If you don’t have your head buried in the sand, you understand why the new Hornady 7mm PRC cartridge has created such a stir. You also understand that it could be months before rifles chambered in 7mm PRC are readily available on dealer’s shelves.

It’s debatable whether a new cartridge has ever before driven as much internet buzz as the 7mm PRC. That’s in large part due to the inherent coolness of the cartridge, but it is also thanks to the fact that few shooters want to wait to own one. “How to build a 7mm PRC” is a popular search. The easiest and most practical way, of course, is to convert a rifle already in your gun safe. Thankfully, the process isn’t particularly hard.

Step 1: Find An Appropriate Bolt-Action

First, your action must be compatible with the 7mm PRC. That means your donor rifle must have a magnum-diameter bolt face compatible with the cartridge’s 0.532-inch case head. It also must have feed rails and a magazine box compatible with the PRC cartridge.

Thankfully, just about every magnum action for popular rounds such as the 7mm Rem Mag and .300 Win. Mag. are ideal. Unlike the longer .300 PRC, which demands a true long magnum action that will house 3.700-inch-long cartridges, the 7mm version fits in standard-length actions that house 3.400-inch cartridges. This opens a plethora of great options for conversion.

Without debate, the most sensible action for conversion to 7mm PRC is a Remington 700 or 700 clone. This isn’t because of inherent superiority; it’s simply because there are more aftermarket parts for the 700 than for any other. This includes stocks, triggers, magazines, bottom metal and so forth. Plus, the M700 is naturally easy to make accurate, which makes it and the 7mm PRC a match made in heaven. However, any good magnum action will do just fine. As you’ll see, I didn’t use an M700 action, for reasons I’ll discuss later.

Step 2: Get A Premium Barrel

Unfortunately, you can’t just ream out a 7mm Rem Mag chamber to make it a 7mm PRC. Whatever cartridge your donor rifle is chambered for, you’ll need a new barrel. You can opt for an entry-level replacement barrel, which will cost you around $200. Don’t do it. Spend the dollars for a premium, match-grade barrel. The 7mm PRC cartridge deserves it, and in the long run, you’ll never regret the extra money.

You can get a good all-steel Shaw Barrels, Bartlein, Proof Research or Krieger barrel for less than $400. If you want the ultimate hunting-rifle barrel and can stretch the wallet, splurge for a fine carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel. The extra diameter adds accuracy-enhancing stiffness without weight, and the vibration-dampening effect of the carbon fiber makes such barrels particularly forgiving and accurate.

Step 3: The Right Stock

Without a stock that’s rigid and ergonomic, your rifle won’t shoot consistently, and you the shooter won’t be able to get the best accuracy your rifle possesses. If your donor rifle doesn’t have a good stock, buy an aftermarket one.

Best of the lot are the carbon-fiber and carbon-fiber blend stocks that are hand laid, not injection molded. They’re expensive, but worth every penny. Also good are laminated wood stocks. They’re rigid and impervious to heat and moisture extremes like carbon fiber. However, they’re quite heavy. On the plus side, they’re also quite affordable. If you use a natural wooden stock—like the walnut I used on the rifle built for this article project—use a good dense stick of walnut. Avoid birch or beech or other cheap woods. Be sure your gunsmith glass beds it fully and seals the barrel channel and magazine mortice against moisture so the stock will remain stable in various climates.

For the most part, avoid injection-molded plastic stocks. They’re impervious to moisture, yes, but they’re also flimsy and flexible and susceptible to extremes in heat and cold. I’ve seen injection-molded stocks become nearly malleable in 100+ temps and brittle enough to shatter in sub-zero temps.

Step 4: Hire a proper gunsmith

I can’t stress how important this is. No matter how premium the quality if your parts is, the craftsmanship of your chosen gunsmith will make or break your project. Don’t get a hobby ’smith who works out of his garage to do your work.

My Personal 7mm PRC Build

Like Col. Townsend Whelen, who famously said, “Only accurate rifles are interesting,” I’m a fan of tack-drivers. I’m also a fan of extreme ballistic performance, which the 7mm PRC embodies. When assigned this article project, part of the protocol was to keep it simple and use whatever approach was most practical, just as most shooters interested in a similar project would. If I’d had a magnum Remington Model 700 action on hand that I wasn’t using, I’d have picked it. But I didn’t, and I was glad I didn’t.

What I did have was a stainless Winchester Model 70 action, with a poor-shooting .338 Win Mag barrel. Now, I’m a big fan of Mauser-based controlled-feed actions, and I gleefully dug up the dusty barreled action for my project. Few 7mm PRC rifles being built have controlled-feed actions. I’d be using mine in elk and bear country, and I figured it would not only be unique, it would be just right. I also had a nice walnut stock I’d taken off of a different M70 I had customized and re-stocked. Ideally, I’ll someday have a nice carbon fiber stock fit to the customized rifle, but for the time being time was short and the Walnut stock would serve beautifully—and again, be distinctive.

Because I’m a sucker for premium accuracy and forgiving consistency, I ordered a carbon-fiber-wrapped 22-inch Proof Research barrel with a 1:8 twist, so it will handle any and all high-BC long-range bullets. It’s the Sendero profile, so it’s as rigid as they come and will comfortably carry my titanium Banish 30 suppressor by Silencer Central. Plus, I was guessing the distinctive carbon fiber pattern in the Proof barrel would look smashing with the rich French Red finish on my walnut stock.

Hill Country Rifles in Texas consented to expedite the build to help me make my deadline. HCR has a team of excellent gunsmiths, and does superlative work. Off went all my parts to Matt Bettersworth, my friend at HCR. Aside from an invisible issue with the M70s cocking piece, which HCR fixed, the rifle came together beautifully. I received an email from Matt stating, “…looks pretty darn good. Factory ELD-X shot right at ½ inch.”

As you can see from the photographs, Matt was right. The rifle looks great. It’s distinctive, classy, capable, and it shoots as well as it looks. I accuracy-tested two of Hornady’s 7mm PRC factory loads through it, firing three consecutive three-shot groups at 100 yards and was impressed. Factory-loaded 175-grain ELD-X bullets averaged .56-inch groups—in a blowing snowstorm. Muzzle velocity in the 22-inch barrel was 2,926 fps with a standard deviation of 14 fps.

Hornady’s 180-grain ELD Match load is usually a tad more accurate, but in this rifle, it averaged 0.84-inch groups. Still good, but my rifle shoots the 175-grain ELD-X hunting load better. I’m glad, because this is a hunting rifle. It’s worth noting that the match ammo did turn in super good consistency, averaging 2,914 fps with just 9 fps of standard deviation. Factory ammo that scores in the single digits is impressive.

All you need to get your own custom 7mm PRC rifle built is a donor rifle with an appropriate action, match-grade 7mm barrel with 1:8-inch rifling twist, quality, stable stock and a trustworthy gunsmith with a 7mm PRC reamer. New factory-production rifles are sure to start trickling into the market place throughout 2024. However, it could be a long time before you find one that’s exactly what you want. Why wait? Build one.

Glock, Glock, Glock, it’s all about Glock. I’ll be the first to admit that Glocks are fantastic firearms that are simple, accurate, easy to use, and all in all, great guns.

What I don’t understand is the cult of Glock.

They lack the charm and character of guns like the CZ-75, Hi-Power, and 1911. Yet here we are with a Glock G17 in our hands, and it’s a predictably lovely gun.

Let’s explore the what, the why, and where the Glock excels.

Glock 17: Review at a Glance

Pros

• Accommodates virtually all mini-red dots
• Modular grip
• Highly reliable
• Tons of aftermarket support

Cons

• Slide bite is a real risk
• Small slide lock

The Bottom Line

The Glock G17 delivers a reliable, fairly ergonomic full-sized 9mm pistol in a very affordable package. Plus, the wide range of aftermarket parts and accessories available allow you to customize your G17 to exactly what you want.

Specs and Features

Specifications

• Caliber: 9mm
• Width: 1.26″
• Length: 7.95″
• Barrel Length: 4.49″
• Height: 5.47″
• Weight: 22.05 oz
• Capacity: 17

Features

• Plate system for optics that accommodates nearly all mini red dots
• Dual recoil assembly is designed to reduce recoil and increase the life of the gun
• Comes with a reversible magazine release
• Modular backstrap system
• Comes with three 17-round magazines, a handy little magazine loader, and a little tool to attach the plates and optics

Source: Glock

Background

When Gaston Glock decided to produce a handgun, he assembled a crew of engineers, firearms designers, and professional shooters to design the next big firearm. That firearm became the Glock G17.

The 17 came from the fact it was Gaston Glock’s 17th patent. Glock produced the gun for the Austrian army, and it won the contract.

Gaston’s Glock G17 went on to keep winning military contracts and serves with numerous militaries and police forces, including SOCOM.

The Glock G17 is a full-sized 9mm model. It’s also a Gen 4 model with the dual captured recoil spring, rail, and finger groove-equipped grip.

Oh, and let’s not forget you also have the option of a MOS model. MOS stands for Modular Optic System, and the gun can accommodate more than a dozen different red dot optics.

There are two types of MOS systems, the standard which we have here and the MOS3. The MOS3 utilizes optic-specific platforms and only accommodates one footprint.

Who Is It For?

The full-sized Glock G17 makes for an excellent duty weapon with police and military forces. It’s also a solid handgun for home defense.

The ability to use 33-round magazines, toss a light on it, and equip the weapon with an optic makes it an excellent home defense firearm.

Most would feel the Glock G17 is too large for concealed carry. It’s a duty-sized firearm, but don’t tell that to the hardcore concealed carriers. Quite a few fellas and gals carry full-sized firearms concealed.

It’s not that hard to do with a good holster and a good belt.

Glock pistols are also perfect for those who like to tinker. A Glock is a lot like an AR. You can turn it into anything, or well, almost anything.

The Glock G17 can be transformed into a race gun for competition shooting, and it can be made into a subgun-like platform with dozens of different brace options.

Heck, you can turn it into a rifle if you so choose. Even a bullpup rifle if you want.

Fit & Feel

The large nature of the Glock G17 fits most hands rather well. If it doesn’t, you can add a backstrap to increase the grip size. I’ve got huge hands, and the Glock fits just perfect. I think the backstraps make the gun too clunky.

Big grips mean the gun’s relatively easy to handle. Full-sized 9mms eat recoil without issue, and so does the Glock G17. However, the gun has some flaws.

For one, without the rather large beavertail extensions, the gun offers some terrible slide bite to my big hands. A long day of shooting draws a little blood and gives me a nice callous. Luckily they fixed this with the Gen 5.

Call me soft, but the trigger also tends to rub and be irritating after shooting a few hundred rounds. I replaced the trigger shoe with a flat metal model to avoid such discomfort.

I’m a fan of the Gen 5’s smooth grip versus the grip humps, but I think that’s more my preference than a flaw on Glock’s part.

The Glock’s slide release placement is also an issue for me.

My thumbs press it down with a thumbs forward grip and render it mostly useless when the magazine is empty. The slide fails to lock rearward, and a click lets me know I’m empty.

The magazine release is easily reversible for left-handed shooters. It’s relatively nice, easy to engage, and better than the Gen 3 models.

How Does It Shoot?

With 6.69 inches of sight radius, the Glock G17 is a straight shooter. The plastic sights leave a lot to be desired, but they are entirely competent for accurate fire. At 25 yards, I can ring the tiny 4-inch gong if I take my time.

Fast headshots are easy to accomplish at this range, and hitting anything remotely large is easy. With an IPSC steel target, I went as far back as 50 yards and landed shot after shot on the big target.

While I replaced the trigger shoe, everything else is the same as a stock Glock trigger.

It’s relatively smooth with a fair bit of takeup. Once we get to the wall, it’s stiff but short and doesn’t disrupt your sights. The reset is rock solid and both tactile and audible.

Slow fire is fine, but what about fast and accurate? Well, the combination of a good trigger, a controllable platform, and big white sights make it fairly easy to get on target and put holes in that target.

I fired several basic drills like failure to stop, box drills, and 10-10-10 drills with the Glock G17. The result was passing scores across the board. At first, the 10-10-10 was a little challenging but cleared up with a few practice runs.

Box drills don’t have tight requirements time-wise, so I used the film Collateral as my example. I beat Tom Cruise’s time with the Glock G17 and Bravo Concealment holster with a bit of practice.

If I was to take advantage of the MOS system, I could toss an optic on and increase my accuracy even more.

The small red dot reticle makes it very easy to see your target and the dot removes the need to align sights. That leads to faster and more precise shots on target.

Finally, the Glock G17 is so reliable it’s almost boring. It just goes bang with FMJs, with JHPs, steel-cased ammo, aluminum-cased ammo, and so on.

The Glock G17 doesn’t seem to care much about what kind of ammo it eats.

What Sets It Apart?

These days, the Glock G17 has one main thing going for it over other pistols. Not so long ago, I would have said “reliability,” but most modern pistols made by quality manufacturers are going to be just as reliable.

These days, what really sets the Glock G17 apart is how incredibly widespread it is in the market. It’s the number one law enforcement sidearm, and almost certainly the most popular modern handgun in the world.

That makes it easy to find parts and upgrades, and it means that there are more upgrades available for it than any other pistol in the world.

Beyond all that, it’s still the same simple, reliable, and rugged Glock that we’ve had for the last several decades, albeit with some tweaks and improvements here and there. It’s the industry standard for a reason, after all.

By the Numbers

Reliability: 5/5

The Glock G17 doesn’t fail. It doesn’t give up and will eat whatever you put through it. There’s a big reason why the Glock dominates in the police and military armories of almost 50 countries, and it’s not because the gun looks good.

Ergonomics: 3/5

The slide bite, the small slide lock, and the blade-like trigger are downsides of a solid gun. The Glock G17 features soft recoil, is easy to control, and has an excellent wide grip that fills the hand nicely. Plus, the magazine release is a significant improvement from other Glocks.

Accuracy: 4.5/5

Handgun accuracy can be tricky to judge. The Glock G17 is about as accurate for a stock-duty-style firearm. It won’t shoot like a Czechmate but shoots pretty dang straight.

Customization: 5/5

It’s the AR-15 of handguns. You can toss on whatever accessories you want and customize the optic from the ground up. Glock G17 owners can swap so many parts and pieces that the firearm becomes less of a Glock and more of a whatever.

Value: 4/5

The Glock G17 might be the most affordable, optic-ready firearm made by a dependable manufacturer out there. The price is fair and keeps it well within most budgets.

Overall: 4/5

The G17 is a rock-solid pistol. The weapon is accurate and reliable, and while it faces some challenges ergonomically, the Glock G17 is an excellent weapon. Plus, it’s reasonably priced and easy to shoot.

Upgrades for the Glock G17

Like other Glocks, there’s a ton of aftermarket support for the Glock G17. And because of the modular design of Glocks, most G17 upgrades are also compatible with other Glocks as well.

Forget holsters and aftermarket sights, that’s nothing. You can replace everything down to the pins with custom parts, till you have a “Glock” made from entirely non-Glock parts.

That means you can get something that’s truly custom, truly yours. And that’s always going to be something special.

For some specific recommendations, check out our guide to the Best Glock Upgrades.

Final Verdict

I think it’s safe to say that Glock’s fandom prefers reliability and function over character and charm. I get it. Well, I understand it at the very least.

Glock pistols perform, and that’s what a weapon should do at the end of the day.

The G17 is a classic, and it’s a classic that keeps evolving. You really can’t go wrong with a Glock.

Have you used a Glock G17 before? What do you think? Have suggestions for upgrades or accessories? Let me know in the comments. For more Glocks check out our round-up of the Best Glocks.

Bear hunting with dogs brings a whole range of emotions to mind.

More specifically, the pretty controversial bear hounding.

However, there’s also another variant of bear hunting (which could actually be beneficial to wildlife).

But first, let’s explore bear hounding and why it often damages wildlife populations.

Some people disguise hounding as a service to society while others deem it a sick sport.

Even hunting advocates seem to turn their back on bear hounding because it’s not only unfair but damaging to wildlife1 and possibly their own dogs.

• Bear hounding often orphans cubs
• Being chased into trees incites incredible anxiety in the animals
• Hounds are often hurt during encounters
• Non-target animals are chased since controlling dogs over large distances is impossible
• Hunters often trespass on private property, target endangered species, or chase bears onto busy roads

Why are bear cubs orphaned?

Because hunters don’t care to check or misidentify the gender.

Sometimes, they eliminate the threat on sight when encounters with their dogs ensue.

Other times, bears are chased over miles and robbed of their energy2 which may seal their fate, just for the hunters to notice the bear is off-limits due to age or gender.

But as mentioned, bear hounding is not the only way to hunt bears with dogs.

Below, I’ve listed all the breeds suitable for bear hunting.

A lot of breeds mentioned in other articles are absolutely not suitable for hunting bears in any way, shape, or form.

What Are Bear Hunting Dog Breeds Used For?

Hounding doesn’t necessarily only serve as a sport, instead bear hunting dogs are also used in some areas to control rising bear populations, but modern non-lethal methods include Karelian Bear Dogs to scare bears away.

As the polar ice melts, the number of bears roaming northern rural regions in Russia increases3.

Naturally, this creates a conflict between the inhabitants of small towns and these massive (and endangered) Polar Bears.

All parties involved will hopefully seek out a peaceful solution instead of allowing bear hunting with dogs, especially considering that it’s us humans who are destroying their natural habitat.

North America might soon face a similar problem and wildlife and law enforcement are seeking solutions.

Until now, bears who’ve gotten too used to people are either euthanized or put far away into another territory, both far from optimal solutions.

Hounding is partly allowed to serve as “population control” but all these (partly inhumane tactics) could be replaced by an altogether different method.

Organizations such as the Wind River Bear Institute created an actionable plan that includes dogs – but in a non-lethal way.

Dogs such as the Karelian Bear Dogs4 are used to scare bears away in the following steps:

• Bears who get too close and/or too used to humans are identified
• Bear hunting dogs are brought in to scare them (resembling Coyotes out and about to steal bear cubs)
• Upon release, the dogs track the bear, bark, and nip at the bear’s heels until called back
• If the bear has gotten used to a specific spot, they trap the animal and bring in the dogs to scare them and then release
• Additional methods like firing rubber bullets can be utilized

Sadly, there’s not a lot of literature out there discussing this way of controlling bears.

Instead, most (outdated) research papers focus on traditional bear hounding and its efficacy.

Even though there aren’t a lot of resources, I’ve tried my best and compiled a list of breeds that were traditionally used and could be introduced in this more modern way below.

Any dog breed successfully working bears offers a huge upside to the old ways:

• No known injuries to the dogs
• Bears are not unnecessarily eliminated
• No compromise in safety around campgrounds and National Parks for humans
• Karelian Bears Dogs have been able to find evidence of poaching and save polar bear dens near oil or gas fields

However, not all areas (think residential) are suitable for this type of bear control.

Besides the labor to raise and train these dogs, controlling bears this way is more labor-intensive.

So now you know about hounding as well as non-lethal bear hunting with dogs, but which breeds are actually suitable?

9 Bear Hunting Dog Breeds

The best bear hunting dog breeds include the Karelian Bear Dog, Plotthound, Coonhound, Foxhound, as well as large game hunters such as the Dogo Argentino or Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Here’s the full list of dogs capable of hunting large game such as bears:

1. Karelian Bear Dog
2. Plotthound
3. Coonhound
4. American Foxhound
5. Bloodhound
6. German Shorthaired Pointer
7. German Wirehaired Pointer
8. Dogo Argentino
9. Rhodesian Ridgeback

Karelian Bear Dog

Among the top spots for dog breeds used to work bear is the Finnish black-and-white Karelian Bear Dog.

Early breed ambassadors have been recorded in other colors as well such as red-gray or pure red.

However, black-and-white emerged as the desired color since the breed standard was formulated in 1945.

The Karelian Bear Dog looks like a cross between Border Collie and Husky with some resemblance to breeds like the Samoyed or a more wolfish German Shepherd.

While working bear is their field of expertise, they can also compete in search and rescue or sled dog trials due to their sturdy double coat and endurance.

Plott Hound

Technically also among the Coonhounds, the Plott Hound has a different ancestor though.

Plott Hounds don’t descend from English Foxhounds but rather from “Hanover hounds” in Germany.

The German immigrant who brought these dogs to the US frequently hunted bears in the mountains with his dogs.

Coonhound

There are various types of Coonhounds such as the Redbone, Bluetick, Black and Tan, American English, and Treeing Walker Coonhound.

Treeing Walker Coonhounds are among the most loving of the Hounds and quite sensible hunters too.

Ever wondered where the word “treeing” comes from?

It’s because this Hound is known to trail smaller game until it climbs a tree with the dog waiting below and barking to signal the location to the hunter.

Walker comes from the breed’s creator.

This breed is also commonly used for traditional bear hunting where the dogs hunt outside the hunter’s control and often camp for quite a long time at the bottom of the tree.

American Foxhound

The American Foxhound’s robust yet sleek frame is complimented by their soft eyes.

The bark that makes bear hunters love the American Foxhound could prove detrimental to your neighbor’s ears.

So before considering one, beware of their fierce barking which can only be controlled through training and exercise to some degree.

Bloodhound

Bloodhounds are known to be among the dogs with the best sense of smell out there (that and their incredibly long ears).

Did you know that the sloppy ears are actually there to block out sound when they’re following trails?

German Shorthaired Pointer

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a versatile hunting dog.

While Pointers are usually trained to point at birds, they can theoretically be used for pursuing and barking at bears too.

German Wirehaired Pointer

German Wirehaired Pointers could be a good fit for hunting bears.

The German Wirehaired Pointer may sound and look similar to the GSP but they’re different breeds.

While their wiry coat places first on the GWPs identifiable traits, their very loving and quite independent character is a close second.

Make sure you have plenty of time and commitment to research since this is a very active breed.

Dogo Argentino

The Dogo Argentino is the first dog of the Mastiff type on this list (there are actually 22 Mastiffs in total).

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are actually hunting lions in packs in their home country.

Contrary to popular belief, Ridgebacks don’t actually fight the lions, but they’re good at baying them.

What is the Best Bear Hunting Dog?

The best bear hunting dog is probably the Karelian Bear Dog with Hounds coming in a close second.

What the best bear hunting dog breed is also dependent upon the climate and geography in general.

In colder climates, the Siberian Laika was commonly used for hunting and/or baying bears while Hounds are more suitable and widely available in the USA.

In theory, many other dog breeds such as large game hunters or pointers could be trained to do parts of working bear but they’re not bred specifically for this purpose.

They are bred for a variety of work though and technically could be used for working bears in a non-lethal way.

Are Karelian Bear Dogs Rare?

Karelian Bear Dogs are rare as household pets in the US while they are consistently among the top 10 in their home country Finland5.

In Finland, there are over 1000 Finnish Hounds (i.e. Karelian Bear Dogs) registered each year which puts them at spot number 7 for the most popular breeds in 2019 and 20206.

At least 700 KBDs were registered in Finland for over a decade now.

That being said, there were 50,000 registrations in total so that puts the KBD only at about 2% of the total registrations.

As of July 2024, the database has not been updated with current registration numbers.

Everywhere else in the world, it’s safe to say that the KBD is pretty rare except for countries with increasing bear populations (even then, it’s not guaranteed).

Besides North America – where hunting is regulated by each state – and Northern Europe where the KBD is used for elks, Asia and Russia come to mind but there have been no reports of the KBD being common there.

The fact of the matter is that bear dogs may save lives. Look no further than what they did in Washington.7

Sources

1. Humane Society: Facts about bear hounding (…) ↩︎
2. ResearchGate, 2019: Behavioral and Physiological Responses of Scandinavian Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) to Dog Hunts (…) ↩︎
3. Phys.org, 2019: Weak Arctic ice sees 56 polar bears descend on Russian village ↩︎
4. Beardogs.org: KBD history ↩︎
5. Finnish Kennel Club: Karelian Bear Dog ↩︎
6. Finnish Kennel Club, 2020: KBD registration numbers ↩︎
7. Spokesman-Review (Washington newspaper), 2019: Washington’s first Karelian Bear Dogs, credited with busting poachers and saving kittens, die ↩︎

Disclaimer: This blog post does not substitute veterinary attention and does not intend to do so. I am not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist. If your dog shows any sign of illness, call your vet.

The Garmin Alpha 10 device allows you to closely track up to 20 dogs’ movement in the field at a range of up to 9 miles. I put a prerelease model to the test with one German Shorthaired Pointer.

Dog-tracking collars are nothing new. Garmin has a fleet of advanced dog tracking and training systems available. Embraced by hunters who run dogs over vast expanses yet need the ability to monitor each dog’s behavior, these GPS tracking devices are powerful tools in the field.

Today, Garmin added a new tool to the box with the Alpha 10. And while the Alpha 10 might be the newest, it isn’t the biggest hammer in the box.

Instead, the Alpha 10 gives hunters (and anyone else who may want to leverage the power of real-time dog tracking) a versatile, light, effective tracker with trimmed-back features at an attractive price ($400 for the handheld; $650-700 for the handheld plus a collar).

No, that’s still not cheap. But compared with models with more robust onboard GPS mapping, it saves hundreds of dollars. So, I put one to the test way off the grid in the Colorado mountains.

In short: The Alpha 10 performs most of the functions of higher-cost GPS trackers at a lower price. The easy-to-use, accurate tool is a great option for hunters who tend to use phone apps for navigation. Finally, the training collar works well for hunters who have trained their dogs on e-collars.

Garmin Alpha 10 Review

I took the Alpha 10 into some big mountains to scout for the upcoming elk season. As it was still a month away, my wife and I took our GSP along to see if we could wrangle up some grouse for practice.

The Alpha 10 unit was pretty easy to set up initially. The instructions outlined everything from charging to pairing and basic use, and most of this was intuitive enough to do just from inspecting the product.

I paired the Alpha 10 with the TT15 Mini training collar. It allows you to communicate with the dog through tone, vibration, and electric stimulation. Thankfully, my dog is already trained to understand these, and it made for a smooth transition.

In my first use, I had the collar figured out in about 10 minutes out of the car. It took a few minutes to understand the menu system and user interface. But once I’d found and scrolled around all the screens, the product was second nature.

As my pup wove a pattern through the forest and meadows, I could follow her range and direction from the device. It displays an arrow pointing to the dog, and a distance. This makes it very easy to know your dog’s exact location.

Garmin says you can do this with up to 20 dogs at once. I haven’t tried!

In a quick first use, the Alpha 10 seems like a solid system. It allowed me to monitor my dog. And it tells me when she points, sits, lays down, or trees (more applicable to hounds than GSPs). My dog never ranged more than 200 yards during my use, but the device seemed accurate.

The only thing I disliked about the collar and handheld is that it doesn’t come with a hard case to organize the parts. For a product that costs double that of non-GPS dog-training collars from Dogtra, I’d love to see a nice case to keep your investment safe.

Alpha 10 Dog Tracker: Other Features

I got a good first look at the product. But due to its preproduction status, I couldn’t test all the features.

For instance, the Alpha 10 will pair with phones. This allows you to use the Garmin Explore app to track your hunts and even monitor dogs or other buddies who have Garmin products — all from your smartphone.

Here’s the brand’s pitch about these features, which I have not tested.

Mobile Solution

Hunters can pair the Alpha 10 with the Garmin Explore smart device app for enhanced mapping solutions. When paired, users can stow the Alpha 10 handheld in their pack and use their compatible smartphone or tablet to view their dogs’ location and track in real-time.

Garmin Explore provides added relevant information, such as hunt replay to relive your favorite moments of the hunt, robust off-grid navigation, customizable tracking lines, and saved hunt collections for easy access when you need it.

Companion Tracking

Alpha 10 users can pair their unit to a companion’s compatible Garmin dog-tracking device, such as Alpha 200i, to view their companion and companion’s dog location. Once paired, the Alpha 10 operator can make real-time decisions based on at-a-glance information, instead of waiting for verbal communication from the dog’s handler.

The two-way connectivity allows the dog handler and Alpha 10 users to view each other’s location for enhanced awareness when not in visual contact. Additionally, compatible devices can share predefined messages between units for rapid communication.

Ecosystem Compatibility

Individuals can pair the Alpha 10 with optional Garmin devices, including a compatible Garmin smartwatch, such as Instinct, fēnix, or tactix, using the built-in dog-tracking app.

For in-vehicle tracking, the Alpha 10 is also compatible with the Garmin DriveTrack system.

Also, UTV/ATV enthusiasts can pair the Alpha 10 to the Montana 700 or Tread series for additional dog-tracking capabilities.

Visit Garmin’s website to learn more or buy now.

Originally published in 2007

On a plaque outside David L. Hayes’ Leitchfield, Ky., home are the words “One old fisherman lives here with the catch of his life.” Whether the sign refers to Ruth, his wife of 64 years, or the gigantic smallmouth bass that hangs on his living room wall is anyone’s guess. It’s a question Hayes wryly refuses to answer.

Unfortunately for the 80-year-old angler, it’s not the only question surrounding his trophy catch from Dale Hollow Lake on the Tennessee-Kentucky border 50 years ago. Controversy swirls around this fish that stood as the world record for more than 40 years and now splits the record keeping authorities squarely down the middle.

The International Game Fish Association, generally recognized as the authority on freshwater fishing records since taking over from Field & Stream in 1978, disqualified Hayes’ catch in 1996. The National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame did likewise the same year. In 1999, however, the Hall of Fame reinstated Hayes’ catch. The IGFA has not budged.

Even the states involved in this tangled tale are on different pages. Kentucky disqualified the catch in the midst of the IGFA and Hall of Fame turmoil. Hayes still sits atop the Tennessee record book.

It’s a controversy that confounds smallmouth fans and frustrates the small community of Celina, Tenn., where a remarkable series of events took place more than half a century ago.

The catch

The date was July 9, 1955, and David Hayes, his wife and their six-year-old son were spending the day on Dale Hollow Lake trolling a 600 series pearl Bomber for smallmouth and walleye. They’d been coming to “the Hollow” for about three years, and Hayes had gotten very good at summertime trolling — so good that he was occasionally followed by local guides and other anglers hoping to learn his secrets.

On July 9, however, things were slow. Hayes’ favorite trolling runs were coming up empty … at least until he swung into a favorite cut between Illwill Creek and Phillips Bottom, just north of Trooper Island and in Kentucky waters.

“There were a couple of weed beds through there, and if you lined it up just right you could bring your plug right between them and keep it bumping the bottom.”

Hayes had about 300 feet of line out when the big fish hit. At first he thought he was snagged. Then he felt the surge of a powerful fish.

It took several minutes with his Tru-Temper steel rod, Penn Peer 209 reel and 20-pound-test line to bring the bass boatside, but Hayes eventually put a net under the leviathan. “It was between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m.,” he said.

“I had no idea it was a world record.”

The controversy

The fastest, easiest way to be called a liar is to catch a giant fish. Make it a world record, and the detractors will beat a path to your door.

After Hayes swung his giant smallmouth aboard his 21-foot cruiser, he stowed the fish in a metal cooler he kept on the deck of the boat and went right back to fishing. The Hayes family liked to eat fish, and the day was still young.

Sometime around noon, Hayes was getting low on gas and decided to head to the nearest marina — Wisdom Dock, up Illwill Creek. When he got there, he was met by Granville “Lightnin’ ” Madison, a dockhand who filled Hayes’ gas tank. When Madison asked if Hayes was having any luck, the angler was characteristically modest.

“I’ve got one pretty good smallmouth,” Hayes said.

Madison asked if he could weigh it, and Hayes agreed. Unbeknownst to the angler, Kentucky Water Police Officer Oral Burtram was inside the marina and saw the fish on the scales. The smallmouth lacked an ounce of weighing 12 pounds.

From Wisdom Dock, Hayes headed down the lake to Cedar Hill Resort, where he maintained a slip for his boat. It was there that the story took an unfortunate turn.

Once again the fish was placed on the scales — this time they were certified — and once again the bass weighed 11 pounds, 15 ounces. People who were there and saw the fish still marvel at its size.

Hayes’ mistake was in letting the fish out of his sight. He let dockhands at Cedar Hill weigh it. Had he kept it under his control the entire time, he would likely have never lost his place in the record books.

More than a month later, on August 17, Raymond “Doughbelly” Barlow presented an affidavit to the Corp of Engineers office at Dale Hollow Lake. The document, sworn to by Doughbelly’s nephew, John H. Barlow, claimed that Hayes’ bass had been tampered with — that it really weighed only 8 pounds, 15 ounces and that Cedar Hill Resort owner Dick Roberts and John’s own brother Ira had asked John (a one-time guide at Cedar Hill) to “fix it up good.”

John claimed he shoved 3 pounds of motor parts and sinkers into the bass’ gullet then pinned the fish’s throat shut with a treble hook. After the alleged dirty work was done, the bass weighed 11-15 — the same as it had weighed at Wisdom Dock.

Because the Corps isn’t involved in keeping fishing records, the affidavit was returned to Doughbelly and a copy kept in the Corps office. It would be more than 40 years before anyone looked at it again.

A record is undone

Hayes was firmly entrenched in the record books by the mid-1990s when a Livingston, Tenn., assistant principal invited him to display the fish at an outdoors show. Eldon Davis and a few others decided that Hayes’ bass didn’t look like it weighed nearly 12 pounds and began their own investigation.

Davis found the John Barlow affidavit and then found Barlow himself. Using a private polygrapher and a set of questions devised by Davis, John passed a lie detector test. He was never given a subsequent test by state officials.

Within a few months, Hayes’ bass was stricken from the record books despite the fact that no one from IGFA bothered to get his version of events. Hayes learned of the disqualification when Bassmaster senior writer Colin Moore called to interview him in 1996.

Tennessee’s due diligence

Whether or not David Hayes holds the world record for smallmouth bass, the record came from Dale Hollow Lake. Both the second (John Gorman’s 10-14 in 1969) and third (Paul Beal’s 10-8 in 1986) biggest bronzebacks were caught there.

So when Ron Fox, assistant director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, investigated the catch and controversy in the summer of 1996, it was with an eye to discovering the truth, not to defend a state icon.

“I thought the research would be brief and confirm that the fish was a hoax, but the more I looked into it, the more the bits and pieces added up to help us reach our decision to maintain the catch as a record.”

Fox talked to all the living witnesses to the catch and weighing. He heard from Bobby Stone, the night clerk at Cedar Hill who slept each night on the freezer containing the fish until it was sent to a taxidermist. Stone also examined the fish on the day it was caught, had his photo taken with the fish numerous times after the weighing and stated unequivocally that the fish’s gullet was not pinned shut with a treble hook or otherwise compromised.

Fox talked with Lightnin’ Madison who saw the fish at Wisdom Dock and confirmed its weight at 11-15. He even spoke with John Barlow’s brother, Ira, a Cedar Hill clerk and guide who was at the dock when Hayes came in and whom John implicated in the alleged tampering.

Ira told Fox that John was nowhere near Cedar Hill that day and that John fabricated the story in order to get revenge on Dick Roberts, who had fired him from his guiding position. Ira even passed a polygraph test by a licensed examiner.

“I feel very comfortable that Mr. Hayes caught the world record smallmouth and deserves the recognition for it,” Fox said. In March of 1997, TWRA decided to keep the Hayes fish as the state record.

A formula for the truth

Whether you contend that Hayes’ smallmouth weighed a legitimate 11 pounds, 15 ounces or whether you believe John Barlow and others boosted its weight, there’s no question that the fish was 27 inches long and had a girth of 21 2/3 inches.

A highly regarded formula for estimating bass weight is length x length x length ÷ 1,600. Plug the known numbers into the formula and Hayes’ bass comes out to 12.3 pounds (12 pounds, 5 ounces).

The other most commonly used formula for estimating bass weight based upon measurements is length x length x girth ÷ 1,200. Under this equation, the Hayes smallmouth weighs 13.16 pounds (13-3).

If the bass’ girth measurement is reduced by three inches — more than enough to compensate for any foul play, the formula would still indicate a weight of 11.34 pounds (11-5).

The Hayes bass was simply too large to weigh just 8-15, as John Barlow claimed.

The affidavit

Why would Dick Roberts ask John Barlow to boost the weight of Hayes’ bass? The obvious answer, of course, would be to gain notoriety from having a world record smallmouth weighed at Cedar Hill Resort.

Forget for a moment that Dick Roberts was a pillar of the community, that he taught Sunday school at Celina United Methodist Church for more than 40 years and that he had the respect of virtually everyone around the lake. Ignore the fact that it would be completely out of his character to do something so unethical.

Instead, ask why anyone would need the help of John Barlow for such a deed. After all, even according to Barlow’s own sworn statement, “Mr. Roberts and Ira Barlow came to me, and Mr. Roberts asked me to lead the fish — told me to fix it up good — and handed me a number of lead sinkers. Ira Barlow also had some lead sinkers in his hand.”

Why did they need John Barlow if Roberts and Ira Barlow were standing right there with the sinkers? Why bring someone else in on the fraud? It makes no sense.

The usual suspects

Three men came together to create the affidavit sworn to by John H. Barlow, and all of them had motives to lie and discredit Cedar Hill Resort. In addition to John, there was Doughbelly Barlow and James H. Reneau Jr.

Doughbelly was a well-known character around Dale Hollow Lake in the 1950s. The corpulent fishing guide worked out of Dale Hollow Marina and was a sometime deputy sheriff known for ruthless behavior. He was also John’s uncle.

Doughbelly was renowned for being jealous of other anglers who were catching bass when he was struggling. It would have bothered him to see a world record come into a competing marina. That it was caught by a weekend angler added insult to injury.

Jimmy Reneau was the attorney who prepared the affidavit. He also was the owner of Holly Creek Resort, just up the lake from Cedar Hill. Whatever business Dick Roberts gained by having a record smallmouth come to Cedar Hill, Reneau may have felt he was losing at Holly Creek.

Even the county court clerk who notarized the affidavit may have had something to gain from the conspiracy. Mary Ruth “Oopie” Reneau was Jimmy’s sister.

Can I get a witness?

By the time John Barlow’s affidavit came to light in the mid-1990s, most of the principals in the matter were dead. Raymond Barlow died in 1975; Jimmy Reneau committed suicide in 1981; Oopie died in 1984; and Dick Roberts passed away in 1993.

Of the six men John Barlow implicated in the conspiracy — himself, Dick Roberts, Dick’s eldest son Dickie, Ira Barlow, Walter Blakely and David Hayes — only the Barlows, Dickie Roberts and Hayes were alive in 1995 when the statement resurfaced.

And only John Barlow recollected anything at all about tampering with the big smallmouth. Hayes denies it emphatically. Dickie Roberts was astounded by the charges and refuted any involvement on the part of himself or his father.

And when Ira Barlow was on his deathbed in 1998, he told his son, Tim, that the fish was legitimate and that John had fabricated the entire tale. Tim calls his Uncle John a “career liar” and says that setting the record straight was something his father wanted to do, right to the very end of his life.

Absolutely no one backs up John Barlow’s story of fish tampering. Even the witnesses he lists in his infamous affidavit refute him.

Where are we now?

The witnesses to the record smallmouth controversy are, quite naturally, disappearing. David Hayes is nearly the only one left.

Though Tennessee and the Hall of Fame have placed Hayes in his proper position in the record book, Kentucky and the IGFA have not, choosing instead to ignore the considerable evidence in his favor.

Whether or not his home state and the IGFA do the right thing and reinstate his catch will have little effect on Hayes’ life. He enjoys his retirement, his family and his friends. Unless someone asks about the big fish, Hayes seldom talks about it.

But to have one of the greatest accomplishments in sportfishing history discredited in the face of so much evidence to the contrary is an indignity that no one should suffer.

As Ron Fox puts it, “Mr. Hayes is a fine individual and should not end this life with his accomplishment being lost from the record books.”

Iguanas are a type of lizard that is found in warm climates. They come in a variety of sizes, with the largest species reaching up to six feet in length. The biggest iguana in the world is the green iguana, which can grow up to seven feet long and weigh up to 20 pounds. Green iguanas are native to Central and South America, and can be found in the wild in countries such as Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador.

Its brightly colored and dragon-like appearance make it one of the most popular iguana species. They are mostly harmless to humans, but they can be irritating. The largest iguana genus in the world is the Fiji crested iguana. Almost all Melanesian iguanas are critically endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Only the Marine iguana can be found in the ocean, and it is the only reptile known to spend a significant amount of time in the water. Their swimming abilities allow them to dive to depths of 65 feet and a depth of 15 feet. One of the largest spiny-tailed species in the world, measuring more than four and a half feet in length.

The Galapagos Islands are home to all three species of the genus. The blue iguana was thought to be 69 years old when it died. A Rock iguana’s longevity is well-known. A 41-year-old captive-born rock iguana is currently the world’s longest-living rock iguana. A dry forested area with eroded limestone and sparse vegetation is ideal for Rock iguanas. The ten species recognized are vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered, and two of them have been declared as critically endangered. A green iguana has a typical size of almost five feet, though some have grown to be nearly six feet long.

What Is The Biggest Iguana Found In Florida?

Credit: Oddee

The biggest iguana found in florida is the green iguana. It is a large, tree-dwelling lizard that is native to Central and South America. The green iguana is the largest member of the genus Iguana and can grow to be over 6 feet long and weigh up to 20 pounds.

There is no native iguana species in Florida. Invasive species currently occupy the majority of the state’s land. Despite the fact that these lizards are misunderstood and wreaking havoc, they are frequently misdiagnosed as invasive nuisances. Their feces and elaborate burrows have caused significant damage to man-made and natural structures. The Mexican spiny-tailed iguana grows to be a little shorter than 5 feet and weighs between 5 and 15 pounds. In the 1970s, independent reptile release programs were the most effective way to introduce these lizards to South Florida. By the time Florida’s environmental agencies could intervene, there were thousands living in various counties.

A Mexican spiny-tailed iguana is the most common iguana species found in Florida. Adult green iguanas can grow to be over five feet long and weigh more than 15 pounds. They are prolific breeders, laying nearly 40 eggs per hour. According to research, Florida currently has over 20,000 residents. Fewer cold spells have resulted in them surviving in winter, thanks to climate change.

Largest Green Iguana Ever

Credit: blogspot.com

Each species has its own size, but the largest iguana measured was 5.2 feet long. Two of the ten recognized species are vulnerable, four are endangered, and four are critically endangered.

A iguana is a stocky lizard with a broad head, a saggy skin on its throats, and spines that protrude from its head, neck, backs, and tails. The green iguana, which measures between 5 and 7 feet, is the longest of the iguanas. For example, the female rock iguana can lay up to 20 eggs. The mother’s actions indicate that she is leaving the eggs alone. A baby iguana is completely independent for the first three years of its life. Predators and habitat loss are responsible for the extinction of many young birds. The Galapagos marine iguana, despite its dark skin, can swim through water like a crocodile. The population of the Fiji banded iguana has decreased by 50% between 30 and 45 years. People in Central and South America raise and consume iguanas on farms.

Biggest Iguana Caught In Florida

In Florida, the largest iguana on record was 4 feet 5 inches long and weighed 35 pounds. It was caught in 2009 by a fisherman in Key West.

Ich habe gerade den grten Leguan aller Zeiten gefangen, wenn Sie meine Instagram-Geschichte gesehen haben, wir haben noch ein monster Die Seiten von der Dings ist auch hier verrckt, and ber das fest ist das gemacht. The Ding ist gewaltig, oh nein, geht es ins Rollen gebracht, Bruder, hr von rollen, Baby, das ist so im Gegensatz The 400 Pfund we’re offering is for a limited time, so I’ll take advantage of it. When you want to hear a fangen, sing hier. Ich hier diesen Angelschnur haben, aber die Hundert-Pfund-Test von diesen Angelschnur ist, hier diesen Angelschnur trotzdemern. Ich brauche dich, um, derzeit sehr heim, hier, ihr heute, das weiter daran ziehen. I’m glad I chose trainieren rather than boarding a plane, and I’m glad I chose train-enriching rather than boarding a plane. In der grten dominanten wilder Leguan, he ist.

Is that a sign of my life? Weiter hier berspringst schauen geben, wie er hier so beeindruckend ist? I am so fortunate that I have so many great friends, especially in Germany, that I have found a special place for them all, so thank you very much for all of the wonderful things you have given me. I will be pleased to report that I have found a special place for them Is that versuche you’re looking for, or is it just you making a fool of yourself? ich in Sd Florida, die hier aber die We have Bass Pro Shops located in every city across the country; if you want to make sure you get the best service and prices, please visit our store. Is there any significance to Iggy Jungs, bleiben Sie dran, danke fr Abonnieren, or werde ich es Ihnen sagen Jungs ber die TV-Shows, die herauskommen, and lasst mich e

Giant Iguanas In Florida: Just A Rumo

Despite this, the state has been rumored to be home to giant iguanas. People believe there are giant iguanas in Florida because they have seen the animals on TV or in photos. In Florida, there are no native iguanas; instead, iguanas are invasive species. As a result, there is no such thing as an iguana that can grow to be enormous in Florida.

Iguana Lifespan

An iguana’s lifespan ranges between 12 and 15 years. An iguana can live for more than 20 years if it is properly cared for.

It’s worth noting that iguanas are fairly long-lived lizards, particularly captive-bred ones. A baby iguana that is sold in captivity can live up to 30 years. The average lifespan of a iguana is thought to be 20 years. Pets like these require special housing and veterinary care, so some people may not be appropriate for them. For iguanas to be kept, they must be kept in a comfortable environment. As a young adult, a 42 enclosure is commonly used by keepers. Because your rhinoceros iguana requires UVB lamps, you should select the best UVB lamp for him.

When basking on the iguana, both UVA and UVB are welcome. The rhinoceros iguana‘s name is derived from a bony-plated pseudo-horn or outgrowth that resembles rhinoceros horn. Skin colors range from blue grey to a dark green to brown, depending on the skin type. It is critical to feed a variety of foods to Iggy in order for him to be healthy and happy. At all times, iguanas require fresh, clean water. When it comes to humidity, your iguana should be in a good range of 65-80%. It shed like any other reptile or lizard as a result of its being a rhinoceros iguana.

It can be difficult to shed hair when the air temperature is insufficient or too hot. When you gnashed a iguana, you needed to keep its humidity constant. After two or three years of age, juvenile iguanas shed a thin layer of skin on their bodies. To avoid sticking to the animals new skin, the air must be humid enough to prevent it from sticking. Make sure the products are simple to clean and replace.

There are no predators in the wild that can keep the Grand Cayman blue iguana in check for 40 years. Despite their lack of human intervention, they are impressive. A 40-year-old rhinoceros iguana, known only as Rhino, has been recognized as the world’s oldest living iguana by Guinness World Records. Rhino, the world’s oldest rhinoceros, reached 40 years and 278 days old on November 27, 2020, and lives at the Australia Zoo, which was purchased by Steve Irwin’s widow,Terri, in 2011. Steve Irwin, a wildlife conservation and film maker who was killed by a stingray while filming sharks in 2003, was a well-known wildlife conservation and film maker. The rhinoceros is a testament to the preservation of Irwin’s conservation legacy. This incredible story of survival is an inspiring example of the power and resilience of nature.

To be very clear, moose is the largest species of deer, and no other species of deer can compete with moose size or height. After moose, elk is the second largest species of deer. If you aren’t a hunter or don’t live in those parts of the world where moose are found, you are surely unaware of the actual size of the moose or maybe just have seen it in pictures.

Further Reading

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To make it easier for you and give you a clear picture, a fully grown moose look taller and bigger than even a horse. There are different subspecies of moose that are of varying size and weight. Most of the subspecies are taller as compared to other animals.

In this article, you can find out the average size of every subspecies of deer and compare their size with humans and animals, including deer, horses, and elephants.

Moose Size Comparison – Subspecies of Moose

The name of the deer family in Latin is “Cervidae,” and the moose is the tallest and biggest species of the Cervidae family. Moose are brownish-black, almost black. Their appearance seems a little similar to a horse as both have long legs and the same body shape. However, moose have antlers while horses don’t.

Furthermore, moose have a droopy faceand dewlap covered with hairs. Their antlers are widespread, long, and have branches. So they add to the tall appearance of moose.

Moreover, there are a vast number of moose inhabited in Canada. The word moose evolved from the word “moosh,” which is from the language of the Innu people in Canada. There, “moosh” means bark eater. However, In European countries, moose are known as elk.

Moose has different subspecies, out of which four are the most prominent in Canada. These include (Alces alces America) Eastern moose from eastern Canada and the United States.

Alces andersoni, commonly known as northwestern moose, arepopulated in northern areas of Dakota, Michigan, central Canada, and Minnesota. Whereas the third subspecies is Shiras moose, inhabited in the Rocky Mountains of the United States.

Based on their distinctive traits and geographical location, some further moose species are Siberian Moose, Yakut Moose, and European moose, collectively recognized as Eurasian moose. The geographical areas affect the inhabited moose there and cause variation in their characteristics, leading to the evolution of subspecies.

Size of Different types of Moose – Comparison

All the subspecies of moose vary in their average weight, height, size of antlers, and skin color. The gigantic subspecies are Alaskan Yukon moose, mostly found near rivers in Alaska.

Alaska Moose

Male Alaskan moose can weigh more than 1800 pounds, while females have an average weight of 1000 to 1100 pounds with more than 7 feet in height. They can grow antlers of over 1.8 m in length.

Western Moose

After Alaskan moose, the second-largest subspecies is western moose from the western regions of Canada and the United States. The weight of male western moose is about 1000 to 1500 pounds, female between 600 to 800 pounds, and height is between 6 to 7 feet only up to the shoulders. Their antlers are a little smaller than the antlers of Alaskan moose, about 1.6 or 1.7 meters.

Eastern Moose

Eastern moose, which weigh around 1400 pounds, is the third-largest subspecies of moose. A male eastern moose has a height of 5.5 to 6.5 feet and weighs 1300 to 1400 pounds, while the female eastern moose can weigh around 600 to 700 pounds with 5.6 feet height.

Siberian Moose

Aside from these species, the largest subspecies of the Eurasian species is the East Siberian moose. Siberian moose are smaller in height and weight as compared to Alaskan moose.

Yellowstone Moose

Even the smallest subspecies of moose weigh up to 1000 pounds and are at least 5 to 6 feet tall. These species are named Yellowstone moose, inhabited in North America, Russia, and China.

Moose Size Comparison with Others

Moose vs. Deer

The adult male moose are called bulls, while the adult female moose are cows. Both are heavier and bigger than all other species of deer. The whitetail deer, blacktail deer, or elk cannot compete with moose size and weight.

Such as, the whitetail deer only weighs between 100 to 300 pounds with 3 feet shoulder length that is much smaller than a moose, almost half or even less than that. Similarly, an elk is also foot smaller than a moose.

Moose Size Compared To Horse

When comparing the height of a horse and moose, we consider that the height of horses is measured from their hoofs to the withers that are the part between the upper back shoulders. The average height of a horse is almost five and a half inches.

However, just like the moose, horses also vary in their height. There is also the smallest and tallest size for a horse. Comparing the tallest horse and moose, they can be almost the same height, i.e., 7 feet. But due to their bulkiness, a moose will still appear bigger than a horse.

Moose Elephant Size Comparison

No doubt that a deer, elk, or horse are smaller than moose, but comparing moose with other animals, such as elephants, one of the heaviest animals living on the earth, can make a seven-foot-tall moose seem smaller.

Like moose, different species of elephants and male and female elephants vary in average weight. An elephant can be an 11 to 13 feet tall male or only an 8 feet tall female elephant. So a female elephant and a male moose may stand at almost the height.

Moose Compared to Human

Have you ever seen a moose from close? No wonder that 7 feet or even more than that tall and heavy moose with wide antlers will make you look tiny in front of it. The moose are measured by their shoulders; their antlers make them even taller.

Even the height recorded of the tallest man alive on earth cannot exceed the height of a fully grown Alaskan moose.

Wrapping Up – Moose Size Comparison

Moose are the largest and most gigantic species of deer. Comparing moose with animals such as horse and elk give us the result that they are larger than all those animals. Similarly, humans are also tiny in front of a moose. But a moose can not exceed the height of an elephant; that is itself a large and bulky animal.

Additional Common Questions

How do moose measure up to other animals in terms of size?

In terms of size, a full-grown Alaskan moose is truly a majestic sight, often standing taller than 7 feet. To truly grasp the size of these magnificent creatures, think about those towering NBA giants, like Yao Ming, who stands at a staggering 7 feet 6 inches – a moose is essentially the Yao Ming of the animal kingdom! To further contextualize, horses, which we often perceive as large animals, measure an average of about 5 feet 4 inches at the withers, or shoulder height. This height places an average male Alaskan moose around a foot to a foot and a half taller at the shoulders than a horse. So an up-close encounter with a moose might feel a lot like standing next to an absolutely massive horse, dwarfing those familiar four-legged companions!

Do we have any animal that can size up to a moose?

Interestingly, there are animals that match up to the size of a moose, or even surpass it. One great example is the bison. Bison tend to outsize moose in most physical terms. On the scale, moose can weigh in at an impressive 1,500lbs, while bison can tip the scale up to a massive 3,000lbs or even more. When it comes to height, the moose can carry its head high up to 6.9ft at the shoulder and grow to an impressive total length of 10ft. However, bison have a naturally raised hump, which helps them achieve a total height of 11ft. Despite their towering height, bison generally maintain a body length somewhat shorter than a moose, about 9 feet. So imagine yourself on a safari tour sitting in a truck and being approached by a herd of bison. Their hump would be above your field of view, making them look like a moving wall – an experience highlighting their towering stature and sheer mass!

What is the size of a moose when it is fully grown?

As full-grown adults, male moose (also known as bulls) reach awe-inspiring dimensions, while females (cows) are somewhat smaller. The average adult bull moose stands around 6 feet tall at the shoulder. Recalling our human equivalent, that’s like standing up to the chest of a person who is 6 feet tall! As for their weight, well-fed and healthy male moose can weigh up to a massive 1,400 pounds, that’s the equivalent of carrying around seven adult humans! However, unlike in males, female moose, although also large, don’t reach these extremes. Their lower size requirements make sense from an evolutionary perspective as smaller size allows them a higher rate of survival.

How does the size of a moose compare to a car?

When we compare a moose to a car, we can gauge their size in a familiar context. A moose can tip the scales upwards to 1,500 pounds, reach a height of almost 7 feet, and extend up to 10 feet from nose to tail. In contrast, your average family car, weighing around 3,500lbs, far outweighs a moose. The car’s height, standing at around 4.75ft, is shorter compared to the towering moose. However, in terms of length, a car stretches further up to around 16.3 feet. If you’ve ever seen those road signs warning against moose in certain regions, now you know why. A collision with these massive animals can cause substantial damage due to their considerable weight and height. Just think about how your car would fare in an unfortunate meeting with this gigantic animal that’s comparable in weight to a small car and can look straight into your car window!

Alaska’s waters offer plenty of opportunity to hook into grayling, lake trout, rainbow trout, and dolly vardens. Depending on when and where you anticipate fishing and for which species, the methods can vary substantially. We’ve compiled some of the basics to get you started in the right direction.

Grayling

This species is often found north of Anchorage, and is abundant in interior Alaska. An aggressive biter, this fish can be found in most interior waters, and are easily caught in lakes and small streams. While these fish never grow very large (20” is huge), they are a blast to catch and very tasty. Grayling can be found in both clear and murky waters, but can become spooky in bright light. Avoid letting your shadow fall on the waters where you fish.

Flies in size 12-16 (black ant, foam beetle, elk-hair caddis, mosquito, gnat, black wooly bugger, prince nymph and a variety of other natural colored flies, both wet and dry). Get a variety pack of split shot.

Small lures size 0-1 (Mepps Black Fury, Vibrax chrome, bright colors for dark days, dark colors for bright days)

Lake Trout

You guessed it, lake trout are found in lakes and are the largest trout here in Alaska. They move based on water temperature, being inshore when the water is cold, and moving to deeper water as the summer progresses. Your best bet to find these giants of the deep is in interior Alaska, with many great opportunities in the Glenallen area and along the Denali highway.

The general rule is that these fish like to eat other fish, so this is how you target them. Use lures/spinners that have fish patterns, or are blue/chrome. Fishing herring (as bait) on the bottom of a lake can also entice these monsters to bite. For flies, try patterns which resemble smolt or leeches (chrome/blue or dark colors).

Rainbow/Dolly Varden

This is by far the two most widespread species in Alaska, and can be found in lakes, rivers, and streams. Different tackle is used based on location and season, and I’ll cover that here.

Lakes – For spinning gear, try small lures size 0-2 (bright colors for dark days, dark colors for bright days). A bobber with bait also works. Use size 8-12 hooks, a bobber just big enough to see, and single eggs (balls o fire, etc) or popcorn shrimp as bait.

For flies, I’ve had my best luck using dark wooly buggers, twitched through the water like leeches. I would also try (black ant, foam beetle, elk-hair caddis, mosquito, gnat, black wooly bugger, prince nymph and a variety of other natural colored flies, both wet and dry). I always keep a couple obnoxious colors because sometimes, the only way to catch them is to tick them off.

Streams/Rivers – If there are no salmon in the water, then use dark flies (black/purple wooly buggers, prince nymphs, etc). Let these flow with the current, twitching them to give them some life. Aim for overhanging branches and in “slow water” (behind bends, big rocks, fallen trees: anything that creates a hole; a slow patch of water).

If there are salmon in the water, you’re best bet is to use beads (to mimic salmon eggs). Pick a variety of colors, keeping in mind that salmon eggs come out bright deep red, and fade into a creamy pink color over time. You will want to change the color of your bead based on how long the eggs have been sitting in water (sometimes, you don’t know until you try). Bead size also makes a different. Fish the beads behind salmon, being careful not to hook the salmon. Keep the bead flowing at the same pace of the current.

Here is a loose guide on bead size (based on which salmon are in the water). In general, its okay to have beads too small, but not too large.

• Kings – 10mm
• Silvers/Reds/Chum – 6-8 mm
• Pinks – 6 mm

If there are salmon carcasses in the water, you will use flesh flies. Just like beads, these start out bright red, and fade into a dirty white as the flesh ages. These are tied just like normal flies, and fished very similar to beads. Feel free to adjust weight amount if you see flesh flowing faster/slower than current. See the attached diagram.

When it comes to duck hunting, we have to admit that weather matters a great deal. Seemingly inconsequential changes in outside conditions can greatly influence a hunter’s success. Do you know that light rain and wind is not likely to harm your hunting success? In fact, light rain and wind can even bring you additional chances. Surprised? Yes, we are not joking. At first, you might be thinking that ducks don’t like to fly in the rain and wind, but in reality, it’s not true. Have you ever heard such an impression as “ducky” weather. Generally, ducky weather means windy and rainy weather as ducks become less scared and start flying lower thinking that nobody could hunt for them in such bad weather.

Notably, if you are about to duck hunt, wind and precipitation can aid you, but you need to make sure you are well-prepared for hunting in the rain. And here we mean not only the proper camouflage, but you need to be well prepared. Mastering a few things can put plenty of birds in your bag. By the way, we’ve found an expert duck hunter who is going to share his 5 tactical secrets and the gear he uses to keep himself comfortable and wind and rain/wind protected.

So, let’s check what he has to share.

5 Top Tips To Duck Hunt In The Rain And Wind

Tip 1: Learn more about the birds’ weather-driven migration patterns, and determine their preferable places in different weather: check out where the ducks may be flying when it’s raining and spot where you can find them once the rain has stopped. Just for the record, rivers and lakes are excellent places to jump shoot ducks. But you can hardly expect a duck to fly somewhere over a big lake during the rain, but it is likely to fly around smaller bodies of water that have a good tree line blocking out at least some of the wind and rain. By the way, the Duckr application can tell you exactly which direction the wind is coming from so you can set up your blind correctly. Never again will you set up your blind facing the wrong way!

Tip 2: Consider investing in proper duck hunting gear to enjoy maximum, leak-proof protection. Typically, must have gear for duck hunting in the rain includes the following items: waterproof chest waders and a rain jacket, a fleece pullover, and weatherproof ultra light packable down vest, waterproof long boots, as well as balaklava,

along with gloves for cold rainy weather. Of course, there are several other items that duck hunters adore using, such as a pair of good binoculars, for instance.

Tip 3: Check the nearest weather forecast and remember that it’s only the rain that is good for duck hunting, but not thunderstorms. In a big scheme of things, go hunting it’s going to run but if a big storm is expected, it’s always better to stay at home.

Tip 4: Remember that ducks almost always fly into the wind. So it would be a wise move to place yourself where you have a shot at birds flying up or down the river. Makes sense, doesn’t it?

Tip 5: Ensure you hunt from a ground blind where you can stay warm and dry. But still don’t forget to wear the proper weather suitable clothes.

Finally, here is one extra tip from our expert hunter: Try to be where the birds want to be, stay hidden and use decoys effectively.

Key Takeaways

Despite the popular misbelief that rain and wind prevent you from successful duck hunting, if properly prepared, they can be a hunter’s best-friend. As a matter of fact, hunting in the rain keeps ducks flying low, making your job even easier. Follow the tips we have mentioned above and you will have all chances to succeed.

Hey, do you think we have missed some important duck hunting in the rain tips? Don’t keep them secret, please do share them with us.

P.S. To avoid any duck hunting issues with your local authorities, don’t forget to get permission to hunt.

We wish you happy and result-bringing hunting!

Related articles:

• Strategies for Small-Water Ducks
• Learning from Your Misses – Ducks Unlimited
• DUCK SEASON’S COMING