Throughout my childhood, my Dad would tell me old hunting stories from before I was around. At the time, I hadn’t really experienced much of the hunting life, so these stories sunk deep in my mind. One of those stories was of an archery deer hunt in upstate New York. It was just him and his bow. No rangefinder to speak of.

My Dad was sitting up in a tree and a lone buck came in beneath. He pulled his bow back, aimed, and let it loose thinking that deer steaks wouldn’t be far away. What really happened was he watched the arrow fly right over the buck’s back, followed by said buck running out of his life. “Should have aimed lower” my Dad said. It was my first lesson on shooting up or downhill with a bow.

Because of that story, I ALWAYS have an angle compensating rangefinder with me on archery hunts. It’s non-negotiable, because angles are a plenty in bowhunting. Whether it’s a 15 degree angle or a 40 degree one, your arrow will not hit where you want, if you don’t make the proper adjustments for the angle. Angle compensating rangefinders do just that for you.

Whether it’s uphill or downhill, yardage needs to be cut off in order to hit what you’re aiming at. The wordage in this article is referring to Vortex Optics Rangefinders.

Line of Sight Mode on Your Rangefinder

Line of sight is the distance from you to your target, whether you are standing on an angle or not. This is how rangefinders read distance from the beginning until angle compensating versions came out. Still to this day though, most rangefinders seem to have a mode for Line of Sight. This article is about using angle compensation though right? So, why is Line of Sight important?

Before angle compensating rangefinders, archers would use cut charts to calculate the proper amount of yardage that they needed to cut off with angled shots. Without getting to deep into the math, they’d take the Line of Sight distance given from their rangefinder, pair that with data from an inclinometer to get the proper angle, and refer to their custom cut chart for their set up. Sounds complicated and takes some extra time I know. It was accurate though and that’s what mattered. In fact, there are still folks that use Line of Sight distance paired with a custom cut chart. In terms of precision, it may be splitting hairs, but this is the most precise way of being accurate on angles.

HCD(Horizontal Component Distance Mode) on Your Rangefinder

When shooting at angles the distance that we actually want to aim for is not Line of Sight, but it is the Horizontal Distance. This is literally the horizontal distance between you and the target. Whether you’re standing even, uphill, or downhill it is the horizontal distance that will put you in the X. And the horizontal distance is always shorter than the line of sight distance, which is why one needs to cut yardage rather than adding it. It can be difficult eyeballing this in the field though and going through the cut chart process takes away valuable time. This is where HCD mode comes in.

The Horizontal Component Distance Mode on your Vortex rangefinder makes the cut for you and it does it with one click of a button. Whatever range this mode spits out for you is the range that you want to aim for. Don’t take more yardage off of this calculation, because you’ll hit low.

In terms of accuracy and precision, I tested the Razor 4000 rangefinder up against a custom cut chart I had made for myself. The calculations were within a 10th of a yard between the two. I don’t know about you, but I’m not that good to tell the difference in a 10th of a yard with my shooting ability. With only a 10th of a yard difference, that arrow is going in the lungs come hunting time.

Here’s a Video Demonstration Using Line of Sight vs. HCD

Closing Thoughts

Back in the days of old, my Dad didn’t have a rangefinder, let alone one that had angle compensating abilities. If he did, that buck feeding beneath his treestand might have been on the wall of the house I grew up in rather than high tailing it through the forest. An opportunity lost.

The fact of the matter is, bowhunting is literally a game of inches. Every little thing matters and any ethical advantage we can put in our favor, it will put us that much closer to success. Angle compensating rangefinders are in our corner. They’ve served me extremely well through the years and I know they’ll do the same for you. That’s my angle and I’m sticking to it.

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300 Blackout Ammo has a lot going for it, right up to the point at which you try to take advantage of its subsonic prowess for tasks other than punching paper. Common subsonic loads, even if tipped with a fragile match bullet such as the ubiquitous 220-grain Sierra Matchking, plow 0.30-inch diameter holes straight through fleshy targets and keep on truckin’ right into the next inconveniently located piece of real estate.

We’ve tried bullets that in other applications are positively explosive. Hornady’s 208-grain A-Max, for example, fragments violently when shoved out the muzzle at even .308 Win velocities, but from a Blackout you might as well be using a DeWalt. Getting a .30-cal to expand reliably at around 1,000 feet per second requires a specialized projectile, and they’re not exactly inexpensive.

Being cheap bastards, in times past we experimented by cutting back the jacket tip on an SMK and then boring out the meplat, thinking that this would be enough to induce expansion. Great theory, sucks in practice. Gel testing confirmed that it performs no better than an unaltered bullet, so why waste the effort? Cutting to the chase, we rounded up a small selection of expanding subs.

Note there are a few more companies who offer bullets for you to roll your own (Cutting Edge, for example), but as work has displaced gentle-paced pursuits like reloading, we’d often rather pay in money than time.

If you decide that a subsonic 300 Blackout Ammo fills your requirements for a stealthy hog slayer, or you’ve settled on that caliber for home defense duties, then you might want to avail yourself of our buyer’s guide below.

300 Blackout Ammo Testing Protocol

All loads were tested for velocity using both 16- and 9-inch barreled weapons. A Remington 700, equipped with a Nightforce ATACR 4-16×42 and SilencerCo Omega was employed as our longer rifle, and it was this combo that we also used for accuracy and gel testing. Five-shot groups were shot at 50, rather than 100, yards as we felt this was a realistic distance for subsonic use. The shorty gun was our budget hog hammer — a franken AR built on a Gibbz side charging upper and equipped with a Maxim Defense PDW pistol brace. Note that all loads except the Fort Scott and Gorilla offerings were supersonic from the 16-inch barrel.

Velocity readings were taken using a Caldwell G2 chronograph, which has the useful ability to store data on your phone via Bluetooth. Chrono was set up 10 feet from the muzzle, ambient temp was 69 degrees at 2,100 feet elevation, and gel testing was performed using two, 16-inch Clear Ballistics gel blocks, placed end to end.

Fort Scott 190-grain SCS Brush Hog

Ever heard of these guys? Neither had we, until we walked into a gun store near San Antonio, Texas, where the counter jockeys assured us they were well regarded by local hog hunters. Intrigued, we bought a couple of boxes for testing. Unlike the rest of the projectiles in this test, these are non-expanding, relying for their wounding abilities on becoming unstable in media more dense than air. Gasp! The fabled M16 tumbling bullet!

Despite a healthy dose of skepticism, they turned in a decent performance, coming to rest after 180 degrees of flippage and 15.5 inches of penetration in bare gel, with the bullet’s base just barely under the back end of the block. Fort Scott seems to be using a set of dies that diverges from industry norms, which resulted in a misfire rate of around 50 percent in our bolt gun — the only sample to do so. On examining the case shoulder (which, in 300 Blackout, is even less significant than Chuck Schumer’s dick) it would appear that it’s both steeper and shorter than competitive brands, allowing the case just enough room to shift forward under firing pin impact. It ran fine in our AR, though.

Gorilla Ammo 205-Grain Silverback

Gorilla’s monolithic projectile features a gaping hollow point, which initiates pretty healthy expansion after about 3 inches of penetration in gel. One of the two loads achieving subsonic velocities from our 16-inch bolt gun, it’s mouse-fart quiet even in longer barrels. Not only did it retain all its weight after impact, but petals on the copper bullet remained sharp enough to nick careless fingers when pulling it from the gel block. Accuracy was plenty good for dispatching critters at subsonic ranges.

Hornady 190-grain Sub-X

Announced in December 2017 and released for sale three months later, Hornady added an expanding subsonic bullet to its existing five 300 Blackout ammo offerings. Built to their usual standards, the bullet features a red polymer tip to initiate expansion, a detail no doubt familiar to users of their Critical Duty line of pistol ammo. In our test rifle, it proved to be an accurate and consistent performer, and if a lone flyer were discounted, would’ve turned in a 0.36-inch group. Of the conventional jacket-and-core projectiles in this test, it was the only one not to separate. Note, however, that some polymer mags may have problems in presenting the blunt tip high enough to make it up the feed ramp in your favorite semi auto. Either use regular old GI versions or Magpul’s 300 BLK-specific offering.

hornady.com

Lehigh Defense 194-Grain Maximum Expansion

Lehigh’s wicked-looking solid copper bullets turned in an admirable performance, expanding as advertised and growing sharp, symmetrical talons when shot into gel. When dug out, they showed evidence that the fast twist barrels of our test guns would’ve caused additional tissue damage, as they screwed their way through the medium — in this case making three complete revolutions before coming to rest after shedding a petal. Those wanting additional penetration should consider Lehigh’s loading; it exceeds the FBI protocol, but if you encounter bigger hogs it affords a margin of safety on quartering shots.

Noveske / Nosler 220-Grain Ballistic Tip

Averaging 20-fps faster than the otherwise similar SSA load, this collaboration between two of Oregon’s most respected gun companies is unmistakable with its ominously dark finish. Accuracy was good enough for the task at hand, and the bullet core achieved 17 inches of penetration, after parting company with the remaining jacket around the 15-inch mark. About 30-grains worth of ballistic payload was shed in total, leaving a smoky-looking trail through our gel block as it threw off particles of lead and copper.

SSA 220-grain Ballistic Tip

Silver State Ammo was acquired by Nosler in 2013, and we suspect that both this load and the Noveske/Nosler above use the same bullet, with a different polymer tip and coating. Group size was almost identical to the Nosler load, and both bullets separated from their remaining jackets after 12 to 14 inches of penetration in bare gel. As this meets the FBI requirements, we don’t see this as a negative for defensive use, because both resulting fragments penetrate sufficiently to reach vital organs.

Photos by Kenda Lenseigne

More on 300 Blackout

• The Curious Origin Story of 300 Blackout
• New in 2021: Magpul’s 300 Blackout 20-round PMags.
• Radical Firearms Integrally Suppressed 300 Blackout SBR at SOFIC.
• 300 Blackout Buyer’s Guide.
• 300 Blackout vs 556: More than a Matter of Distance.

Rainbow trout has a mild and delicate flavor. Cooked properly, rainbow trout meat is light pink, tender and flakes easily. Trout has a slightly nutty flavor and is completed by flavors such as thyme, bacon and pine nuts.

Brown troutcaught from a river has a fishier, stronger taste. The meat is darker and contains more oils. Larger brown trout can be extremely gamey tasting and may need to be soaked in milk overnight before cooking to help remove excess oils.

Cutthroat trout and brook trout are milder but still have that trout taste. The steelhead trout has orange color meat and is similar to salmon. Once cooked, the light orange meat has a delicate texture.

Lake trout, Dolly Varden, arctic char, and brook trout are actually more closely related to the salmon family. These fish are varieties of a group called char. While they come from the same family as trout, they are more salmonlike in taste and appearance.

What does rainbow trout taste like?

Rainbow trout caught in the wild has a mild flavor. It has a bit of a fishy taste befitting of a freshwater fish, but has a more delicate flavor than other trout species. Freshwater trout or farmed trout is found in stocked ponds and rivers. This depends on the clarity of the fresh water and what type of other fish live in the water. Like other fish, trout eat many things, including bugs, algae, smaller fish, and debris off the bottom.

Many anglers say lake trout taste is similar to eating dirt. Others say it depends on how many trout live in the water and if they have a sufficient food source with a healthy population of fish to eat. Rainbow trout eating fish will have different flavors and textures to the meat than trout dining on the algae and debris in the lake water.

Nutrition value of rainbow trout

Eating rainbow trout is recommended by doctors because of its high nutritional value. Rainbow trout contains low levels of dangerous mercury but has high values of essential amino acids including Omega-3 fatty acids. Properly cooked fish retains its nutritional value and has heart-healthy levels of Vitamins A, D, and B12. Rainbow trout is also a good source of low-fat protein.

Trout vs Salmon: Taste Differences

Trout and salmon are closely related, so it makes sense that the fish have similar tastes. Both are oily fish with pink meat. Brown trout and golden trout have flesh with more of a reddish-orange color. This meat tends to be oilier and these trout taste like salmon more than the others. Rainbow trout and speckled trout have lighter colored meat, that is softer and mushier than the meat from other trout fish.

Best Seasoning for Trout and Other Freshwater Fish

Rainbow trout is one of the most commonly eaten trout. Raised in fish farms or hatcheries for fly fishing, rainbow trout are bred for sportsmen who want to catch and release or catch and eat trout. While they can reproduce in the wild, many of the young fish do not make it through the life cycle because they are eaten by other fish.

There are many ways to cook rainbow trout. Many anglers like to cook a whole trout over a campfire by the side of the stream after a day of trout fishing. Pan-fried in butter and drizzled with lemon juice, fresh rainbow trout offers a mild flavor and flaky white meat.

Butter

It is possible to fry fish in olive oil or vegetable oil, but butter is best when cooking trout or any delicate fish. Put the butter in the pan over medium-high heat. Once the butter begins to sizzle lay the fillets in the pan. Allow them to fry for 3-5 five minutes, basting them with the excess butter. This helps cook the fish through and keeps the side facing up from becoming dry. Flip the fish once and finish the cooking.

Thyme

Thyme, a wild-growing herb from the oregano family has a minty, lemony taste that tames the gamey taste of trout. It is especially tasty when combined with lemon or garlic.

Lemon

Lemon is an excellent addition to any fish dish. When fish die, their bodies begin to produce amines. Similar to ammonia, these alkaline molecules enhance smell and taste. The result is that nasty, strong, fish like smell. Adding an acid, in the form of lemon juice, affects rainbow trout taste by neutralizing the amines. The resulting trout taste is mild and meaty.

Dill

Dill using sparingly can add a little bit of bite to your fish meal. This tangy herb is just a little bit citrusy and can help reduce that fishy trout taste. It also adds a dash of bright color to your dish.

Garlic

Pungent, aromatic garlic is added to many seasonings and spices. Paired with garlic and lemon, it makes rainbow trout taste tangy and flavorful without destroying the actual trout taste.

Bacon

Bacon and fish are excellent partners in the pan. The crispy thin slices of bacon provide a nice complement to the mild, meaty fish fillets. The bacon grease imparts a slightly smokey, salty flavor and makes the rainbow trout taste like you just cooked it over an open fire.

Capers

Capers are small edible buds that have a sour, lemony taste with the texture of olives. Capers are made by bringing the unripened buds in vinegar. This creates a tart, acidic bite that affects fish in much the same way lemon juice does. The acidic capers neutralize the amines that create that fishy taste and smell.

Best Ways to Cook Trout

Pan-Fried

Trout can be pan-fried with the skin or without. Using butter for frying and having a hot pan allows you to produce crispy skin without burning the fish. A seasoned cast iron pan over an open campfire is the preferred cooking method for many anglers. Be sure to keep basting the fish with the excess butter when pan-frying to keep it from getting dried out.

Battered

Battered and fried fish is delicious, no matter if it is rainbow trout or some other species of fish. Make a simple batter using a packaged mix and beer or milk. Drop the battered fish pieces in boiling hot oil and cook until it floats to the top and is lightly browned.

Grilled

Like salmon, trout fillets or fish steaks can be grilled. Firm trout like browns or lake trout hold up best to grilling, but it is possible to prepare rainbow trout on the grill. For best results, the grill needs to be preheated to medium heat and the grill grates should be well greased or buttered because the fish will stick. After gutting the fish, stuff the cavity with butter and spices and grill the trout for 4-6 minutes on each side.

Baked

Baked rainbow trout is healthy and easy to prepare. Line a baking sheet with foil squares. Place the trout skin side down and brush it with melted butter. Sprinkle seasonings on top and add a thinly sliced lemon. Loosely close the foil around the fish. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

My favourite trout recipe

• Ingredients
• Butter
• Bacon (chopped)
• Thyme – small bunch. Strip the leaves off the stem and use leaves only.
• Lemon slices
• Olive oil
• Salt

1. Take one or more medium sized rainbow trout (approx 13” or 1lb) cleaned and scaled
2. Take out a 14”piece of aluminum foil – one for each trout
3. Place the each trout in the centre of the foil
4. Put a chunk of butter, the bacon, thyme and a couple of lemon slices into the gut cavity of the fish
5. Rub the olive oil into the flanks of the fish and season with salt
6. Close up the aluminium foil wrapping up the fish to seal in the ingredients
7. Cook on medium heat on the grill (or in a pan) for 20 minutes
8. Unwrap and serve

How to Clean Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout can be prepared for cooking in several ways. The skin of the fish is completely edible, although some people do not like the way the cooked skin of rainbow trout tastes.

The simplest method of cleaning is to simply gut the fish and give it quick rinse in cold, fresh water. You can then grill, pan fry, or bake the whole fish.

How to Debone Cooked Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout, like other trout, have many tiny pin bones. These small bones should not be eaten. After cooking the fish, you can remove the bones by lifting the entire skeleton out in one piece.

Cook the whole fish after gutting it. Remove the fins. Use a sharp knife to split the skin along the spine. Use a fork to gently press the meat down while you lift up on the tail. The fish will split into halves. You can then lift the entire skeleton by lifting it carefully.

Final thoughts on rainbow trout taste

The final thing to remember about trout is their taste is influence by what they feed on. In general, lake dwelling fish have a higher proportion of crustaceans in their diet – such as crawfish – and as a result have pink flesh that tastier and more appealing than their river-dwelling cousins.

One of the most fun aspects about waterfowl hunting is when you get the opportunity to break a few rules. Like not using the classic alphabet decoy patterns or placing the blind in the kill hole kind of rules. Birds wise up to the rule book quickly, and it often pays to be different.

There are a number of key reasons of to vote for hitting the snooze and setting up later in the day to bang on birds, from the simple pleasure of sleeping in, to avoiding the competition of getting to a field first, to exploiting an overlooked and untapped potential, there’s just something special about being out there later in the day. You’ll likely find your own arguments for targeting geese in the afternoon, but if you’re still undecided, here are some additional tips from a seasoned goose hunter to help you get more geese on your late day hunts.

Get After It

Benjamin Webster, owner of Big Kansas Outdoors, runs his operation in central Kansas with hunts that often include afternoon goose setups, specifically. Unlike many other outfitters, Webster offers a single hunt each day that capitalizes on the weather, and if the scales are tipped to support a late-day hunt, that’s what they do. Instead of providing his clients with two average or mediocre hunts, when the weather dictates it, these afternoon sits can be real bang-up hunts.

“There are several advantages for hunting the afternoon,” Webster suggests, “There’s typically much less hunting pressure, it’s usually warmer, and you’ve got the sun out with no frost on your decoys.” “We use the weather to our advantage, and every hunter should. If it’s going to be brutally cold with no wind in the morning, you’re going to have frost on the decoys. Sleep in and scout the fields and hunt the afternoon when you have sun, better wind, and clean decoys.”

Webster goes on to advocate for goose hunters to think outside the box and aim for an afternoon setup for geese. “When you get stuck in a rut doing the same thing, you’ve got to try something different to get out of that pattern.” “The birds get a lot of pressure in the morning, so it’s good just to switch it up on them, it’s never going to hurt, and it can make a big difference. If you can just wait, be patient, and play the weather, you’re going to be way more successful.”

For anyone looking to go for gold on their afternoon goose hunt, Webster makes the following suggestions:

• The wind is usually better and more consistent in the afternoon vs the morning, where it may be light and variable—or no wind at all;
• Nine times out of ten, any geese that you see in a field in the morning will be back there in the afternoon;
• Use field edges and tree lines to hide, and be conscious of your shadows in the low angle of the late-day sun;
• Watch your hide and decoy setup with the sun setting in the west, vs. rising in the east like you’re accustomed to during the morning hours;
• Decoy setups stay the same no matter the time of day or part of the season you’re in, but pay attention to what you’re seeing in your scouting and match that in your decoy placements;
• Be ready. You’re going to get a shorter flight, maybe only one to two hours, but they’re going to come out hot and heavy and ready to feed.

Loving It Late

The morning magic of hunting geese at first light will never go away, but at times, there may be good reason for us to hunt later in the day. Perhaps you can sneak out of work early or maybe one day you’ll have to wait for the weather to break. Migrating geese will generally feed twice a day throughout the season, so consider capitalizing on the latter part at some point this year.

The best hunts—at least the most memorable ones—don’t just fall into your lap. Sure, there may always be some luck involved, but I’m willing to bet the stories you’ll be telling decades from now will revolve around the times you dared to do something different and had a blast. Just like the childhood book series, it’s “choose your own adventure” out there, you never know what you might find if you don’t try it.

YAKIMA, Wash. – Hunting Washington’s most prized deer can take significant time and effort, not to mention a little bit of luck.

For 27-year-old Jake Fife, it took 16 years to earn an archery tag for one of Yakima County’s most coveted and restricted units, the location of which he asked not be used in this article. So when his early scouting last summer identified a buck bigger than any he’d ever seen before, bringing it home became a single-minded obsession that defined his daily routine.

“Wake up, go to work, think about the deer, get off work, go see the deer,” Fife recalled. “Think more about the deer. Come home, sleep think about the deer. Dream about the deer.”

Those dreams became haunted by a missed opportunity on the opening day of the season, Sept. 1, but nine days later Fife found the perfect chance for redemption. Countless hours of target practice finally paid off when he took down the buck, two weeks before the season ended.

Fife’s elation and pride from his first archery kill along with a full freezer plus plenty for friends from 175 pounds hanging at the meat locker provided enough rewards, but he would earn much more. The buck’s net score of 229 shattered the previous record of 2033/8 for Washington nontypical mule deer, and it won Best-of-Show in the archery category of the Horn and Antler competition at February’s Central Washington Sportsmen Show.

“It was really special due to the fact that I was able to finally get it down with a bow after a lot of failed attempts on other deer and stuff that I ended up never getting,” Fife said. “I feel pretty spoiled, but at the same time, there was a lot of hard work and disappointment before that happened.”

Hunting in his blood

Fife took his first hunter’s safety course to acquire a license at eight years old, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

He initially applied for the unit where he would eventually find his record-breaking buck as 10-year-old, and Fife gained experience hunting elsewhere with his father, Gary Fife. Longtime hunting partner Trevor Dallman met Fife during their freshman year at Selah High and joined him in collecting virtually all of the many deer mounts now hanging from the wall in his east Selah home.

“We started off pretty young and just kind of going together and before you know it, we just hunted well together and started having good success,” Dallman said. “Mostly deer, elk and waterfowl.”

Fife learned to hunt with rifles and muzzleloaders before finally picking up a bow a little more than three years ago. He worked hard to gain confidence and skill with his Bowtech Carbon Knight, learning how to factor in the wind and hide well enough to creep within range of a potential target. Dallman said the Naches Valley head baseball coach and P.E. teacher has always had the “eagle eye” for finding the biggest game animals, including a memorable one that got away after a close call a couple years ago.

So when Fife sent Dallman a picture of an even more massive buck, Dallman quickly agreed to be a spotter and help out however he could. That meant tagging along whenever possible, and he heard plenty of stories from days when he couldn’t make it out to join his friend.

“He’s just so dedicated, I knew he wasn’t going to go for anything else,” Dallman said. “There was multiple other bucks when he got this one that were, at any other time, ‘wow, that’s a huge buck.’”

As one of two hunters selected in late June for an archery tag on a unit known for old, large bucks, Fife found his ultimate goal after several days of scouting about three weeks before the season opened. He tried to track the buck for about six hours daily on the weekends and two to three during the week, totaling well over 50 hours.

Finding trends proved more difficult than expected as the buck wandered around to different trails, bedding down and drinking water at multiple spots. Fife figured the deer’s tendency to stay in the general area would give him a good chance, though he couldn’t imagine just how soon it would come.

Taking down a “giant”

Fife didn’t sleep much the night before he began his hunt for the buck he referred to as a “giant” in a blog post for Northwest Sportsman magazine last October.

He woke up early and shortly after the sun rose saw a shocking sight — the buck of his dreams all alone. Fife carefully worked his way to within 70 yards of the patch of sage where he believed the deer was resting, only to see it stand up 30 yards away, then bolt upon seeing a disturbance so close.

“He didn’t stop to look back to see what I was,” Fife said. “I watched him go over one ridge and then go over another ridge and then go over another ridge. I was like ‘oh my god’ and then he never came out of that one, a big canyon, so I knew he was around.”

Nerves engulfed Fife even more than before following the close encounter, but he remained patient, waiting for the ideal moment. He saw the buck out in the open and with others over the next few days, including on a couple when the unit was closed, choosing to keep his distance rather than risk another failed stalk.

Finally, on Sunday, Sept. 10, Fife discovered the buck behind a large patch of brush and watched it feed while darkening up its horns by rubbing them on and off for about two and a half hours. He also called Dallman, who went out to spot for his friend as quickly as possible on another beautiful, sunny morning.

“Pretty much I had a perfect view,” Dallman said. “You could drive this road up on this hill and I could see everything.”

He watched as Fife slowly and methodically crept towards the bottom of the draw, eventually taking off his shoes and crawling on hands and knees through cheatgrass and stickers. He eventually settled into a spot about 40 yards away, behind a bush enough to be hidden from the deer, with a slight, steady breeze blowing into his face.

But as Fife partially stood up, awkwardly off-balance, waiting for the deer to stand and turn around, he felt his bow jump a bit and realized he needed a more comfortable position. So he immediately pulled back the string, stepped up and through the bush, then when the buck got up, locked eyes, and stomped his foot down, Fife let his arrow fly.

“It just went right through him, just disappeared,” Fife said. “It happened so fast I was just like — I knew I seen that I hit him but it didn’t make much sound or anything.”

An anxious hour

Doubts about what looked like a perfect shot crept into Fife’s mind after he watched the buck sprint away at full speed, and a phone call to Dallman only confirmed those fears.

From the road, he’d seen the buck tear off through the plain at full speed showing no signs of injury, then eventually slow down before it headed into some bushes and disappeared. Fife couldn’t find any traces of blood — or his arrow — so he decided to wait an hour until about 12:30 p.m. to begin a thorough search.

Dallman directed Fife to the bushes, and there it was, a buck even bigger and more incredible than he’d seen at a distance or in his pictures. Dallman and a game warden who watched the hunt helped Fife back to the truck with his price, which he estimates weighed about 300 pounds.

The success garnered Fife plenty of attention and opportunities to tell his story to fellow hunters, but he insists the high score isn’t really important to him. He’s hoping a full mount will be done by the end of the summer, and he’ll always have some unforgettable memories.

“Not even just to get him, but to be able to hunt a deer of that caliber was pretty cool,” Fife said. “Who knows if it’ll ever happen again? It might not.”

To spot and stalk or ambush hunt — that is the question

I have always been plagued with that dilemma ever since I started down this venture we call hunting. Growing up, we always still hunted or ambush hunted. I really wasn’t exposed to spot and stalk hunting until a few years ago. When I did go down the spot and stalk path, I couldn’t help but just want to find somewhere where I could sit and wait for that bear or buck to walk by though. In turn, when I was ambush hunting, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I could be seeing if I was glassing at that time. It was definitely a “grass is greener on the other side” scenario for me and, sometimes, it still is.

So which is better?

I feel like there really isn’t a concrete answer for this question. Everybody is different and different situations call for different types of hunting strategies. For instance, it wouldn’t be the best idea to spot and stalk hunt in country where you couldn’t see 10’ in front of you. This would call for more of a still hunting/ambush hunting approach. The whole idea behind spot and stalk is to spot the animal from a good distance away and plan a stalk in order to get close enough for a shot. Could that be done in dense country? Yes, it could. Is it the most productive way of hunting there? In my opinion, no. Let’s take a look at both applications.

Spot and stalk

This is by far my favorite way to hunt. Sitting on a high vantage point and overlooking vast open country with my binoculars brings a calming feeling to me. It’s like a never ending puzzle that is begging to be solved. Where will you see the animals? What animals will you see? Will you even see anything? If you do, how are you going to make your approach? I have learned more about deer hunting this way than any other animal. It is such an added benefit, in my opinion, to be able to sit there and watch animals from a long ways away act like themselves and do their thing. What part of the hill do they tend to walk on? What facing slope are they choosing over the others? Where are they bedding? That one is the most important, especially for a spot and stalk bowhunter. If you can glass a deer up and actually watch where it beds, now the game has really begun. Being able to do this is going to give you a lot more time to get over to where that animal is because you really don’t need to worry too much about that animal moving its position. Also, if you have never experienced the rush of sneaking up on a bedded deer or herd of elk, you are missing out. This is where our natural predatory instincts kick in and they are put to the ultimate test. Try it out sometime.

Ambush hunting

This type of hunting brings its own set of adrenaline rush. I can remember being a kid and sitting up against a tree with my dad. It was the first archery hunt that I had ever gone on. The day before we saw two or three amazing mule deer bucks and found a prominent trail leading up a fence line right towards where we were positioned for the morning. Just as the sun was peaking over the hillside in front of me, I saw antlers along with it. A beautiful old buck with a gray patch on his back slowly worked his way down towards me. I was so shaken up, I literally couldn’t pick up my bow. The old warrior walked right past me at 10 yards without an arrow to his name. That deer still haunts me.

Continued below.

Ambush hunting can be the most boring experience known to mankind, especially if you are a little kid. I have had the thought of bringing an audio book with me into the blind or perhaps a podcast. The hard nose in me says that this will take away from my experience and that those things don’t belong in the mountains and maybe they don’t. The plus with it, though, is that if you do see something, chances are you are going to be presented with a shot. I will admit that it is a very exciting experience hearing something walking towards you and not being able to see it until it comes into view. There is no better way to get close to game than letting the game get close to you.

Which method is the best way to go?

I am afraid that only you can answer that question. How do you prefer to hunt? If you don’t care, then take a look at the country you will be hunting. What application do you think is going to lend success? I myself prefer to spot and stalk as I have stated above. Because of this, I try to find country that allows me to do so. The past few months, I have been fighting with myself on how to approach my next spring bear hunt. In the past it has been a constant battle of spot and stalk or ambush hunting. In the end, I decided to do what makes me happy and plays to my strengths, successful or not. If you like sitting in a blind or treestand, then do it! If you’re like me and enjoy looking through your optics and playing “Where’s Waldo?” with the quarry you seek, then do it! You write your own story.

At first glance, moose and horses look somewhat similar. They’re both ungulates, or mammals with hooves, walk on four legs, and have a similar body and head shape. That’s about where the similarities end, though.

In the U.S., horses are almost exclusively pets, while moose almost exclusively live in the wild. Male moose have antlers; horses don’t. And while there are a few different species of moose, just like there are many horse breeds, horses are faster while moose are larger. Generally, a moose weighs up to 1,400 pounds (635 kg), while horses typically weigh a maximum of 1,200 (550 kg) pounds.

Here are 11 photos that help showcase the size difference between moose and horses.

Jump to:

• 1. Size Comparison
• 2. There Are Some Exceptions
• 3. A Little Bit Taller
• 4. Just a Bystander
• 5. Different Sizes for Different Climates
• 6. Watch the Road
• 7. Keep a Safe Distance
• 8. Watch Out for the Antlers
• 9. An Aggressive Moose is a Dangerous Moose
• 10. Sometimes, They Get Along Just Fine
• 11. Care to Share?
• Final Thoughts

1. Size Comparison

On average, a moose will be heavier, taller, and longer than a horse. In fact, they’re the largest species in the family Cervidae, which also includes elk and deer.

2. There Are Some Exceptions

While moose are typically larger than horses, there are some horse breeds that have the moose beat. The Shire horse, for example, is one of the largest horse breeds and can greatly outweigh a moose. A stallion Shire horse usually ranges from 1,950-2,400 pounds (900-1100 kg). The largest Shire horse, a gelding named Samson, topped the scales at 3,360 pounds (1,524 kg)!

3. A Little Bit Taller

While the moose is closer to the camera in this photo, it’s still pretty clear that it’s taller than the horse. The average height of a moose at the shoulders is between 4 feet 7 inches (1.3 meters) and 6 feet 11 inches (2.1 meters), while horses, on average, are about five feet tall (1.5 meters).

4. Just a Bystander

Though there have been people throughout history who have managed to domesticate moose, it doesn’t happen often. This moose seems perfectly content to watch his fellow ungulates pull a wagon.

5. Different Sizes for Different Climates

Domesticated horses can be found all over the world today, but modern horses originally came from central Asia. Moose, however, are only found in the wild in the northern parts of North America and Eurasia. They stay warm thanks to their thick fur but also their massive size, which helps their bodies retain heat.

6. Watch the Road

While moose are usually larger, both moose and horses are big enough to cause big problems on the road. Both are typically taller than a sedan, and moose can be as tall as or taller than a pickup truck. While not as common as hitting a deer, there are still about 500 incidents involving moose each year in New England alone. Moose can also do much more damage to vehicles and are more likely to result in fatalities than an accident with a dear.

While it’s much less common to hit a horse, as they don’t often roam free, there are still a handful of incidents each year. They most often happen between October and December and usually on main roads. Things are especially bad in Amish country, where they use horse-drawn carriages instead of vehicles. Pennsylvania calculated that between 2007-2016, there were 633 crashes that involved horses and buggies, with a total of 23 deaths.

To avoid colliding with a moose or horse, use caution when driving through wilderness, farmland, or areas where horse-drawn carriages are common.

7. Keep a Safe Distance

It’s hard to say what would happen if a moose and horse were to meet; there isn’t a lot of research done, and it would depend on the specific horse and moose. However, moose are known to be aggressive at times and, because of their size, can inflict serious damage. If you’re riding your horse and run into a moose, it’s best to keep your distance and get away as quickly and calmly as possible, especially if your horse spooks easily.

8. Watch Out for the Antlers

While the body of a moose is typically going to be taller than the body of a horse, that size difference only grows when you factor in a moose’s antlers. The antlers, which are made of bone, average between four and five feet (1.2-1.5 meters) wide and can weigh between 25 and 30 pounds (11-16.5 kilograms). Only male moose, or bulls, have antlers, and they typically use their antlers to assert dominance.

9. An Aggressive Moose is a Dangerous Moose

Most often, the male moose, or bulls, are the aggressive ones. While moose typically will leave you alone, they can also carry a parasite called a brainworm that increases their aggression. If an angry moose attacks a horse, the moose may fight using its antlers or by kicking with its front hooves. Moose can kick both straight ahead and sideways. Combined with their muscular build, this makes them particularly dangerous in a fight.

10. Sometimes, They Get Along Just Fine

Just because moose are bigger and stronger doesn’t mean they can’t get along with their distant cousins. Blogger and horse trainer Carola Sossdorf adopted an orphaned moose named Emma when the moose was just a few days old. While a female moose is less likely to be aggressive anyway, being raised among other horses likely helped her get used to having horses around.

11. Care to Share?

This photographer managed to snap a photo of a horse and moose sharing a meal, but that doesn’t happen often, in part because the two animals have different dietary needs. Both are herbivores, meaning they exclusively eat plants, but they choose different plants for their diets. Horses typically dine on grass and hay, as well as the oats in horse feed.

Moose, however, typically eat leaves and twigs from woody plants they can find in their natural habitat. Leaving food out for moose is not advised, as offering them food outside of their diet can cause them harm.

Final Thoughts

On average, you’ll find moose to be taller than horses, but there are always exceptions. Part of the reason moose are built to be larger is that their body mass helps them survive in the colder climates they inhabit. Because horses are domesticated in North America, they’re usually more used to being around people. Moose, however, can sometimes become aggressive, so it’s best to avoid them when possible.

Both animals are beautiful creatures with majestic, strong natures. While you can snuggle up to a horse, given the tendencies of moose, it’s best to watch them from a distance.

Hope you’ve got your hunting cap on — it’s time for a trivia quiz about all things hunting! How much do you know about this subject? Take a shot at these 25 trivia questions and find out!

1. Which state has the largest deer population?

A. Texas

B. Wisconsin

C. Pennsylvania

D. Michigan

2. In what year was the first recorded fee for a hunting license?

A. 1783

B. 1864

C. 1889

D. 1905

3. What is the biggest animal that can be legally hunted in North America?

A. Bison

B. Moose

C. Elk

D. Grizzly bear

4. Which of the following is NOT a method of hunting?

A. Baiting

B. Bowhunting

C. Hunting with dogs

D. Shooting from a vehicle

5. Which president was an avid hunter?

A. Teddy Roosevelt

B. Abraham Lincoln

C. James Buchanan

D. John F Kennedy

6. Which animal is NOT hunted for its fur?

A. Beaver

B. Raccoon

C. Bobcat

D. Squirrel

7. Which of the following is NOT a type of hunting dog?

A. Beagle

B. Boxer

C. Setter

D. Pointer

8. What is the most popular game bird in North America?

A. Turkey

B. Grouse

C. Pheasant

D. Duck

9. In what year did the United States ban whale hunting?

A. 1820

B. 1920

C. 1940

D. 1971

10. Which state has the longest hunting season?

A. Alaska

B. Louisiana

C. Maine

D. Virginia

11. Which of the following animals can be hunted at night?

A. Raccoon

B. Opossum

C. Coyote

D. All of the above

12. For what animal is the term “trophy hunting” most often used?

A. Whitetail deer

B. Moose

C. Bighorn sheep

D. Buffalo

13. How many antler points does a bull need to have before he can be legally hunted?

A. 4

B. 6

C. 8

D. 10

14. Which of the following is not an endangered species?

A. American bison

B. Peregrine falcon

C. Whooping crane

D. Black-footed Ferret

15. Which state has the highest percentage of hunting license holders?

A. South Dakota

B. Texas

C. Vermont

D. Louisiana

16. Which organization was founded in 1961 to protect wildlife and their habitats?

A. The Nature Conservancy

B. National Wildlife Federation

C. World Wildlife Fund

D. Sierra Club

17. Which of the following animals is NOT a game animal?

A. Raccoon

B. Gray squirrel

C. Red fox

D. Striped skunk

18. What is the minimum caliber rifle that can be used to hunt deer in most states?

A. .22

B. .24

C. .26

D. .28

19. Which state has the most deer per square mile?

A. Mississippi

B. Wisconsin

C. Pennsylvania

D. Michigan

20. Which of the following animals can be hunted with a crossbow?

A. Deer

B. Turkey

C. Bear

D. All of the above

21. Which country has the most hunters per capita?

A. United States

B. Canada

C. Ireland

D. Russia

22. In what year was the first issue of Field & Stream magazine published?

A. 1895

B. 1905

C. 1915

D. 1925

23. What are the two most popular types of rifles used for deer hunting?

A. Lever-action and pump-action

B. Bolt-action and lever-action

C. Semi-automatic and bolt-action

D. Pump-action and semi-automatic

24. What does “bag limit” refer to?

A. The maximum number of animals that can be killed in one day

B. The size of the animal that can be legally killed

C. The minimum caliber rifle that can be used to hunt deer

D. The amount of time a hunter can spend hunting in one day

25. What does “Skunked” mean?

A. When a deer smells a hunter and runs away

B. When a hunter is unable to kill an animal

C. When a hunter shoots an animal and only wounds it

D. When two hunters shoot the same animal

There you have it. I hope none of these questions were a complete “miss” for you. Did you get skunked? Let me know how you did in the comments below. And if hunting isn’t really your thing, check out my other trivia quizzes. There’s bound to be one that’s more your speed. Thanks for playing!

By: Dylan HaywardOne of the first things my old man went over with me when I first started turkey hunting at the age of 10 was how to tell the difference between a Jake and a Tom. And I am glad he did, because when you’re out there for the first time and the adrenaline is rushing, it’s easy to mistake the two. Avid turkey hunters will claim there are tons of ways to differentiate a Jake from a Tom, but I have 4 key identifiers to help you determine whether it’s a longbeard you’re looking at, or a young jake. The Turkey’s BeardThis one seems to be the most obvious and useful identifier of a Tom. Jakes are young turkeys, it’s a general consensus that a Jake is a one year old turkey, so he hasn’t had much time to grow his beard out. Thus, a Jake will typically only be sporting a 2-4 inch beard. This can sometimes get confusing with hens in the field, as they can also sometimes have a thin, short beard, but more on that later. Toms are more mature turkeys which can grow beards up to 11 inches in length or more. In most states, you are legally allowed to harvest any bearded turkey, and that includes hens. This likely boils down to how difficult it would be for a hunter to spot the difference between a hen and a Tom that both have beards, however, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any. The front breast feathers on a Tom are a very deep black, while the hens tend to be more of a dark brown. If you’re ever uncertain on whether or not it’s a bearded hen or a Tom, that’s a great identifier to know. A lot of hunters will keep the beard and hang it using a Big 8 Turkey Beard Hanger so make sure you keep the beard to display your trophy.

The Turkey’s SpursThe spurs on a turkey are a tough characteristic to identify while you’re hunting, although I think it’s worth noting the differences between a Jake’s spurs and a Tom’s. Jakes will generally have shorter, half inch spurs that are rounded at the end, almost resembling mounds. While the spurs of a Tom are usually much longer, getting up to one and a half inch, with sharp ends that will typically curve.The Turkey’s GobbleWith some careful listening, an experienced turkey hunter can distinguish a Tom gobble from a Jake gobble at a good distance away. Jakes tend to gobble a lot softer with a quick drop off. A Tom has a longer drawn out gobble that is significantly louder. From my experience turkey hunting, a Jake tends to gobble a lot more frequently than a Tom, like a child that won’t stop asking his parents for something. The Turkey’s FanI saved this for last because this is generally the last identifier I use, and I only use it if I am really on the fence about a turkey, and my other three identifiers haven’t convinced me yet. The fan of a Jake typically looks a bit uneven and awkward. At around the 4 or 5 month mark, a Jake begins to molt his fan. Meaning their small feathers get replaced by longer ones as they mature. Come spring time, the center fan feathers have already been replaced by longer feathers, which makes the outer feathers look uneven and out of place. When a Jake is in full strut, this becomes very easy to identify.Overall, one of the best ways to tell the difference between a Tom and a Jake is experiencing both of them in the same field while you’re hunting. You’ll quickly be able to identify which is the mature bird, and you can see first hand the differences between the two, which will help you on all of your future hunts.

MeatEater is Part of Outdoor Channel’s “Taste of the Wild” Block Monday Nights

DENVER (October 11, 2024) – MeatEater, featuring the charismatic Steven Rinella, has consistently captivated viewers of Outdoor Sportsman Group, and now season 11 of this perennial favorite is now available nationally on Outdoor Channel for the first time every Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

As Rinella continually shares, the show transcends beyond the mere search of an animal; it’s a testament to his own personal grit, determination and essence that fuels such pursuit. Season 11 sees Rinella and crew chase moose in Alaska, spearfish in Hawaii, hunt ducks in Louisiana and find themselves in many more nature-fueled adventures along the way.

“One of my favorite episodes from season 11 was a moose hunt in eastern Alaska. We were there for ten days and were getting our buns kicked. And then, finally, in the last hour of the last day of the season here comes a bull from about a mile off. Trying to call him up the mountain while simultaneously closing the distance by heading in his direction was one of the more exciting moments we ever filmed,” shared Steven Rinella.

Growing up in the Midwest’s great outdoors – hunting, fishing, and trapping from a young age – Rinella has always viewed the world through the eyes of an ancestral hunter/gatherer. Inspired by early man’s skill, ingenuity, and sheer determination to survive and thrive under challenging circumstances, Rinella has made his life’s work to cultivate those same qualities – and encourage others to do the same – while always being mindful of conservation principles and practices.

In MeatEater, Rinella explores various hunting techniques, tracks and pursue prey, and procures and cooks his own food. Whether tracking blacktail deer in the remote Alaskan wilderness, or rooting out javelina in Texas, Rinella leverages his back-country skills, challenging himself at every corner while providing nail-biting adventure along the way.

Steven Rinella is an avid outdoorsman, writer, and television personality best known for his ability to translate the hunting lifestyle to a wide variety of audiences. He is the host of the long-running television show MeatEater and top-ranked MeatEater podcast. He is the New York Times bestselling author of ten books dealing with wildlife, hunting, fishing, and wild game cooking, most recently Outdoor Kids in an Inside World: Getting Your Family Out of the House and Radically Engaged with Nature and the audio original, MeatEater’s Campfire Stories: Narrow Escapes and More Close Calls. He is the recipient of the Conservation Achievement Award from The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

About Outdoor Channel: Outdoor Channel has been taking viewers across America and around the world on unparalleled adventures since 1993. Dedicated to the outdoor lifestyle and conservation, the independent cable network is a division of Outdoor Sportsman Group and provides a complete spectrum of riveting hunting, fishing, shooting and adventure entertainment. Outdoor Channel is the largest outdoor TV footprint in the country and is available in more than 50 countries internationally. Outdoor Channel can be viewed in HD and is accessible by broadband and mobile platforms. For program times and other information, visit www.outdoorchannel.com. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

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