to choose the best one for your rifle.

Velocity

Velocity is the most important aspect when you are going to choose the perfect cartridge for you. This shows how your bullet is going to reach the target. And obviously when you’ll shoot you’ll definitely want to reach close to the target as much as possible.

The .303 British (10g) has a velocity of 844 m/s. Which is kind of impressive for many of the users. And this velocity is enough to make a good hit on the target.

On the other hand, the .30-06 Springfield (10g) has a velocity of 890 m/s. Which is 46 m/s more than the .303 British (10g). As this cartridge has more velocity then you can say that it will be more accurate than .303 British (10g).

Winner: As .30-06 Springfield (10g) has more velocity so it wins this segment.

Energy

The impact of a bullet is described in terms of momentum and kinetic energy. The more pressing concern is how much of the energy will reach the goal. If the bullet goes through, a little amount of the projectile’s energy may be transferred to the target.

The majority of the energy may be transferred if the bullet deforms or mushrooms. A slow bullet that transfers all of its energy to the target. Which is more deadly than a quick one that goes through the target.

So, we can see that .303 British (10g) creates 3,463 J of energy. Which is very impressive. And it will create good damage to the target.

Then if you take a look at the .30-06 Springfield (10g) it creates 3,820 J of energy. Which is almost 400 J more than .303 British (10g)’s energy.

You have already got slow bullets or bullets with less energy damage more than the fast ones. So generally .303 British (10g) will damage more than the .30-06 Springfield (10g).

Winner: As .303 British (10g) will damage more that’s why it wins this segment.

Availability

Availablity is one of the most concerning issues while choosing cartridges for your rifle. Suppose you are planning for a long adventure tour. Then you will definitely want to have some extra cartridges with you.

Then again you will be more satisfied with the availability in every place. It will be better if you can get your cartridges in ruler and remote areas right!

So, you will get more availability with .30-06 Springfield (10g). These bullets are very commonly available all around.

You will also get.303 British (10g) in most of the city or town areas. But it won’t be that much available in rular and remote areas.

Winner: For being more available .30-06 Springfield wins this segment.

Price

Price of the cartridges should be the main concern like velocity when choosing bullets right! Because bullets are something that needs continuous investments.

So it is really important to have some cartridges with reasonable price points.

The .303 British (10g) will cost around $2.50 per round. Which is kind of a costly cartridge.

Then the .30-06 Springfield will cost around $1.90 per round. Which is 60 cents less than the .303 British (10g). This may not be seen as a big difference but it will become large when you’ll buy a bulky quantity.

Winner: For being more reasonable .30-06 Springfield wins this segment.

Which One You Should Choose!

As you can see .30-06 Springfield has more velocity and availability with a lower price point. Which makes this cartridge more attractive to the shooters.

But if you want to have less shoot and more damage to the target then.303 British can be your choice. And don’t forget it is also a popular cartridge among shooters.

So, now you can choose as per your preference.

Don’t forget to take safety precautions before shooting. Let me suggest to you some stuff that will keep you safe while shooting.

• YINSHOME Shooting Ear Protection Earmuffs, Gun Safety Glasses, Earplugs, Protective Case
• TRADESMART Shooting Ear Protection – Hearing Protection with NRR38 Earplugs, Safety Glasses & Hard Carrying Case

These protection tools will help you to save your ears and eyes while shooting.

FAQs

What is a 303 British comparable to?

303 British, necked down to fire a. 257 projectile, developed in Australia. Which was in the 1940s as a sporterized rifle cartridge. Notably for the Lee-Enfield action; comparable variants also emerged in Canada at the same time.

How accurate is a British 303?

Accuracy may vary depending on the rifle you are using. Most 303s are 60 to 100 years old, so keep that in mind. To 250-300 yards, a competent rifle should have a minute of deer accuracy. Though 303 British has a good velocity to hit accurately.

Is 303 British a good caliber?

Yes, in most cases it is a good caliber. The.303 British cartridge is ideal for hunting whitetail deer and black bears and is good for all medium-sized wildlife. It was a favorite moose and deer cartridge in Canada when military surplus rifles were plentiful and inexpensive.

Conclusion

I hope by now you have got a perfect idea about 303 british vs 30-06. I want to recommend the one as per your needs.

If there are any more queries, please drop them in the comment section.

Be safe while shooting. Take care.

When Native Americans go hunting, they sometimes eat the deer’s heart as a way of honoring the animal. The heart is seen as a symbol of courage, and eating it is seen as a way of taking in the animal’s strength. In some tribes, the heart is also eaten as a way of showing respect for the deer’s spirit.

A typical size heart can produce enough meat for four or five lunches. This method of cooking allows the heart to retain its delicate flavor while also providing it with a nutritious and tasty taste. Rather than overpower the flavor, the mustard and sharp cheddar work to enhance it. It is simple to save a deer’s heart.

Deer Camp is a hunting destination where hunters make a pact to eat their heart out. A freshly killed animal’s heart was traditionally eaten by Native Americans. As a result, Indians regarded the animal as both brave and powerful, as well as a graceful and graceful animal.

Heart tartare is one of the best ways to eat your heart. Heart tartare is the preparation of meat that does not require it to be cooked. Because the heart is so lean, it can be difficult to cook. You get the full flavor of the animal that you hunted by serving it raw.

Several of the vitamins found in deer hearts, as well as the vitamins B2, B6, and B12, are also found in other animals’ hearts. Eating heart regularly can help improve your health, as well as boost your energy, if you are tired and run down, or if you have high blood pressure.

Do Hunters Eat Deer Hearts?

There is no one answer to this question as it depends on the individual hunter. Some hunters may choose to eat the heart of the deer they have killed, while others may not. Some people believe that eating the heart of the animal you have killed is a way of honoring the animal and taking all of its power into yourself, while others may simply find the taste of heart to be unpleasant. Ultimately, it is up to the hunter to decide whether or not they want to eat the heart of the deer they have killed.

There has been a lot of debate about whether or not it is healthy to eat deer hearts. Johnny Yuile posted a photo of himself and his daughter eating the heart of a freshly killed young deer in 2016 as they commemorated their first night of hunting in the field. According to Native Americans, deer hunting is a sacred ritual. The act of eating a heart is associated with our lives as well as those around us. Raw meat should not be consumed by anyone. Raw meat from a deer can infect it with parasites, so eat it when it is still fresh, two days after harvest, to reduce the risk of infection with viruses such as hepatitis E. A younger deer’s heart is preferred by hunters over an older deer’s heart. Others will prepare it on their own, in addition to the other ingredients. A deer heart is roughly the size of a large adult human, and it can produce enough meat to feed four to five people.

Even though harvesting and cooking deer hearts may appear gruesome, they can be extremely satisfying. If you want to be bold, try cooking it up as a steak and serving it with a rich, red wine reduction sauce. Alternatively, serve it as is with a side of roasted potatoes for a simple, elegant meal.

Did Native Americans Eat Buffalo Heart?

There is no one answer to this question as there are many different Native American tribes with their own unique traditions and customs. Some tribes may have eaten buffalo heart as part of a ceremonial or religious ritual, while others may have simply considered it a delicious and nutritious part of the animal that should not be wasted. In general, Native Americans tended to use every part of the buffalo they hunted, so it is likely that at least some tribes did eat buffalo heart.

Buffalo, also known as the American Bison, has played an important role in the survival and culture of Native Americans over time. Every part of Buffalo is used by Native Americans to provide food, clothing, tools, fuel, and utensils. The hides are used in the construction of robes, bedding, and rugs in Native America. Buffalo horns are frequently cleaned and cut into trinkets, spoons, and rattles. Buffalo hair can be cut and spun into cordage, which is then strung, belted, or otherwise used. You can use the tendons from the back and legs as sewing tools by tearing them out and drying them.

Delicacies Of The Plains Indians

The Plains Indians were known to eat boiled bison brains, hearts, shoulder blades, tongues, and stalks of meat from snouts. They used hooves, tails, and pemmican to make the soup, which was made with hump bison (the shoulder). The Plains Indians were known to eat boiled bison brains, hearts, shoulder blades, tongues, and brain and thigh bones from their snouts.

Do People Bite The Heart Of Their First Deer?

No, people do not bite the heart of their first deer. This is not a common practice among hunters.

If they’re eating deer meat and it’s fresh, why is it called meat? Is it possible to drink blood? When I cut it up, I sprinkle it with salt and a little pepper cover and fry it like a backstrap. Simply soak the blood in it and trim it a little as you go. We used to boil all the hearts to make sandwiches and toss them in a pot with mustard when I was younger (early 1970s). It is not a good idea to open the guts of your first time partner. It is very simple to grab it through the rib cage. The deer is my favorite variety.

Hunter’s First Deer: A Tradition Of Good Luck

When hunting their first deer, hunters usually daub some of its blood on themselves. It is customary for the hunter to wear a bow during this time period to commemorate their accomplishment and to bring good fortune for the future. They believed that the god would be pleased with them, and that the animal would provide them with food for the coming year. Cherokees would seek the gods’ forgiveness after killing an animal. As a sacrifice, some of the animal’s meat would also be thrown into the fire.

Prepare to follow me down a naturalist’s rabbit hole.

Not long after moving to Idaho’s mountains in 2005, I became acquainted with an odd burr that kept attaching to my shoes and socks and to the coats of my two Malamutes when we explored the forest. Local friends told me they were called beggar’s lice.

A distasteful name perfectly suited to the annoying plant seed.

Lice (louse, singular) are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of host birds and mammals, including people, clinging at the base of hair or feathers or sucking into skin.

Beggar’s lice are seeds from the houndstongue plant (cynoglossum officinale). The seeds are nature’s Velcro, covered in tiny prongs that grab and stick to anything that happens to brush the plant when the seeds are mature. Your shoes, socks and pant legs, your dogs’ coats, the hides of deer and elk, bears, coyotes, wolves, cougars, and livestock (horses, sheep and cattle) are all wonderful hosts for beggar’s lice.

Talk about an effective and efficient seed disbursement strategy for a plant. Imagine how far the seeds might travel embedded on the hides of wildlife.

According to an article published by the Montana State University Extension:

In Montana, a single houndstongue plant typically produces 300 to 675 seeds per year, but exceptionally robust plants may produce up to 2000 seeds. Seeds either fall nearby to the ground or remain on the parent plant where they are positioned to attach to a passing animal or person. Seeds may be carried long distances this way. Seeds on the soil surface often dry out and fail to germinate, whereas seeds buried about an inch under the soil may remain viable for two to three years. Houndstongue seeds do not form large or persistent seeds banks in the soil, and germination generally requires some form of scarification or softening of the seed coat. [Scarification means breaching the natural seed coat by mechanical, thermal, or microbial methods.]

In the forest I regularly haunt, houndstongue grows in disturbed areas – where there’s been logging, or trail or road building. I usually see it surrounding logging slash piles alongside abandoned logging roads, whether the pile was burned or not. In early summer they produce pretty purple blooms, belying the nastiness of the seeds to come.

Now that I have two male dogs, I’ve noticed that houndstongue plants are as popular with canids for marking in the forest as fire hydrants and mail boxes are for dogs in cities. Perhaps it’s because the plants are growing alongside much-traveled paths and are tall, up to four feet high, allowing the scent to disperse easily over a greater distance. My dogs smell the marker left by some other creature – dog, fox, coyote, wolf – and feel compelled to add their own, resulting in seeds attaching in large numbers to their heads and necks as they get a good sniff of any existing scent, then to their flanks as they get close enough to lift a leg and leave their own mark.

Usually I watch helplessly as this transpires, and remember fondly have only female dogs. I try to call the boys away from the plants, but that rarely works. Biology requires they cover the other canid’s mark. It’s how they all communicate. It’s a rare foray into the forest that doesn’t result in a least a few beggar’s lice on one or both dogs.

When the boys do end up with a generous portion of beggar’s lice on their coats on the trail, I try to pull most of them off immediately before they have a chance to get tangled deeper into their fur. In winter, this means taking off gloves in frigid temperatures because the seeds will stick to my gloves. It’s an annoyance I’ve gotten used to, and the boys have learned to stay still while I pull the seeds off, muttering bad words under my breath.

Once home I take the boys into the yard and use a standard hair brush to remove most of the remaining beggar’s lice and, in late summer, the grass seeds they also acquire. I invariably miss some, but the boys are quite adept at removing those they can reach with their mouths, pulling the beggar’s lice from their fur with their small front teeth and either spitting them out onto the floor (or my bed) or swallowing them for later natural disposal.

Any seeds that remain, that they can’t reach, I eventually find by massaging my fingers through their coat and pulling out what I find. The beggar’s lice and grass seeds that attach to their feet can become a problem if they work their way between toes or into the crevices between pads, so I check feet regularly and either pull the seeds out, or in some cases cut them out with scissors if they’re so tangled that pulling is painful. The sharp, black grass seeds that are prolific right now can work their way into the skin, especially between toes, causing painful ulcerations. Neither dog likes me poking between their toes with my fingers, but we all suffer through it in order to prevent something worse.

In the 15 years I’ve played in this forest, I’ve learned to take the long, philosophical view: beggar’s lice are here to stay. It’s a waste of energy to get mad when the dogs get into them, or to try to avoid the plants altogether. They’re too prolific. I’ve no doubt beggar’s lice, along with cockroaches, will survive the worst impacts of climate change and could probably survive a nuclear holocaust. On a positive note, picking beggar’s lice and other seeds from my dogs’ coats and feet is a sort of bonding ritual, not unlike that of chimpanzees grooming parasites from each other. I don’t eat the seeds I pick, though.

Way More Than You Need to Know, But It’s Kind of Interesting

Houndstongue is native to Asia and Europe. An invasive species in the United States, it most likely arrived in the late 1800s in contaminated cereal seed. It’s now listed as a noxious weed in seven western states: Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and Montana. It’s a hardy little bugger (pun intended). One year it will send down a tap root as far as three feet into the ground, storing food for year two when it produces all those beggar’s lice.

Houndstongue is known by a number of common names: beggar’s lice, dog’s tongue, sheep bur, dog bur, sheep lice, glovewort, and woolmat – which suggest the problematic nature of its barbed seeds that stick to fur, fleece, and clothing.

Montana State University Extension

Houndstongue foliage can also be toxic to livestock, particularly horses and cattle.

As with most plants, throughout time humans have found medicinal uses for houndstongue. The Wikipedia entry for the plant contains the following subcategory describing some of its past uses:

Herbalism: In 1725, houndstooth was presented in the family dictionary, Dictionaire oeconomique, as part of a cure for madness. In that book, madness was viewed as “a distemper, not only of the understanding, but also of the reason and memory, proceeding from a cold, which drys up everything it meets with that is humid in the brain.” To cure madness, Dictionaire oeconomique noted:

“You must shave the head of the unhappy patient, and after that, apply to it a pidgeon, or a hen quite alive; or else bathe it with some brandy distilled with rosemary, elder, hounds tooth, and the roots of bugloss, or with the oyl of elder flowers: they rub their heads and wash their feet with a decoction of the flowers of camomile, melilot, balm gentle and laurel; they put into their noses the juice of comfrey, with either two or three spoonfuls of honey-water, broth, or white-wine, wherein wormwood and sage are infus’d ; or else they do for five and twenty days together, mix with their broth in the morning, half a dram of the ashes of tortoise, and they put into the pot bugloss, borage, with a pinch of rosemary to season it.”

…By the end of the 1830s, doctors in England were using houndstooth as an antiaphrodisiac to combat venereal excesses.

No thanks!

Ironic that a plant producing so many madness-inducing Velcro-like seeds was once considered a cure for madness. I can, though, see it as an effective anti-aphrodisiac, especially if beggar’s lice are involved. The name alone would be effective.

Additional lore and uses, both practical and magical, included in the MSU Extension article:

• The name houndstongue comes from the belief that a leaf worn in the shoe could ward off dog attacks.

• Extracts of roots and leaves of houndstongue have been used in folk remedies for various ailments including fever, eczema, acne vulgaris, and hemorrhoids.

• Houndstongue ointment is said to cure baldness.

• The red pigments of the outer root surface are antibacterial and reportedly have wound-healing properties.

• Roots and leaves have been used as pesticides and leaves have been used to repel moles in gardens and rodents from stored foods.

And finally, from a 1983 article for Mother Earth News, a tip for an easy way to remove beggar’s lice from clothing: A corn cob can serve as a clothes brush, too. For example, if you’ve ever traipsed through the woods, you’re probably familiar with those dry little burrs called beggar’s-lice that have a habit of clinging to your clothing. Well, whenever I come home covered with the stickers, I don’t waste my time picking the pesky seeds off one by one. I simply grab a corn cob and scrub them off with a few quick swipes.

Re-emerging from the Rabbit Hole

Whew. Sorry, that was a rather deep rabbit hole I took you down, one probably littered with beggar’s lice plucked from the fur of the hare that lives there using its little buck teeth. But kind of fun, right? I might go buy some fresh corn ears at the local farmer’s market, see whether the cob makes a good clothing and/or dog brush.

Featured photo: close up of beggar’s lice found on this morning’s walk in the Payette National Forest, after Conall removed several by brushing against it.

There’s no shortage of hunting adventure in the largest state east of the Mississippi River. Whether you’re a seasoned peach-state hunter or just passing through – there’s something for everyone. All you need is a hunting license to access these wild public lands.

Big Hammock WMA

Glennville – Tattnall County

A squirrel hunter’s paradise. All but 1,000 acres of this WMA is dominated by large acorn bearing hardwood forests. Twenty miles of foot access trails wind through swamp allowing hunters to quietly slip through the area that is very navigable even for beginners. There’s plenty of room for more adventurous hunters to journey “uncharted territory” where you may not even see another hunter, too. Don’t knock squirrel until you try it! There are some great squirrel recipes out there and the season runs from August 15th til the end of February.

Coopers Creek WMA

Suches – Union County

Chase some game in the foothills of the Appalachian Trail at Cooper’s Creek WMA. Part of the Chattahoochee National Forest, you’ll have 30,000 acres of beautiful mountain scenery to hunt on. Muzzleloader season is a fan-favorite offering great chances to harvest deer, bear, or hog. For a complete primitive experience, there’s plenty of opportunity for camping alongside mountain streams stocked with trout. Not in the mood for camping? No problem. You’re only a short drive from nearby Blairsville.

Crockford Pigeon Mountain WMA

Lafayette – Walker County

Put this place on your hunting destination bucket list. Crockford Pigeon Mountain is your one stop shop for a herd of quality hunting opportunities. Turkey and deer are on the menu for hunting success. You may come to the area to hunt, but you’ll fall in love with its beautiful natural features. Gorgeous overlooks, refreshing waterfalls, miles of trails await your arrival. There’s something here for all of the approximately 200,000 people a year who visit this natural wonder in the WMA system. Don’t worry hunters, the area is closed to all non-hunting activities while hunting is going on for safety.

Elmodel WMA

Newton – Baker County

Looking to shoot a few doves this season? C’mon down to southwest Georgia. Elmodel WMA has the Division’s only irrigated dove field complete with seventy-four acres of corn, sunflower and peanuts. There’s also another 100 plus acres of non-irrigated fields planted with sunflower and brown top millet you can drop a limit of birds on. Believe it or not, there is some good dove hunting after opening weekend. Late season hunts here have not only cooler weather, but good harvests!

Penholoway Swamp WMA

Jesup – Wayne County

Don’t let the name confuse you. There’s more than just swamp at Penholoway. From easily accessible upland pine and wildlife openings to a 6,000 acre boat only accessible island full of bottomland hardwoods. Whatever you flavor, there’s something for every hunter to try and nab the rabbit, turkey, or deer they’re after. Spend a day in the woods hunting the dramatic bluff line that divides upland and bottomland habitat. The property features so much early successional habitat (weed patches necessary for critters) that it’ll feel gamey just driving through it.

Sprewell Bluff-East WMA and Sprewell Bluff-West WMA

Thomaston – Upson County

Sprewell Bluff is the best option for anyone looking to take home some deer meat. Split by the Flint River, each side of the property has something to offer. The East side of the area offers archery deer hunting while the wild West side offers firearms opportunities.

Have questions? Here’s some hunter resources to help answer them. Want to find more areas? We have over a million acres of public land and we are certain that there is a WMA for you! Check out our interactive map to find what is special about all 100+ of our WMAs.

10 Best Places To Hunt in Texas

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Texas is a state in the South Central region of the United States. It’s the second-largest state based on both area and population and is often called “The Lone Star State”.

When it comes to hunting, it’s not hard to find accounts of award-winning large-antlered whitetail deer and record-setting wild pigs in the Lone Star State. The phrase “everything’s bigger in Texas” seems to hold true even to their game animals.

Other huntable game species include alligators, javelinas, mule deer, pronghorn, squirrels, turkeys, waterfowl, and upland birds, especially quail. You can also find hunting opportunities for more exotic game species being offered in some of the state’s fine hunting ranches.

Big Hunts in the Lone Star State

With so many fine hunting opportunities abound, finding quality hunting opportunities in Texas can be difficult. Read through this article to find our suggestions for the best places to hunt in Texas, what game you can expect, and who you can contact for guides hunts and hunting opportunities.

1. San Angelo: Whitetail Deer

The City of San Angelo is the county seat for Tom Green County, Texas. The city, and its territory, cover an area of about 59 square miles and is located in the Concho Valley with an elevation of 1,844 feet.

When it comes to the city’s climate, San Angelo has hot and cold seasons. Its hot season lasts from May to September and can see average temperatures of up to 95 °F in July. Its cold season lasts from November to February when cooler temperatures go down to an average of 36 °F in January.

Whitetail deer is the main big game animal around San Angelo. To score some choice animals, you can contact Bar None Hunts. This company offers accommodations and guided hunts on over 50,000 acres of West Texas whitetail habitat.

2. Menard: Deer, Hog, Turkey, and More

Menard County is located on the Edwards Plateau in Texas. Covering a total area of 902 square miles, the county’s highest point sits at 2,432 feet of elevation.

The county gets just 26 inches of rain (compared to the US average of 36 inches) and only 1 inch of snow (compared to the US average of 28 inches) per year. Temperatures can go up to 93 °F in July and dip down to 31 °F in January.

Menard County has a variety of huntable game species including hog, turkey, and deer. Real Outfitters offers hunting opportunities for the above-mentioned animals plus a chance to hunt more exotic game like Blackbuck Antelope.

3. Coleman: Dove, Quail, Deer, and More

Coleman is another county located in the state of Texas. It covers a total area of 1,281 square miles, with its highest point standing at 1,702 feet of elevation. The county was named after Robert M. Coleman, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Summer is hot and humid in Coleman county while winters are windy, short, and cold. Temperatures usually fall between 35 °F to 97 °F and are rarely below 23 °F or above 103 °F.

Coleman is known for its big game like whitetail deer and hog but you can also find smaller game like dove, quail, duck, and spring turkey. First Shot Hunts offers lodging and opportunities to hunt the above-mentioned animals. The company operates on over 600,000 acres of prime hunting land throughout Central Texas.

4. Lubbock: Goose, Crane, Deer, Hog, and More

Lubbock is a city in the Estacado region of northwestern Texas. The city is ecologically part of the southern end of the High Plains subregion and sits at an elevation of about 3,200 feet.

The city and the areas surrounding it have a cool semi-arid climate. The area receives around 18 inches of rain and around 7 inches of snow per year.

Crooked Wing Outfitters offers some of the finest hunting in all of West Texas. This company offers lodging as well as hunting opportunities for several game species including hog, deer, turkey, waterfowl, pheasant, quail, dove, duck, crane, and goose.

5. Ingram: Deer, Sheep, Antelope, and A Whole Lot More

The city of Ingram lies in Kerr County, Texas. Nestled in the geographic region known as Texas Hill Country, the city sits at an elevation of about 1,700 feet.

Ingram receives about 31 inches of rain and just 1 inch of snow per year. The hottest days are in July with temperatures going up to 92 °F while winter temperatures can dip down to 33 °F in January.

The city of Ingram is where you can find Texas Hunt Lodge. This award-winning company offers accommodations and hunts for over 80 game species year-round. Feel free to check out their site for more information.

6. Quanah: Deer, Turkey, Quail, and Hog

The city of Quanah is the county seat of Hardeman County, Texas. It covers an area of just 3.48 square miles and sits at an elevation of about 1,500 feet.

Quanah summers are mostly clear, hot, and humid while its winters are partly cloudy, windy, dry, and cold. Temperatures usually fall between 31 °F to 98 °F and are rarely below 20 °F or above 105 °F.

For opportunities to hunt deer, hog, turkey, and quail in Quanah, you can contact Red River Valley Outfitters. This company specializes in hunting the above-mentioned animals on 10,000 acres of land. They also added hunting opportunities for duck, goose, and Sandhill crane.

7. Eldorado: Deer, Elk, and Much More

The city of Eldorado is the county seat of Schleicher County, Texas. The city covers an area of about 1.4 square miles and sits at an elevation of about 2,400 feet.

Eldorado gets about 24 inches of rain and just 1 inch of snow per year. Temperatures can go up to 93 °F in July and drop down to 30 °F in January.

If you’re looking to hunt the native Texas game and more, you can contact Magnum Guide Service LLC. This company offers full-time guided hunts for Texas whitetail deer, mule deer, and elk as well as more exotic game like kudu, sable, and wildebeest.

8. Brady: Whitetail, Blackbuck Antelope, Oryx, & Much More

Brady is a city located in McCulloch County near the very heart of Texas. This small yet self-sufficient city sits at the outermost edge of Texas Hill Country at an elevation of about 1,600 feet.

The area experiences hot humid summers and mild to cool winters. Temperatures in July can go up to 94 °F and dip down to around 32 °F in January.

For opportunities to hunt whitetail deer and more exotic game, feel free to contact Cross Oaks Ranch. This company is located just outside Brady and offers lodging as well as guided hunts for whitetail deer, Blackbuck Antelope, Oryx, and more.

9. Austin: Deer, Hogs, Turkey, and More

Austin is the capital city of the state of Texas. It’s situated where the Colorado River crosses the Balcones Escarpment, separating the Texas Hill Country from the Blackland prairies.

The city has a humid subtropical climate which gives it long hot summers and short mild winters. Temperatures usually fall between 43 °F to 97 °F and are rarely below 30 °F or above 102 °F.

There are many fine hunting outfitters in Austin, Texas and Sisco D Ranch is one of them. This company offers lodging and hunting opportunities for whitetail deer, hogs, turkey as well as more exotic game like aoudad, Blackbuck, and fallow deer.

10. Mountain Home: Deer, Hogs, Aoudad, & Much More

Mountain Home is an unincorporated community in Kerr County, Texas and one of my favorite Texas hunting locations. Being located in Texas Hill Country, Mountain Home sits at an elevation of about 1,900 feet.

Mountain Home gets just 29 inches of rain a year. Temperatures can go up to 91 °F in July and drop down to 32 °F in January.

Being on the Edwards Plateau, Mountain Home is a prime habitat for whitetail deer, hogs, and turkey.

West Kerr Ranch offers lodging and guided hunts for the above-mentioned animals as well as year-round hunts for more exotic game like:

• Axis
• Fallow
• Aoudad
• Elk
• Blackbuck Antelope
• Sika
• Aoudad
• Scimitar-Horned Oryx
• Mouflon rams

More Adventure Related Reading:

10 Best Places for Hunting in Montana

10 Best Places For Hunting In North America

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An Adventurers Top 20 Essential Travel Items

Backpacking Meal Planning 101

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To your next adventure!

-David

A Self-Professed ‘Fly Snob’ Shares His Guilty Pleasure of Bait Fishing for Colorado’s Largest Sport Fish

At 7 a.m. on a sunny May morning, the fun begins: “Clang!” The empty Dr. Pepper can supporting my fluorocarbon line topples and crashes down the rocky bank toward the water. The clatter of the makeshift strike indicator disturbs the tranquil Lake Granby shoreline and rouses me from my early morning stupor.

I jump from my folding chair, spilling my coffee and hurry across the bank to rescue my spinning rod from its metal, v-shaped holder. Line races from the reel’s open bail, and my anticipation soars — the first “run” of the morning is always the most exciting.

With rod in hand, I allow the fish to swim freely a few more seconds. Then, with a subtle “click,” I close the bail, put the reel in gear and stop the fugitive before it strips me of both line and bait. The fish hits the tight line like a dog reaching the end of its leash, bending my rod into a deep arch. The resistance pushes the circle hook through the fish’s jaw, and the battle begins. Three minutes later, I land a fat 5-pound “Mack” — not huge, but a terrific way to kick off this outing.

During the next four hours, pop cans fall like targets in a shooting gallery. My friend Karen Krueger and I land eight fish in the 2- to 7-pound range and miss half as many more. By noon the action is over and we are enjoying a relaxing lunch on the beach. Krueger, who just experienced her first “Mack”-fishing trip, is grinning ear to ear. “That was a blast,” she says with childlike enthusiasm. I nod in agreement, while biting into my turkey sandwich and doing my best to ignore the foul stench of sucker meat on my fingers. We spend the rest of the afternoon basking in the warm sun. And although I’ve experienced days just like this one countless times throughout the years, I’m reminded again of how much I enjoy bait fishing for one of Colorado’s supreme sport fish — lake trout.

Okay, I admit it: I enjoy bait fishing for lake trout. As a self-proclaimed “fly snob,” it’s not easy confessing my fondness for bait fishing to my fly-fishing peers, particularly when that style of bait fishing involves soda cans and sucker meat. But a few times every year, I happily leave the fly rod at home and load my bait-fishing tackle into the Jeep — never once feeling an ounce of embarrassment about the cooler of sucker meat that’s sitting on my back seat. (Well…maybe just a little.)

Like most anglers, I began my fishing career drowning worms and salmon eggs for brook trout, rainbows and the occasional suburban-pond sunfish. But nothing captured my youthful imagination like bait fishing for lake trout. The nearly magical combination of catching large — sometimes enormous — fish and the almost methodical setup involved made fishing for “lakers” the ultimate boyhood adventure.

As I grew older, however, my angling interests transformed completely when I received my first fly rod — a transformation that soon became a life-long passion. And for the last 25 years or so, I’ve joined that haughty fraternity of anglers who fish almost exclusively with artificial flies. But as much devotion and love as I have for fly fishing and all its highbrow qualities, I occasionally feel the need to return to my bait-fishing roots.

In addition to being just plain fun, there’s a nostalgic quality that draws me to this simple, unpretentious style of angling. Bait fishing takes me back to those Huck Finn days of my youth, when I wasn’t concerned about the intricacies of fly casting, tippet weights or “matching the hatch” — only catching fish on minimal tackle and sharing those prized moments with family and friends. Isn’t that really what fishing is all about? As an adult, I find there’s also something intrinsically relaxing about fishing with bait. It’s a chance to give your casting arm a rest while idly enjoying the mountain scenery and a cold drink from the comfort of a lawn chair. I can’t think of a better way to spend a spring or fall day in Colorado.

According to surveys conducted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), nearly half of the state’s anglers fish with bait. So, in addition to divulging my “guilty angling pleasure” to the masses, I penned this article to present all those “worm dunkers” out there with a new challenge. And to challenge my fellow lure-and fly-fishing brethren to rediscover how much fun you can have with a spinning rod, bait hooks and dirty hands — and I do mean DIRTY hands.

Sucker meat, the primary bait for lake trout, permeates your skin with a fishy odor that no amount of same-day hand scrubbing removes. My hands, cell phone, fishing gear — even the steering wheel on my Jeep — smells of sucker meat for a couple of days after a successful lake trout fishing trip. Wearing rubber or latex gloves while baiting the hook solves this problem, but the only thing worse than getting caught handling sucker meat by one of your fly-fishing buddies is to be sporting a pair of rubber dishwashing gloves while you’re doing it. Dirty hands are just part of the bait-fishing experience — a rite of passage, so to speak, for every aspiring angler who has enough courage to bait his or her own hook. If nothing else, fishing with sucker meat will get you to stop biting your fingernails faster than any other remedy. And the possibility of catching a heart-stopping lake trout is definitely worth all of the stinky side effects.

Lake Trout: What’s in a Name?

There’s likely no other freshwater fish possessing more names than lake trout; the fish has more aliases than Jesse James. In Colorado, anglers often refer to them as lakers, Mackinaw or Macks. In the Great Lakes, Alaska and Canada, where lake trout are native, fishermen call them grey trout, lake char, paperbellies, leans, siscowet and salmon trout. But perhaps the most appropriate and descriptive moniker is found in the fish’s Latin name: Salvenlinus namaycush. Namaycush, a Native American term, is said to mean “tyrant of the lakes” or “dweller of the deep.” Either translation is apropos to anglers, as lake trout are Colorado’s largest predatory sport fish, inhabiting some of the state’s coldest and deepest waters.

Characterizing lake trout as “tyrants” is fitting. They are voracious predators that feed almost exclusively upon other fish. They also get big — really big. Unlike most trout species that rarely surpass the 15-pound mark, lake trout can grow to mammoth proportions. Mackinaw in the 20- to 40-pound range are fairly common in Colorado, with anglers landing monster specimens exceeding the 40-pound mark annually. The state-record lake trout, taken from Blue Mesa Reservoir in 2007, tipped the scale at a whopping 50.35 pounds — now that’s a fish worthy of being called a tyrant! Although most lake trout caught from shore typically range in size from 2 to 20 pounds, the possibility of catching a leviathan is always present. And it’s the excitement and uncertainty of never knowing what’s lurking on the other end of your line that makes lake trout fishing so addictive.

In addition to their tyrannous ways, lake trout are truly deep-water dwellers, spending most of the year at depths of between 60 and 200 feet — that’s uncharted territory for most other freshwater fish. And it’s this preference for deep, cold water that keeps lake trout safe from the lines of most fishermen. Only anglers fishing through winter ice, or those fishing from boats equipped with sonar and downriggers, are able to get lures and jigs deep enough to reach lake trout during the summer and winter.

But during the spring and fall months, the tyrant briefly abandons its deepwater haunts and moves within reach of shore fisherman. In early spring at “ice-off,” lake trout move into the shallows to feed and remain there until water temperatures exceed 50 degrees, usually occurring around the second or third week of June at most high-mountain reservoirs. As summer progresses and water temperatures warm, the fish return to deep water and remain off limits to shore anglers until late October, when they come back to the shallows to spawn. Although the window of opportunity is narrow, early spring and late fall is when bait fisherman should fish hard and fish often.

Gearing Up

One of the best things about bait fishing is that it doesn’t require a lot of expensive or sophisticated equipment, and fishing for lake trout is no exception. Chances are, if you are nothing more than a weekend-warrior angler, you already have the necessary rods and reels in your garage to pull off a successful outing.

For lake trout, I prefer medium- to heavy-weight spinning rods. A fairly stiff, 6- to 7-foot rod is ideal to ensure effective hook-setting and to provide enough backbone to land larger fish. Some Mackinaw fishermen prefer huge saltwater surf rods, which allow them to zing bait long distances off shore. Either setup works fine, but I prefer the fun and finesse of using lighter-weight equipment. Medium-size rods cast well and can handle lake trout of all sizes, and playing fish on lighter rods is immensely more enjoyable.

Match the rod to a medium-capacity, open-faced spinning reel spooled with 6- to 12-pound test line. I prefer “clear” fluorocarbon lines, but standard monofilament or braided line like Spiderwire are fine options. Braided line works best when tipped with a 3- to 4-foot monofilament/fluorocarbon leader above the bait hook. The added leader helps conceal the more visible braided line from wary fish.

Regardless of line selection, drag adjustment is critical. The reel’s drag should be set loose enough to allow large fish to strip line from the reel without snapping it. A properly set drag can mean the difference between landing and losing the fish of a lifetime.

Sucker Soaking 101

Because lake trout are predators with a voracious appetite for other fish, one of the most effective baits is whole, dead suckers or sucker meat. Frozen suckers, sold at most bait dealers and sporting goods stores, are convenient and are generally available in a variety of sizes.

When I can find them, I prefer small, 4- to 6-inch minnows or chubs. My favorite technique is to fish these whole, threading a size 5/0 or 6/0 snelled saltwater circle hook through the minnow’s body from head to tail (see photo slideshow below). Once the hook is threaded, I attach the snell (loop end) of the hook to the main line with a snap swivel. The benefit of fishing with whole minnows is that they cast well and sink to the bottom without adding lead weight to the line. This allows the minnow to move naturally in the current, closely mimicking a dead baitfish.

The key to fishing with whole minnows is to keep the bail open on the reel after casting. Most often, lake trout will grab the dead minnow and continue swimming without stopping. Fishing with an open bail allows fish to continue moving without resistance from the rod, line or reel. Here’s how to set this up: Cast the minnow and allow it to sink to the bottom. Once it settles, reel in some of the excess line and remove most of the slack. Then, reopen the bail so the line peels freely from the spool.

Soda Can Strike Indicator

To detect strikes with an open bail, run the loose line around the lip of an empty soda can. The can serves as a strike indicator and topples when a lake trout takes the bait and swims away. To prevent false alarms on a windy day, set a small stone on top of the can to add a small amount of weight. Once a fish grabs the bait, I usually allow it to run for approximately 20 seconds before closing the bail and “setting” the hook. This allows enough time for the lake trout to take hold of the minnow, increasing successful hook-ups, but does not give the fish enough time to completely swallow the bait. On rare occasions, fish may drop the bait before the time has elapsed. If this happens, reel in the line, check the bait and recast. As they say, you win some and lose some.

‘Cutbait’ Night Crawler Rig

A standard bait-rig consisting of a sliding sinker, snap swivel and snelled circle-hook is effective when fishing with pieces of sucker meat.

If sucker minnows are not available, the second-best option is to fish with meat or “cutbait” from larger suckers. When using cutbait, I prefer a traditional night crawler bait rig, equipped with a sliding sinker, snap swivel and larger-size snelled circle hook. It’s important to cut sucker meat into bite-size strips or chunks. Baiting the hook too heavily or with excessively large pieces of meat may obscure the hook point and prevent a clean hook-set. With cutbait, keep the reel’s bail closed and set the hook when a strike is first detected. To spice things up a bit, try adding a night crawler and a salmon egg to sucker meat. I dub this smelly combination “triple delight.” It works great when cutbait by itself isn’t enough to tempt finicky “lakers.”There are some caveats when fishing with sucker meat: Make sure to store suckers in a cooler of ice until you are ready to use them. Once sucker meat gets warm, it turns mushy and falls apart, which makes it nearly impossible to keep on a hook when casting. If frozen, make sure the meat has thawed completely before use. Thawed meat produces a stronger scent, making it more likely to attract fish and it also sinks to the bottom more effectively than bait that’s still partially frozen.

Final Tips

Similar to most other angling or hunting pursuits, lake trout fishing is an early morning endeavor. In both the spring and fall, lake trout are most active in the early morning from sunrise until 12 p.m. Fish continue feeding throughout the day, but generally, fishing past noon is spotty at best.

Before heading to your favorite fishing destination, pay a visit to the area’s sporting goods store. Local shops are a great place to purchase bait and other last-minute supplies. Most importantly, shop owners can provide information to help make your fishing trip more successful. When fishing from shore, it’s helpful to know which areas of a reservoir are most productive. This is particularly important when fishing exceptionally large waters like Granby or Blue Mesa. Shop owners know all the particulars of local waters and are usually more than happy to share “inside” information with their customers.

Even if bait fishing is just not your thing, or it’s been years since you’ve “drowned a worm,” I encourage you to give lake-trout fishing a try. You’ll never have more fun watching a soda can topple and line race from your fishing reel. And who knows? You just might end up catching the fish of a lifetime. Or better yet, you may rediscover those simple, childhood- angling pleasures that got you “hooked” on fishing in the first place.

NOTE: Colorado fishing regulations prohibit the use of live fish as bait east of the Continental Divide above 7,000 feet, and west of the Continental Divide, excluding Navajo Reservoir. Therefore, anglers fishing for lake trout must use previously frozen or packaged baits to ensure compliance with regulations. Colorado Parks and Wildlife encourages anglers to keep smaller-sized lake trout. Check the fishing regulations for bag and possession limits.

Trotline Fishing Tips and Tricks

Where and When to Set out Trotlines

Catching catfish with trotlines is very fun and a great way to provide family and friends with some of the best table fare there is. While many anglers have their go-to ways of catching catfish, there are several timeless tips and tricks out there that may lead to many more fish on your trotline than the next angler.

The first tip to catching catfish on a trotline would be to identify raises in the waterways you’re fishing. The shallower water that these raises may serve flatheads and other catfish subspecies very well as they pursue food at night. These fish tend to lay in deeper water and cover during the day and navigate into shallower, open water at night to feed.

The next tip would be to pay attention to the time of the year you’re fishing. The three times of the year to identify in your area are pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn. The spawn is when fish breed. However, different fish may spawn at different times of the year, so don’t confuse the report of someone fishing for spawning bass or crappie with when the catfish may be spawning. When catfish spawn, many of them tend to stay very close to, if not hovering over a bed. This fixes their focus more on breeding and reproducing than feeding, making them harder to catch on a trotline.

Take the state of Kentucky, for example. Catfish in the state of Kentucky tend to spawn in the month of June. Some of the most successful catfishing anglers may fish up to Memorial Day and then back off of setting trot lines in the month of June. Then, around 4th of July, it’s a great time to get your trotlines back in the water.

A final trick that can prove to produce high yields of catfish is to target flathead catfish in the fall when they are heavily feeding to prepare for winter. Months such as September and October, throughout most parts of the U.S., can prove to be very good months to set trotlines. Especially, for flatheads.

What You Need to Build a Trotline

Building a trotline for catfishing can prove to be a relatively simple way to catch a large amount of catfish with minimal effort. The supplies required to build your own trotline can all be acquired at Walmart and are relatively affordable for the yield of catfish they can all provide. Trotline supplies include:

• Main Line – A roll of Hard Nylon Line (#36)
• Drop Lines (The lines going from your main line to your hooks) – A roll of Hard Nylon Line (#18)
• Fishing Swivels – Requires 2 Swivels Per Drop Line
• Catfish Hooks – Requires 1 per Drop Line; Get as big as size 8/0 for bigger catfish like flatheads and blue cats and as small as size 1/0 for smaller breeds like channel or mud catfish
• Trotline Clips – Used to attach angler information for legality purposes or for attaching weights throughout the trotline to maximize the amount of submersion
• Line Winder – Serves to wind up a trotline in an organized manner

How to Build a Trotline:

• How many hooks should you put on a trotline?
• How long does a trotline need to be?
• How do you assemble a trotline?
• How do you weigh down a trotline?

The first question you need to answer is: How long should my trotline be? To answer this question, you will need to do some scouting. If you’re going to drop your trotline in a big body of water like a lake or reservoir, you may want to tie off to a couple of trees sticking up in shallow water. In this case, your trotline should be long enough to span the distance between the trees. If you’re dropping the trotline in a river, you need to know where you want to fish. Catfish like creeks and rivers with shallow flats next to deeper water. In many cases, these flats run along the bank for short distances. You may need a short trotline in this case. Other times, you may want to go bank to bank and, in these cases, you will need a longer trotline.

Next, you need to know how many hooks to tie to your trotline. The general rule of thumb is to have a hook every six feet. This will give you good coverage, but hooks will not be so close that they tangle up when a hooked catfish starts thrashing. Check the regulations for the lake and state you fish in. In many cases, there are limits on the number of hooks a trotline can have. Also, most states require trotlines to have a form of identification to indicate who owns the trotline. Make sure your trotline is tagged appropriately.

The easiest way to assemble your trotline is to tie your mainline between two trees. Next, tie your 24-inch drop line to the mainline every six feet. After you tie each dropline, go ahead and tie the swivels and hook to the dropline. Some anglers prefer two swivels per dropline and others use one swivel — the choice is yours. Once you are done, wind it up and you’re ready for the water. If you have time and are fishing areas with little traffic, you can do all this at the actual location. Once you’re on the water, simply tie off the main line, tie your drop lines and hooks and then bait as you go.

To sink your trotline to the bottom, you will need to tie weights to your trotline. Most anything will work for a weight. Rocks and coffee cans full of cement are often used. Tie enough weights to get to the depth you need. Generally, there is a heavy weight in the middle and several others on either side. Keep in mind the more weight you have, the more weight you’re pulling up when checking the trotline.

How to Set a Trotline

Your overall setup will only be as good as where you place the trotline and how well you fasten it to each end’s anchor. The following steps serve as a great baseline to properly setup your trotline:

• Identify solid anchor points to tie the trotline to on each side of the body of water you’re fishing. Solid tree roots, green bushes, or fallen timber are great things to search for first.
• Tie each end of the trotline to the identified anchor points.
• Begin on any side of the trotline and place your drop lines on the main line and bait each hook as you assemble the drop lines. As you progress across the trotline, fasten weights to any points on the main line that will help to properly submerge the main line. Continue fastening the drop lines and weights to the other end of the trotline.

Best Bait to Use on a Trotline

When it comes to catching catfish on a trotline, your trotline will only be as attractive as the bait you put on each hook. It is important to know that different subspecies of catfish prefer different types of food. Knowing which subspecies of catfish you’re targeting will help you determine what type of bait to use on your trotline. Some subspecies of catfish prefer live bait, while others prefer lifeless bait.

Questions that may lead you to choosing the best bait for catfish in your water are:

• What kind of catfish are in the water I’m fishing?
• Of those types of catfish, which ones am I targeting?

Best Live Bait to Use on a Trotline

When targeting flathead or channel catfish, live bait can prove to be the most effective.

Best Cut Bait and Artificial Bait to Use on a Trotline

When targeting blue catfish or channel catfish, freshly cut parts of dead fish work best, followed by any types of dead bait or “stink catfish baits.”

Best Hooks to Use on a Trotline

The best hook to use on a trotline is directly correlated with the size and species of catfish you’re targeting and the size of the bait being used on the trotline. When targeting smaller sizes and species of catfish, such as channel catfish or mud catfish, you may look toward a smaller J-Style hook such as sizes 1/0 or 2/0 hooks. As the catfish size and species you’re targeting get larger, so will the size of your hook. When targeting big catfish such as blue catfish or flathead catfish, you should start getting closer to a size 8/0 hook.

Roy Weatherby was a visionary in the firearms industry. From his early experiments with ultra-velocity rounds to the development of his supremely safe action and his early adoption of polymer stocks, Weatherby was always at the leading edge of hunting rifle innovation. He was also a brilliant marketer. I still recall the images of a tree blown into so many matchsticks by a single .300 Wby. round and Roy palling around with famous actors like John Wayne and Roy Rogers.

Dressed in fancy Monte Carlo stocks and chambered for hard-hitting magnums, the Weatherby Mark V became the “it” hunting rifle of the mid-20th century. But all that fancy walnut came at a price, one many hunters simply couldn’t afford.

Roy Weatherby understood the need for a workingman’s Mark V, and in 1970 the company announced the Vanguard. Vanguard rifles were—and are—built on Japanese Howa push-feed actions. At the time of their inception, they rivaled popular rifles like the Remington 700 and Winchester Model 70, and Vanguard guns remain a popular option for big game hunters.

Recently, the bolt-action rifle market has been flooded with inexpensive, sometimes coarsely built, budget rifles that provide good accuracy but lackluster aesthetics. But Vanguard rifles have always been a step above those basic entry-level guns, combining solid construction with modern good looks at a price that the working hunter can afford.

As of this writing, there are 19 different Vanguard models currently available, ranging from .22-250 to .375 H&H Mag. There are Vanguards for smaller-statured shooters on up to rifles meant for dangerous game. There are Vanguards with wood stocks and synthetic stocks and package deals that include a Leupold 3-9x40mm scope. Suggested retail prices range from the mid-$500 mark up to $1,149.

“While originally launched in only a few configurations, the Weatherby Vanguard now boasts value-added features such as Cerakoting, barrel fluting, custom stock painting, barrel threading and custom floorplates,” said Adam Weatherby, Roy’s grandson and Weatherby’s current CEO. “Although the barreled action is still manufactured in Japan, these new features are all applied at our new facility in Sheridan, Wyoming.”

Over the years I’ve tested or hunted with seven different Vanguard models and have been impressed with every one of them. Vanguard rifles feature sub-m.o.a. accuracy and are backed with an accuracy guarantee—one of the first rifles at this price point to offer such a guarantee. A Vanguard Backcountry in .257 Wby. Mag. I once tested produced average groups around a half-inch with two different Weatherby loads, and I regret not buying that gun when I had the chance.

The newest member of the Vanguard family is the High Country model. As the name suggests, the High Country is designed to be light enough to carry on big game hunts at high elevations where the oxygen is thin and every ounce of rifle weight is a burden. The High Country I tested in 6.5 Creedmoor weighed just 7.15 pounds with its 24-inch fluted barrel.

The cold-hammer-forged barrel is finished in flat dark earth Cerakote for corrosion resistance, and it’s threaded 1/2×28. It comes with Weatherby’s Accubrake ST muzzle brake, which adds two inches to the barrel, as well as a seamless thread protector. The barreled action is free-floated and incorporates an integral recoil lug.

The synthetic stock features Weatherby’s trademark Monte Carlo comb. It’s black with green and tan sponge-paint accents, and the stock is equipped with textured grip panels and a right-hand palm swell. I’m a fan of the grip angle, which puts my shooting hand in the correct position.

High Country rifles are available in nine chamberings—five standard rounds and four magnums. Standard cartridges, including the 6.5 PRC, have 24-inch barrels while magnum chamberings sport 26-inch barrels and weigh a couple ounces more. The Vanguard High Country rifle carries a suggested retail price of $949, which places it in competition with Browning’s X-Bolt Composite Stalker ($910) and Bergara’s B-14 Wilderness Ridge ($975).

All Vanguard guns share the same push-feed bolt action with a small claw extractor and plunger ejector. Like the Mark V, the Vanguard rifles come with three gas ports in the one-piece machined bolt, as well as a fully enclosed bolt shroud, to help prevent injury in the event of a case failure. The bolt body is fluted to shave weight.

The Vanguard High Country is easy to top-load through the generous ejection port. Unlike some bolt-action hunting rifles that are finicky about loading and feeding, the Vanguard isn’t. A floorplate release is recessed into the front of the trigger guard. The release on my gun was a bit tight, but that’s not a bad thing, as the odds of an inadvertent mag dump are exceedingly low.

All current Vanguard rifles are equipped with a two-stage trigger. That has resulted in some shooters mistakenly calling Vanguard triggers “creepy,” but the take-up is intentional and acts as a safety mechanism without employing a blade. Initial take-up is smooth and light, and after that it it requires minimal finger pressure to drop the sear.

Weatherby Vanguard triggers average between two and four pounds, and they are user adjustable. The one on my sample averaged 3.4 pounds for 10 pulls on a Wheeler gauge.

The three-position safety is the rocker-type design and is easy to manipulate. In the rearward position the trigger is deactivated and the bolt is locked. In the middle position the bolt can be manipulated with the safety engaged. Pressing the safety rocker forward allows the gun to be fired.

I like three-position safeties because the bolt can be locked when walking so that brush and limbs don’t inadvertently open the action and the rifle can be loaded and unloaded with the safety engaged. Weatherby safeties can also be manipulated silently so if you suddenly find yourself close to game, the metallic “snick” of the rifle’s safety won’t catch the animal’s attention.

The bolt stop is located on the left rear side of the receiver, and it’s easy to operate. A small cocking indicator tab that extends under the rear bolt shroud lets you know the gun’s condition.

The High Country is drilled and tapped to accept Weatherby Vanguard/Remington 700 bases, which simplifies scope mounting. I topped the High Country with a Crimson Trace 4-16×42 Brushline Pro riflescope with BDC reticle. The Monte Carlo stock placed my eye in correct position behind the optic.

4-16×42 Brushline Pro: Check Price & Buy Now

I tested the High Country at the range with three different 6.5 Creedmoor loads. All three produced at least one three-shot group under an inch at 100 yards, and the best group of the day measured just 0.44 inch. A tack-driver, in other words, and well in line with the rifle’s guarantee for sub-m.o.a. accuracy.

The 6.5 Creedmoor produces mild recoil, which is one of its benefits, but having the removable Accubrake ST is a nice touch—and will be very much appreciated on the .300 Wby. Mag. version of the gun. This relatively new brake from Weatherby promises recoil reduction of up to 53 percent. All Vanguard rifles handle recoil well, and the dense black Vanguard recoil pad does a good job of absorbing kick.

In addition to range testing, I also got to use the Vanguard while hunting hogs and deer at a field-to-table event in Texas, and the High Country had no issues gathering meat. My first shot came when an old, heavy whitetail buck followed a group of does out of the oaks during late afternoon. A doe at the edge of the oaks caught the old buck’s attention, and he trotted away from the harem into the cover of the trees.

At any moment the buck might disappear from view, and since it’s difficult to have a field-to-table event without meat, I decided to try to make a shot on the deer before he vanished into the deep woods. There was a narrow window between two oak trunks through which I would have to weave the bullet, but I had confidence in the High Country rifle and took the shot. The buck was quartering away, and after the rifle cracked, I heard the thwop of the 129-grain Hornady bullet. The buck dropped.

The next shot came the following morning when I spooked a group of hogs at a feeder. My guide Ray and I had crept into a position on a hill overlooking the feeders and the hogs scattered. Because we wanted a pig for the table, I chose a small sow, and as she ran through the broken brush I led her by a half-body length and touched off the Weatherby. The same distinct bullet slap echoed up the canyon, and we found the hog 30 yards from where she had been when the bullet struck her shoulder.

The modern crop of affordable sub-m.o.a. hunting rifles means more challengers for Weatherby’s Vanguard guns. But the Vanguard has something that few of its competitors can boast about: five decades of experience redefining the affordable bolt-action hunting rifle segment.

“My grandfather first introduced the Vanguard as a lower-cost alternative to the Mark V rifle,” Adam Weatherby said. “From its hammer-forged barrel to consistent tight tolerances and an accuracy guarantee, it grew to become a wildly successful project that is now its 50th year of existence.”

There are guns less expensive than the Vanguard, and a few of them carry an accuracy guarantee that matches Weatherby’s. But very, very few guns offer the combination of high build quality, consistent accuracy and bang-for-your-buck value that Vanguard rifles promise. That was the case five decades ago when this model made its debut, and it remains so today.

Weatherby Vanguard High Country Rifle Specifications

• Type: bolt-action centerfire
• Caliber: .257 Wby. Mag., 6.5 Creedmoor (tested), 6.5 PRC, 6.5-300 Wby. Mag., .270 Win, .308 Win., .30-06, .300 Win. Mag., .300 Wby. Mag.
• Capacity: 4+1
• Barrel: 24 in.; threaded 1/2×28; Accubrake ST muzzle brake
• Overall Length: 46 in.
• Weight: 7 lb., 3 oz.
• Stock: black synthetic with tan/green sponge paint
• Finish: flat dark earth Cerakote
• Trigger: 3.4 lb. pull (measured)
• Sights: none; drilled and tapped
• Price: $949
• Manufacturer: Weatherby, weatherby.com

No matter how much deer hunters prepare and strategize, often success comes down to one simple tenet: be in the right place at the right time.

Perhaps this is no more evident than when hunting during the rut, when deer travel patterns become unpredictable and, to many, downright mysterious. Luke Brewster of Bristow, Virginia, had only a few years of bowhunting experience under his belt, but he knew that when hamstrung with limited hunting time, the rut is when you need to be on stand as much as possible.

On Nov. 1, 2018, Brewster pointed his pickup west and drove 10 hours from his home in Virginia to Edgar County, Illinois, to hunt a piece of land owned by his father, Jim Brewster. There the Marine Corps veteran met up with three other hunters, locals who had permission to hunt the Brewster property. All three are veteran bowhunters who had been mentoring Luke on the finer points of successful stick-and-string hunting. Brothers Brent and Justin Cearlock and Ron Wagoner also do most of the hunting grunt work like putting in and maintaining food plots, hanging stands and using game cameras to monitor deer on the property.

The primo buck that all of the hunters were after had been nicknamed Mufasa, or the Lion King, by Wagoner. The group had been collecting photos of Mufasa for five years, watching the buckxe2x80x99s rack metamorphosize from a huge typical to a jaw-dropping, nontypical structure. It turns out that this isnxe2x80x99t all that uncommon among mature bucks.

xe2x80x9cIn general, bucks do produce more nontypical points as they age,xe2x80x9d said Dr. Grant Woods, a well-known deer biologist. xe2x80x9cMost bucks Ixe2x80x99ve followed through research or on trail cameras for my personal hunting have an antler configuration that includes more nontypical points as they mature. This may be due to genetics, injuries, etc.xe2x80x9d

Whatever the reason, Mufasaxe2x80x99s antlers reached to the sky, stretching out into a freaky configuration that included several thick droptines. The morning of Nov. 2, 2018, Brewster climbed into a treestand situated next to a popular doe bedding area. His morning hunt was uneventful, with only a few does spotted. That afternoon, Brewster had to move to a stand farther south to give another hunter a crack at bagging Mufasa in the area where the buck had spent considerable time, based on game camera photos. His stand for the second half of the day was in a creek bottom deer travel route, with a heavily hit scrape a mere 26 yards away. As a soft rain fell, Brewster looked to the east and saw a doe bound off, frightened by some unknown danger. A moment later, Mufasa appeared to freshen the scrape. Brewster released an arrow at the monster buck and drew blood, then waited half an hour to trail his wounded prey.

Finding half of the arrow slathered in blood, Brewster surmised that hexe2x80x99d done lethal damage to the deer. He followed a short blood trail to the new world nontypical record. Upon inspecting the rack, Brewster noticed a fresh break in the left antler and what appeared to be a missing portion of bone. Sure enough, after retracing the blood trail, he found the other part of the left antler, broken off when the wounded buck ran into a tree. Due to a new rule instituted by the Pope & Young Club in 2016, Brewster was able to count the broken portion of the rack in the overall measurement.

xe2x80x9cIt is up to the decision of the measurers, but if a broken portion of antlers matches up perfectly to the rack, it can be included in the measurement,xe2x80x9d said Rick Mowery, communications and marketing manager for Pope & Young. xe2x80x9cBut it has to match up perfectly, like you often find when gluing back together a broken jar or pottery.xe2x80x9d

The broken droptine would have reduced the overall measurement by about 20 inches. While it still would have been a new world record nontypical harvested by a hunter, being able to include it in the overall measurement of 327-7/8 inches and 39 points means it far surpasses the next-largest hunter-harvested nontypical whitetail, a 47-point, 312-inch buck taken by Stephen Tucker with a muzzleloader in Sumner County, Tennessee, in 2016. The Brewster buck blows the doors off the previous Pope & Young record, a 294-inch, 39-point nontypical bagged by Michael Beatty in 2000 in Greene County, Ohio.

Brewsterxe2x80x99s success proves that all of the time and effort spent planning a hunt, capturing photos of mature bucks and studying deer movements mean little if youxe2x80x99re not in the right place at the right time. Thankfully Brewster was, and this victor will forever enjoy the spoils.

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Introduction

While bow hunting is still deeply rooted in older hunters’ spirits, the industry has seen incredible innovations to ensure its sustenance. The introduction of broadheads has gone a long way in ensuring this hunting tradition remains a favorite hobby for a lot of us. Although a good bow and arrow are critical to a successful hunt, broadheads offer excellent penetration to ensure that you kill the animal with just one arrow.

The Ulmer Edge broadhead is not a stranger to broadhead fans; this amazing piece comes from the trophy taker manufacturers. The broadhead sets a high bar for broadheads willing to compete with this piece of art. Make sure you check out our review of the Iron Will Broadheads.

Why this Broadhead is Unbeatable: Features of the Ulmer Edge Broadhead

Chisel Shaped Tip

The Ulmer Edge broadhead is chisel tipped, providing your arrow with incredible field tip accuracy. This design is what enables the broadhead to maintain a shallow in-flight profile.

Having a chisel-shaped tip means that the arrow reduces its wind drag by a significant percentage, as it cuts through the air swiftly. Your arrow can achieve fascinating velocity because of recessed groove retaining.

No adjustments are required when it comes to the Ulmer Edge broadhead; immediately after purchase, you can head to the ranges to get a feel of this beauty.

Razor Sharp Blades.

This trophy taker manufactured broadhead comes with 1.5-inch diameter blades. These blades ensure maximum penetration, whichever direction the head takes. They create a 1.5-inch entry wound, and the exit wound depends on the structure of your target. However, keep in mind that this is a powerful broadhead and can cause massive damage, even on sturdy materials.

Upon impact, the broadhead deploys rear blades. The blades enable the arrow to navigate through dense bone settings. This piece is a non-barbed, two-sided Edge broadhead so that it will cause some damage even on its way out.

Once the rear blades are released, they are locked into place and can only be put at ease using a particular tool. Luckily, the tool is in the Ulmer Edge broadhead pack on purchase.

Blade Retention System

The blades that come with this broadhead are pretty sharp, installed to prevent any accidents is the blade retention system. The primary goal of this system is to lock the blades in place while in flight. The leaves are to be deployed upon impact and not while the arrow is in mid-air.

A set screw locks the blades in position, also known as a practice mode. In practice mode, you can take shots at targets without damaging the broadhead. To deactivate practice mode, disengage the set screw from the broadhead. It is effortless to understand how this broadhead works.

Performance When Practice Mode is Engaged

While in practice mode, I achieved consistent, accurate shots from 20 to 30 yards. It offers an excellent arrow flight, giving your arrow perfect mid-air balance. The quality of shots delivered in practice mode is very accurate and pleasing.

The essence of a practice mode is to lock the rear deploying blades when shooting to secure the knives. The set screws provided hold the Edges entirely even after impact.

The broadhead is very straightforward, engages the set screw for practice mode, and disengages to switch back.

Performance When Practice Mode is Not Engaged

Practice mode only locks the rear deploying blades, and this does not affect the accuracy of your arrow. When practice is not engaged, the broadhead has higher damaging power.

When in flight, the blades are locked into place and deployed immediately after the first impact. The Edges create a massive wound, creating a 1.5-inch entry wound. The exit wound will depend on the speed attained by the arrow and the composition of the target.

The sharp blades enable the arrow to find its way through robust bones. Much damage is inflicted on your target with an impressive damage ratio.

How Does it Compare to a Close Competitor?

Ulmer Edge Broadhead Vs Swhacker

There are several high-quality broadheads in the current market. However, when it comes to searching for the best, it all comes down to the Ulmer Edge and Schwacker. These two broadheads are quality pieces that offer world-class archery precision.

Blades Diameter

The Swhacker offers a larger cutting diameter than the Ulmer Edge. On the other hand, the Ulmer Edge comes equipped with 1.5 inches, razor-sharp blades, which are slightly smaller compared to Schwacker blades. Schwacker creates a more significant entry wound inflicting more damage than its competitor.

Practice Mode

Despite the blade diameter, the Ulmer Edge is still superior to the Schwacker broadhead. The rear deploying can be locked, switching your broadhead to practice mode. This feature is only available in the Ulmer Edge.

Accuracy

The Ulmer Edge is more accurate as compared to Swhacker broadheads. Unlike the Swhacker, which gradually drift to the right upon firing, the Ulmer Edge promises astonishing field tip accuracy. This piece from the trophy taker company can achieve a shallow flight profile due to its design.

Swinging Blades

Ulmer Edge broadheads rear blades can swing while cutting through your target. The modules that come with this broadhead rotate on a pivot after being deployed. In case the right Edge encounters a hard surface to penetrate, the blades will swing to the side that will inflict less damage to the leaves. This feature is not available when it comes to the Swhacker broadhead.

Great Penetration

The Ulmer Edge broadheads will give you excellent performance. If not killed, they will make sure they hit the target with high power that it leaves behind a very reliable blood trail to track it. Some Schwacker broadheads raised complaints of their target fleeing, leaving behind an unreliable trail. Even if the animal can remove the arrow with the Ulmer, much damage will be inflicted with its two-sided blade.

Why the Ulmer Edge Broadhead is Going to Impress You

• The rubber bands are very efficient in holding the rear deployed blades in the broadhead. You will find several rubber bands on the purchase of this broadhead. After deployment of the back leaves, they stay locked in their position. They are sharp on both sides and will cut their way out when removing the arrow from your target.
• It achieves excellent penetration with the help of its razor-sharp designed blades. The arrow goes deep into the target, causing maximum damage as it enters and exits the wound. The product is very durable and gives a long service life.
• The stainless steel broadheads receive minimum damage due to their modern design. When in practice mode, your broadheads blade is safe from any exterior damage that may result from impact. The set screw, though small, is made from the same material as the Ulmer Edge broadhead, making it as durable as the piece itself.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the Ulmer Edge Broadhead Suitable For High Powered Crossbows?

When it comes to high powered crossbows, the Ulmer Edge is as efficient as some top-notch pieces. Most of the individuals who prefer this broadhead use high powered crossbows.

The blades stay shut until impact. This provides you with great flight and mid-air balance to accurately hit your target at a massive velocity. The takedown power that this broadhead gives is incredible.

It is a very great product to grace your high powered crossbow.

Is There Any Damage to the Blades If I Use My Ulmer Edge Mainly For Practice?

The ferrules in the Ulmer Edge broadhead have a small diameter, due to this, the blades tend to stick out slightly. So when taking shot practices, the leaves may come into slight contact with your target. The effect this has on your broadhead is minimal. However, after multiple target shots, I recommend you check your blade’s sharpness before going for hunting.

Why is the Ulmer Edge Broadhead out of Stock at Most Retailers?

It seems that the Ulmer Edge broadhead had some patent infringement concerns. Other brands seemed to have very similar features as this trophy taker piece. Examples of these same features are the rear deployment blade system and set screws. These issues led to the discontinuing of this piece from most stores.

If you are lucky, you may find some stores with this magnificent piece on their shelves.

Why is the Ulmer Edge Broadhead Best for You?

The Ulmer Edge broadhead is among the high-class broadheads available in the market at the moment. Its ability to maintain a low profile providing awe-inspiring accurate shots to your arrows is very heartwarming. This broadhead has no kickback when firing, making it very friendly, even to the older hunters.

The fact that this broadhead offers a practice mode is something that will influence you to go with this piece. I believe that the trophy taker gave us a very great product.