It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about 200-pound alligator gar in a Texas reservoir, a 3-foot longnose in a Minnesota river, or a 5-pound shortnose in an Arkansas slough-they’re all first-class sportfish. They’re all willing biters, too, often revealing their location during summer by rolling on the surface to gulp air. They’re also powerful fighters who will launch their muscular armor-plated body into the air when hooked. The problem with gar is their tooth-filled mouth and habit of running long distances with a bait before swallowing it. This makes them difficult to hook and land with traditional rigs. But a handful of modified rigs will catch any species of gar wherever they swim.

Hooks

Gar lack any appreciable amount of flesh in their mouth, making hookups with large single hooks difficult. Small sharp treble hooks penetrate faster and the additional hook points increase your chance of a good set. Lip hook a baitfish with a #6 to #2 treble hook on a set or float rig. Gar often grab the bait sideways and slowly swim off. Wait until the fish stops and starts to swallow the bait. When he starts to run again, set the hook firmly. Quick-strike rigs and lures with multiple treble hooks increase your chance of a hookup without risking injury caused by swallowed hooks.

Snares

Wire snares like those used to catch rabbits may be the most effective gar rig of all. Make a snare by wrapping one end of a 2-foot piece of stainless steel wire around a heavy barrel swivel. Run the free end of the wire through the back of a lively baitfish, just below the dorsal fin. Swing the free end back toward the swivel and form a loose loop that slides easily on the leader. Tie your main line to the swivel and cast the rig onto a shallow flat. When a gar grabs the bait, a firm pull will tighten the snare around its beak.

Ropes

Versatile lures and flies also can be fashioned from strands of frayed nylon rope. Cut a 3- to 6-inch piece of 3/8-inch nylon rope, and thread it onto the shank of a hook, jighead, or spinnerbait as you would a plastic worm. Use a flame to fuse the rope to the hook shank, then wrap over the melted rope with strong thread or braided line. Cover the thread wraps with a couple coats of epoxy to increase the lure’s durability. Unravel the nylon strands the the base of the head, and you’re ready to fish. When a gar strikes, the lure becomes tangled in its teeth and around its snout.

Jugs

Jugs, or pop-ups as they’re called in the south, are similar to the juglines used by catfishermen. They consist of a 4-foot section of PVC pipe or a sturdy branch tied to 2-liter soda bottle. One end of a 2-foot wire leader is attached to the branch, the other to a large study hook baited with livebait or cutbait. Fleets of jugs are drifted across shallow flats at night. When a fish begins its second run, indicating it has swallowed the bait, the angler grabs the limb and attempts to haul the fish aboard.

By Dave Genz

You can’t catch fish if you can’t find them. It’s as true in ice fishing as it is in open water.

There are two things most ice anglers have a lot of trouble with: choosing the right type of lake to fish during the ice-up period, and finding fish once the good “first-ice” bite slows down. Let’s address both of these issues in some depth: (Get it? Depth? Lots of fish go deep during the iced-over period?)

Choose The Right Lake At Early Ice

You should, simply put, fish smaller bodies of water early in the iced-over period. It’s often fairly easy to locate fish on smaller lakes, because it’s a high-percentage move to look in the deepest basin area. Many, if not most, of the fish in a smaller lake will spend the winter in the deepest basin, especially if there’s only one, and it’s significantly deeper than the rest of the lake.

The problem with many smaller lakes is that they develop an oxygen problem as winter wears on. Where those “small-lake” fish are in a biting mood at early ice, you return to those lakes later in the winter and often find no takers.

The fish are still there, of course (unless they suffer a die-off), but they are often severely stressed due to the low oxygen levels.

Bigger Lakes Stay Better Later Into The Season

We’re oversimplifying things here, but it’s generally true to say that larger bodies of water will hold better fishing later into the winter season.

One of the most difficult aspects of catching fish through the ice on larger bodies of water is finding them. With so much turf to search, you can feel lost before you even start. One clue is that you should always fish anywhere you drill a hole and find green weeds. As long as sunlight can penetrate the ice, weeds can actually grow, something many anglers don’t realize. But if you drop down your lure and come back with green weeds on the hook, make good notes on where you are.

Also, don’t just blindly follow the crowds. Many anglers, from past experience, know of good spots. And groups of fish houses pop up over these spots every winter.

Sometimes, even just getting off to the edge of the group of houses, off to the fringe of all the ruckus, can help you find fish that aren’t as “on guard.” Activity moves the fish, especially at midday.

One of my strategies is to go to the crowd of fish houses just to see what type of spot they’re fishing. Is it deep? Shallow? Hard or soft bottom? How close is it to really deep water? By studying the characteristics of the spot, you can often find similar spots by looking at a contour map of the lake, and get off to a new hot- spot that’s all yours.

Another hint: At “prime time,” when the sun is setting at the tree tops, fish often move right into those “community spots” where all the fish houses are. They are pressured and on guard, but they still return to that spot, because it’s where most of their food is in many cases.

Finding Fish At Midwinter

It’s probably tougher to locate fish at midwinter than any other ice-fishing period. Here are some high-percentage haunts, to shortcut the hunt:

Walleye-Classic midwinter walleye locations include deep edges of remaining green weed growth, and good-sized hard-bottom points and sunken humps. First find large expanses of deep basin water, then look for these structural elements close by. Fishing pressure will force walleye off the most obvious spots. Check around the perimeter of groups of anglers, even out over deep water. If you find stair-stepping dropoffs, fish each small “stair” or flat.

Northern Pike-Eating machines that bite good in winter. Sorry to be vague, but they can be anywhere the food is. If a bay is full of small panfish, tip-ups can take pike. But also look for them to drop relatively deeper as winter wears on. Check the outside weed edges, but pay special attention to deeper rock and other hard-bottomed areas near good-sized shallow food shelves.

Largemouth Bass-Often disinterested in feeding at this time of year. There are disagreements about winter movements. Considered by some, including me, to be roamers. By working shallow cover such as weeds or stumps you can catch some on small minnows, but don’t expect to catch a lot of largemouths very often at midwinter.

Smallmouth Bass-Generally, a much deeper midwinter fish, and more catchable, than largemouths. Smallies like expansive areas of rock or other relatively hard bottom, in “deep, but not too deep” zones from about 20-40 feet.

Yellow Perch-Notorious as bottom feeders, and midwinter is no exception. Keep those baits puffing up or sitting on bottom. They tend to be in deeper water, down to 40 feet or so. Don’t look on drop offs, but instead along the flats out from them. Perch feed on insects and larvae that live in the mud, and breaklines tend to be along harder bottom!

Bluegills and other Sunfish-“Where aren’t sunfish?” might be a better question. On some lakes, it won’t matter where you drill a hole; small sunnies will be there waiting. But in general, organic (mud) bottomed bays and flats the bigger the better hold the most consistent sunfish action. If the areas are close to deep water, so much the better.

If you’re willing to hunt for rod-benders, seek out the biggest areas of shallow or deep weed growth. Do your best to get away from the crowds, and be quiet in your approach. And even though sunfish, befitting their name, have a reputation as good daylight feeders, the twilight periods of dawn and dusk are prime big-fish times.

You’ll have to fish your specific water, because some lakes hold big sunfish shallow all winter. Heavy fishing pressure, though, can “cream off” most of the big bulls, making deeper weed- or mud-related fish a better bet. We’ve caught most of our biggest midwinter bluegills in deeper water lately. We look for mud and weeds in 20-30 feet, and sometimes even deeper than that.

Crappies-You will find some nice crappies in shallow flats areas, mixed in with sunfish. But many midwinter slabs are in deep water, often suspended. Look over the areas just away from deep weed edges, or edges of other cover.

Deep points, and deep inside turns, can hold concentrations of midwinter crappies. Searching vast areas of deep water can turn up big schools, but it’s a needle-in-the-haystack proposition.

First printed in 1995

Planting population for different markets and cultivars

Sunflower is a drought tolerant crop produced mainly for two markets: confectionery or oilseed. The quality standards of the seeds produced, specially seed size and oil content, are different for oilseed and confectionery markets. The desired seed size for confectionery production is larger with relatively lower oil content, whereas the qualities desirable for oilseed are smaller seeds with high oil content. Despite different quality parameters, a majority of production practices for these two types are similar. The primary difference comes in the threshold for insect pest damage, where confectionery has a lower threshold compared to oilseed. Many studies at various locations across the US have shown that seeding rate is the major factor which determines the size and oil content of the seed, where high seeding rate tend to produce small seeds with greater oil content, and vice-versa. Because the size of confectionery sunflower seeds is critical for its market values, the crop produced for confectionery seeds is planted at relatively lower population than oilseed production. In addition to different markets, sunflower cultivars can be classified as either standard or dwarf. Standard cultivars are typically taller, with heights reaching up to 6 feet. Dwarf cultivars are typically much shorter, approximately 3 feet, and often will have a less likelihood for lodging. These standard and dwarf cultivars can also influence seeding rates and practices, with the dwarf cultivars typically being planted at higher seeding rates and narrower rows.

According to High Plains Sunflower Production Guide, final sunflower population should be 18,000 to 22,000 plants per acre for oilseed production and 12,000 (dryland) to 18,000 (irrigated) plants per acre for confectionery seed production. A study evaluating 5 different seeding rates of sunflower (RRC 8025 hybrid, confectionery seed) in the Oklahoma panhandle showed improved yield as planting population increased from 9,000 plants per acre to 25,000 plants per acre (Figure 1). However, the amount of yield increase with increasing plant populations diminished at the highest populations. For example, the gain in yield was 32% when population increased from 9,000 to 15,000 seeds per acre, 17% when population increased from 15,000 to 20,000 seeds per acre, and only 3.5% when population increased from 20,000 to 25,000 seeds per acre. However, these yields were not statistically different among different populations.

Seed spacing and depth uniformity

Besides population, the uniformity of plants influences the overall quality and survivability of the crop. Sunflowers require soil temperature of 50oF or above to germinate uniformly. According to Khalifa et al., (2000), ideal temperature for maximum sunflower seed germination rages from 59-77oF. The germination and germination rates decline above 95oF. Data generated by Robinson et al. (1982) showed that uniform and single spaced seed (1 plant per 80cm) will typically result in seed with higher oil content and lower moisture at harvest, compared to unevenly spaced plants. However, it is not only quality that is influenced, uneven spacing can result in up to 31% yield reductions. Plant spacing non-uniformities include large skips or crowded spacing which reduces yield contribution from individual plants. Several factors can contribute to uneven or non-uniform stands, including poor seeding conditions, high planter speed, disease, insect injury or poor quality seed (Kandel et al., 2013).

Differences in planters, planter adjustments and planting practices can play an important role in germination and uniform stands as well. For example, a no-till vacuum planter provided the best uniformity as it was able to obtain best spacing and uniform depth on a no-till sandy clay loam at 18% soil moisture content (Celik et al., 2007). Work from Celik et al. (2007) in sandy clay loam also showed that increase in planter speed only reduced germination time. The data from Oklahoma panhandle show average germination rate ranging from 70-80% for sunflower with different planter settings. This experiment showed that row cleaner had the major impact on emergence, where including a row cleaner improved germination by 11% followed by speed, which improved emergence by 4% when speed reduced from 7 mph to 5 mph. For detailed report on planter impact on germination readers are advised to refer to Celik et al. (2007).

Right planting depth is crucial for uniform germination of crops. In general, recommended planting depth for sunflower production is between 1-2 inches; and planting deeper than 3 inches is highly discouraged. In the Oklahoma panhandle, a trial evaluating planting depth found that planting at 1 inch resulted in higher yields than those of 2 inches, although this was not statistically significant (Figure 2). This could be due to less seed energy being spent to establish the crop at 1 inch. Because more seed energy is spent between germination and emergence with deeper planting depths, less energy is available for early crop establishment.

The results from those studies provided evidence of the impact of planting depth and population on sunflower yields. It should be noted that the results presented in this fact sheet from Oklahoma Panhandle were from a dwarf variety. Another variety planted for yield potential at the same field the same year was RRC 2414 (but not included for depth and population studies), which yielded 1688 (±232) lbs/acre. This variety was planted at 1” depth and was about 6 feet in height. Data from R.F. Meyers’ work in Colorado showed that sunflower yields tend to decline as planting date moves from May to June. The Oklahoma panhandle study was planted in second week of June. Therefore, the lower yields in these experiments could be due to late planting as well as lower germination rate than the above-mentioned studies. It should also be noted that the planter performance may vary with different soil types and planting conditions.

Figure 1. Sunflower yields for different planting populations.

Figure 2. Sunflower yield for 1 and 2 inch planting depth. Error bars represent standard deviation.

Figure 3. Sunflower emergence (%) under different planter settings at Oklahoma Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Goodwell, OK (adopted from: Godsey et al.).

Summary

In summary, we recommend the planting depth of sunflower seeds to be 1 inch. The confectionery seeds production should be planted at 15000 to 20,000 seeds per acre and up to 22000 for oilseed production. The planter speed tends to influence seed germination where 5 mph results in better germination than 7 mph. Therefore, seed depth and spacing should be checked while planting to make sure the depth and population are precise for a given speed.

References

Celik, A., I. Ozturk, T.R. Way. 2007. Effects of various planters on emergence and seed distribution uniformity of sunflower. Applied Engineering in Agriculture (23):57-61. Available at: ResearchGate: Effects of Various Planters on Emergence and Seed Distribution Uniformity of Sunflower

Godsey, C. Planting Decisions for Oklahoma Sunflower Production. Available at: https://www.sunflowernsa.com/uploads/17/godsey_plantingdecisionsoklahoma.pdfHigh Plains Sunflower Production Handbook. Colorado State University, Kansas State University, University of Nebraska, University of Wyoming. Available at: https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/mf2384.pdfKandel, H. 2013. National Sunflower Crop Survey. North Dakota State University Extension Service. Available at: National Sunflower Association 2013 National Sunflower Crop SurveyKhalifa, F.M., A.A. Schneiter, E.I. ELtayeb. 2000. Temperature – Germination responses of sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) genotypes. HELIA 23: 97-104 Available at: file:///C:/Users/Sumit/Downloads/10.1515_helia.2000.23.33.97.pdf

Lopez, M.P., A.J. Hall. 2019. Sunflower oil yield responses to plant population and row spacing: vegetative and reproductive plasticity. Field Crops Research 230:17-30.National Sunflower Association. High Plains Sunflower Production Handbook. Available at: https://www.sunflowernsa.com/uploads/3/planting-sunflower.pdfSmith, J.A., M.F. Kocher. Evaluate planter meter and seed tube systems for seed spacing performance of confection sunflower seed to improve plant spacing in the field. https://www.sunflowernsa.com/uploads/research/330/Smith_PlanterMeter_08.pdf

Robinson, R.G., H.J. Ford, W.E. Lueschen, D.L. Rabas, D.D. Warnes, and J.V. Wiersma. 1982. Response of sunflower to unfromity of plant spacing. Agronomy Journal 74(2): 363-365.Warrick, B.E., Sunflower Production Guide. Texas A&M University. Available at: https://sanangelo.tamu.edu/extension/agronomy/agronomy-publications/sunflower-production-guide/

Our world’s oceans contain some of the craziest things. Scientists are still discovering new fish TODAY and if that doesn’t tell you about the content of the sea, then I don’t know what does. A lot of it is terrifying and most people wouldn’t be caught dead trying to fight anything that’s been evolving for like, a trillion years. These creatures probably know more about the creation of the earth than we do. While a ton of the ocean’s animals are scary, they can also be super tasty. As much as you may like Salmon and Tuna, there’s plenty of fish in the sea. And most of it is delicious when seared in your kitchen, regardless of how crazy-looking it may be. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most exotic fish that you can actually put in your mouth and eat (and really really love).

The Lionfish is a tropical fish and it is an established invasive species on the East Coast of the U.S. and in the Caribbean. It is fast-growing, an insatiable eater, reproduces year round, and has no known predators in the areas to which it has been introduced, so it is quickly becoming a threat to local ecosystems, especially along the central and south Atlantic coasts. One way to help save the environment: eat more Lionfish! In areas where it is native, such as the Red Sea in Greece and many islands in the Pacific, the Lionfish is regularly consumed. These slow-pokes are typically caught with spears or hand-held nets, a catch method that results in little bycatch or damage to the habitat. The fins of the Lionfish are venomous, but are easily removed after being caught and the poison is neutralized by heat, as through cooking. The Lionfish has a white flesh and is said to taste similar to certain Snappers and Groupers.

Spiny Lobsters basically eat anything you put in front of them, but they’re mostly known for consuming small Snails and Crabs, decaying organic matter, and some plants. Incredibly hungry crustaceans, they have exoskeletons that do not expand and they must shed often in order to grow bigger. Before molting, a Spiny Lobster begins building a new, bigger skeleton inside the existing one. As it gets too big to be contained, it splits open the outer shell and the new exoskeleton hardens. Spiny Lobsters are more active at night and that’s when they go out to forage for food. These babies are super sweet; way sweeter than the Maine Lobster but you’re not likely to find it on your American plate any time soon. About 90% of the live Spiney Lobster market gets sold to China due to their insanely high demand and the percentage gets higher every year, while American consumers aren’t willing to pay the price for this unique looking Lobster. If you happen to find a Spiny Lobster on your menu down the line, be sure to give it a try (you might not see it again) – it’s chewy, nutty, and again, very sweet!

If you’re a big fan of sushi, you’ve probably already heard of Uni, the Japanese word for Sea Urchin. The gonads of the Sea Urchin is a delicacy in Japan, and often it can retail for as high as $360 per kilogram. It is served raw as sashimi or in sushi, with soy sauce and wasabi and it is imported in large quantities to Japan, mostly from America and South Korea. California Uni is abundant and especially delicious and most of it is exported to the Japanese market but it is enjoyed in the United States as well with many consumers loving the unique texture and the flavor is a surprising mix of sweetness and ocean brine. Don’t be scared to try new things! Uni is becoming more and more popular every day, so if you see it on the menu during your next visit to the sushi bar, give it a shot!

The Nordic Wolffish is a pretty scary looking thing but it’s perfect for frying or grilling! It kind of looks like an eel with a really big head. Wolffish has delicious, firm flesh similar to Monkfish (another ugly looking fish). Because they live on shellfish, the meat can also have a flavor reminiscent of Shrimp. This fish holds up really well in a fish stew, and it’s especially great when fried as cutlets. Most Wolffish are caught off the shores of Iceland near the Arctic Circle. This fish is super unique: they’re known by the natural antifreeze they produce to keep their blood moving fluidly in their very cold habitat and the large size of their eggs. The Icelandic Wolffish population success is also an important factor in the health of other bottom-dweller populations, such as Atlantic Cod. Important to the ocean environment, versatile in the kitchen, and super delicious? What a combo!

A marine crustacean named for its resemblance to the praying mantis, Mantis Shrimp are typically found as a sushi topping, are boiled whole, and eaten out of the shell. They appear in various Mediterranean cuisines (in Italy, they are Canocchie) and there are over 450 different species of Mantis Shrimp. The meat is intensely sweet, like Lobster, only even more tender than the most tender of tiny Lobsters. It is, by far, the most delicious of the squirmy crustaceans you’ll encounter at the local fish market. If you can get your hands on some Mantis Shrimp, prepare them as you would Prawns, Shrimp, and Langostinos: in pasta, linguine, paella, risotto, and anything else your heart desires. Or, just boil and get to grubbing.

Ever have a buttermilk fried Pufferfish with tartar sauce? We have, and let us tell you: it has to be tasted to be believed. Essentially, it’s the Kentucky fried fish you need in your life. Fry these guys up whole and you have yourself a party. The Pufferfish makes a lot of appearances in cartoons and sunny seaside town decals at seafood restaurants and beyond, but most people don’t know that you can actually eat them. The Pufferfish’s ability to “blow up” and appear larger is its way of communicating to predators, “Hey, I’m bigger than you! Don’t mess with me!” But make no mistake, they’re all talk and no action. The Northern Pufferfish inhabits bays, estuaries and protected coastal waters at depths of 10-183 m along the Atlantic seaboard and this particular species is non-toxic, in contrast to many other kinds of blowfish. The firm, tender, white meat along its stiff backbone tastes so much like chicken that you just need to give it a try and see for yourself that the Northern Pufferfish is the REAL chicken of the sea.

Tree stand selection, placement, set-up and safety all factor into a successful hunt—and each aspect is a never-ending topic of discussion. Everyone has their own opinions on placement, hanging tactics, concealment and even the tree stand itself. While tree stand hunting is a personal decision, there are a few basic principles that can increase a hunter’s odds of seeing deer, having a good shot and make the entire process far more comfortable—and safe.

Portable tree stands come in three main categories, each suited to different uses and hunter preferences. Hang-on stands, the most basic, are simple stands that must be manually moved into place and secured carefully. Just like the name suggests, self-climbing stands allow a hunter to “walk” the stand up a tree and are best-suited to smooth trees with no branches between the hunter and the ground. Ladder stands look like a combined ladder and tree stand, and can be used on a wide range of trees but are often more conspicuous. Of the three options, hang-on stands are the most commonly used.

We covered tree stand placement thoroughly in our recent post How to Hunt Whitetail Deer Using the onX Hunt App, including sitting food, water, cover and seclusion. We also showed how best to enter and exit your stand without disturbing nearby deer and ruining that shot you’ve been waiting for all season. During the summer months, consider clearing multiple trails into your stand so you can walk in based upon deer feeding habits, wind direction and time of day, and mark these trails on the onX Hunt App.

onX Ambassador Steve Tittsworth knows that in his home state of Tennessee, tree stand placement is the most important part of the hunting puzzle. “Over the course of many years, our deer have learned to look up,” Tittsworth shares. “Once I have determined where I need my stand relative to the deer I’m hunting, I look for cover while looking up myself. Be it 30 feet high or only eight feet high, if that perfect tree is a white oak, hickory or hemlock, I’m looking up for the spot that a deer can’t see. Many times I’ve put a set at only eight feet off the ground in a leafed limb cluster and watched deer look right over top of me. I also set these up so I’m completely covered while the deer is directly under me and my opening comes as the deer is passing me. This ensures he’s looking away and the shot is never quartering to me. Higher is not always the best answer.”

onX Community Engagement Specialist Jared Larsen spent his fair share of time in tree stands while growing up hunting both Wisconsin and Iowa. And after years of hunting out of tree stands, he’s finessed his stand maintenance and set-up for maximum safety and comfort. He recommends:

• Oiling moving / connecting parts in the off-season to eliminate creaking in the cold.

• Adding felt tape between metal parts that touch and move (i.e a metal seat that you can fold up when you stand and fold down to sit—where it folds down, tape with felt to eliminate the metal-to-metal contact).

• If you have large feet, invest in a stand with an oversized platform (small platforms are a common issue with ladder stands).

• If you choose to leave your stand up year-round, remove your foam seating pads; otherwise the foam becomes a favored food for mice and squirrels.

• A screw-in bow holder for warmer hands and far more comfortable sits.

Once ensconced in your tree stand, ensure that you place your gear in easy-to-access locations. The last thing you want to be doing when the time comes is scrabbling for binos or rangefinders—a bit of advance planning can keep things calm, cool and collected and ensure you’re not spooking that mature buck that’s finally decided to make an appearance.

Tree stand security is a significant problem in some regions. Consider placing your tree stand away from heavily-used trails in locations where it’s harder to spot (then add a Waypoint in your onX App so you can find it easily, and share with friends if needed). Secure your stand with a highly-visible lock (a log chain or cable lock works well)—often a would-be thief will be deterred simply by seeing a lock. You can also remove the bottom of the ladder, tree steps or climbing sticks, making the tree stand not readily accessible.

Aaron Warbritton, host of the Hunting Public and onX Ambassador, has a few tricks of his own for tree stand hunting in the Midwest. “I use a lineman’s rope to hang the stand. It allows me to safely lean away from the tree and use both hands to set the stand up, making for a much quicker and safer setup,” he shares.

He adds: “Before I leave the ground, I’ll also tie one end of a 30-foot rope to my waist. The other end I tie to my gear (bow, pack, etc.) so I can pull it all up once in the stand. I also use milkweed pods as wind checkers. The seeds float for a long distance so you can watch wind currents away from your stand, unlike powder which only tells you wind direction at your exact location.”

Tom Petry, onX Ambassador and co-owner of Become 1 TV, believes the details truly set apart serious tree stand hunters. He shared a few of his tips with us:

• When transporting stands to and from your location, be sure to keep all straps, chains, etc. secured to the stand. The sound of metal clanging on metal travels a long way and can spook your game before you get a look at it.

• Once hung, be sure to secure all straps, pull-up ropes and loose pieces so they aren’t blowing in the wind. Dangling straps increase your chance of being seen or heard even when you aren’t in the stand. Spook a mature buck once—even when you aren’t there—and they may change their route instantly.

• Always have at least two stand sets for your major hunting areas, and set up accordingly for your two most typical wind directions.

• Be sure that your access to and from the stand is well thought out. From noise to exposure, how stealthy is your approach?

• Choose a location that will provide a good backdrop, especially if it’s a location that you will hunt throughout the year.

• Always check ratchet straps before hanging a stand. If there is ever a doubt as to the integrity of a strap, throw it out and go buy a new one… it will be much cheaper than the hospital bills.

• Never think you are too cool for lifelines and safety harnesses. They will never be as uncomfortable as the result of falling out.

And don’t forget the creature comforts. If the weather is cold, bring along more layers than you think you’ll need—nothing saps body heat like sitting still in an exposed environment. Layer up, keep your head covered to save body heat and never underestimate the chilling power of a persistent breeze during a cool morning. (Or the hot, beating sun in the afternoon.) Even if it’s pleasant in town, weather in the woods tends to have a mind of its own.

Anyone who has spent time in a tree stand will tell you to bring snacks and entertainment. Snacks, hot coffee and something to burn the hours will go a long way once you’re settled in your tree stand and waiting for the deer to arrive to the area. Make sure wrappers are not crinkly and loud—if it sounds loud in your house, it’s going to sound even louder in the woods. Repackage food into quieter containers if necessary.

Basic tree stand safety—wearing a harness at all times, having a lifeline system on each stand, conducting regular maintenance and hanging your treestand at the appropriate height—all factors into your success in the field. Practice your movements of getting in and out of the tree stand and know your personal limits. With a bit of advance research and good, old-fashioned hard work, you can have your most productive hunting season to date.

header image: Dave Fields

Why You Need A Good Pair Of Fishing Pliers

Every angler should carry a quality set of fishing pliers. While regular pliers are OK, fishing pliers with strong cutters are more appropriate for fishing applications. Here are the 3 key reasons why you need a good pair of fishing pliers.

1. Your Health & Safety

For years I watched my dad use his teeth to cut mono fishing lines. Bad idea. With pliers by his side, he might have saved a few broken teeth.

Removing hooks from the mouths of fish with sharp teeth is hazardous. With fish like barracuda, pike, and sharks, it’s downright dangerous. You risk severe lacerations or worse – the loss of a finger or hand when you attempt hook removal without pliers.

Opening split rings and replacing treble hooks requires force. Without pliers, you risk embedding hooks in your hand.

2. Fish Health

For catch and release, removing embedded hooks from deep in the mouth of a fish is nigh on impossible without a good set of fishing pliers.

Without pliers for clean, efficient hook removal, you risk doing great harm to a fish, reducing its chances of survival, or killing it outright.

3. Catching More Fish

If your line’s not in the water, you’re not catching fish. Fishing pliers provide excellent rigging efficiency as well as the ability to fine-tune lures and rigs quickly.

With good fishing pliers, you can tie complex, high-performance rigs much faster, giving you more time in the water – the key to every successful fishing trip.

Fishing Pliers Buying Guide

Fortunately for us, there are a lot of great products out there, and it’s hard to go wrong with fishing pliers. Here are some key purchasing criteria to keep in mind.

Cost

You can get serviceable pliers for under 10 bucks. For quality, multifunction pliers there’s a lot to choose from around $20 to $40.

Between $40 and $100 expect multifunctional, lightweight designs with superior anti-corrosion credentials. Above the $100 mark, high-end ergonomics and construction materials are a must. Pliers at this price point have to feel great and last for years.

Functionality

If you fish a lot of lures or tie more complex rigs regularly, split ring nose and crimping functions are ideal. They must also include blades appropriate for cutting braided lines, monofilament fishing lines, fluoro leader, and steel leader.

But for many anglers, an ergonomic grip, with secure jaws and side cutting is enough to cover their needs. For example, a crimping tool is great for closing splitshot weights, but easily achieved with any nose shap.

Saltwater Pliers vs Freshwater Fishing Pliers

Most pliers are constructed from anti-corrosion materials. By and large, the higher the price point, the more corrosion resistant. At the highest price point, expect no rust at all.

Once you’re over $100, expect them to be corrosion-proof. If you want pliers that endure, only buy saltwater fishing pliers. For me pliers that are suitable only for freshwater fishing are unnecessary.

Materials

Most fishing pliers are made from a variety of lightweight alloys for corrosion protection and easy handling. Many brands will have different materials, such as stainless steel (often replaceabl) for the jaws for better grip and durability.

Stainless steel pliers are very durable if at times a little heavy. Materials such as aircraft-grade alloys and tungsten are generally reserved for more expensive brands and models.

Lightweight aluminum pliers are inexpensive and durable, and always a good bet.

Cutters

Tungsten carbide blades are pretty well the standard these days for blades. They’re not all constructed equally, however, so stay-sharp durability can be a bit of a lottery. To avoid replacing pliers regularly, look for reversible and replaceable blades.

Nose Length

If you’re removing hooks from big fish with big mouths and teeth, look for long nose pliers with a total length of up to 11 inches. 7 inches is a standard overall length, and you’ll be choosing between standard and needle nose. 7 inches is the Goldilocks length and suitable for the vast majority of fishing applications.

I like the maneuverability and dexterity afforded by needle nose. However, there’s a lot to be said for the purchase afforded by standard nose widths. This will often come down to feel – therefore a personal choice.

Grips

Ergonomic grips can make a set of pliers. But we all have different ideas as to what constitutes grip comfort.. Comfort is important, but I also look for non-slip grips. Some anti-corrosion coatings and anodizing can be slippery – I tend to avoid these. A solid grip is vital, as is a safe grip. An aluminum handle will often have a well-shaped ergonomic design, great for gripping, but can be cold to the touch in winter.

Be aware that plastic and rubber overlay grips will allow salt and sand to get between the grip and the handles. This can cause corrosion if not cleaned properly. Spring-loaded handles are great, but the spring can invite weakness and corrosion.

Lanyard & Sheath

In nearly all cases, the lanyard, and sheath will die long before your pliers do. The key thing to look for is the strength of the link between the chord and pliers, and the sheath and pliers. These are often weak points. I always change out the factory links with my own strong split rings or carabiner for peace of mind.

Final Words On The Best Fishing Pliers

Every angler should carry pliers. Fortunately, there are countless worthy options in every price bracket. My winner today, the Piscifun Aluminum Fishing Pliers, has very strong competition. But for price-relative functionality, they were hard to beat. My runners-up are the KastKing Intimidator Fishing Pliers, and the Gerber Magnipliers – awesome options from contrasting price points.

What we’ve done to judge the fastest crossbow in 2024

The fastest crossbow in 2024 is the TenPoint Nitro 505.

My recommendation, however is the Ravin R500 or the R29.

Read on to find out why.

For each crossbow’s FPS (feet-per-second), we sourced information from manufacturers and tests, and are confident it’s the most up-to-date at the time of the review.

Remember that any 400 fps crossbow is already electric, so these crossbows are taking it to another level.

In this article, we’ll be reviewing the following crossbows:

• Fastest Crossbow on the market: TenPoint Nitro 505: 505 FPS
• Fastest Ravin Crossbow: R500: 500 FPS
• Scorpyd Nemesis: 480 FPS
• TenPoint Nitro XRT: 470 FPS
• Fastest Scorpyd Crossbow: Aculeus: 460 FPS
• Fastest Recurve Crossbow: Excalibur Bulldog: 440 FPS
• Most Accurate Fastest Crossbow: Ravin R29: 430 FPS
• Fastest Barnett Crossbow: Hypertac Pro 430: 430 FPS
• Fastest Crossbow for the Money/Youth: CenterPoint Wrath 430: 430 FPS

Before we review the fastest crossbows, let’s go over:

• the advantages of speed
• the disadvantages of speed
• the difference between power and speed
• one commonality between the crossbows

What are the advantages of a fast crossbow?

Longer range & better accuracy

The distinct advantage to a faster bow is that it creates a flatter trajectory. This improves aim over distance, not having to account for as much drop in the arc of the arrow.

What’s most impressive about performance improvements on the fastest crossbows over the last five years is how much it impacts accuracy over longer distance.

For example, the R500 and the TenPoint Nitro only drop about one inch over 40 yards compared to 20 yards, significantly more than less powerful crossbows.

Less chance of “jumping the string”

Not an uncommon phenomenon when hunting at longer ranges, the snap of the bow string upon firing is enough to startle game into a panic-driven movement reflex which, by the time the bolt arrives, may mean you hit the wrong part of the animal or miss it completely.

An extremely fast bow makes it less likely because, at 500+ FPS, a deer just won’t have enough time to react even at 60-80 yards.

What are the disadvantages of a fast crossbow?

Noise

It seems logical that if you wind a string up further and harder before letting it go, that this cause more vibrations, and therefore make more noise.

This is somewhat mitigated in the case of compound crossbows, as their pulley systems allow the energy to be stored in other parts instead of the string, thus reducing vibration.

On recurve bows – as mentioned later in the Excalibur Bulldog 440 review – vibration is amplified at high FPS, making purchasing a full suppression system worth considering.

• Read more: Best crossbows on the market
• Read more: Best crossbow for under $500
• Read more: Best Women’s Crossbows

Equipment wear

When you build so much power into a crossbow, you are asking the limbs to store more energy when cocked. This will result in the possibility of broken limbs on the one hand, as well as having to restring your crossbow more often.

Not only this, but high speeds wear down the arrows – in fact, you’ll probably have to use manufacturer-specific equipment.

Accessories made for lesser bows are often incompatible, so you may see yourself tied to the manufacturer.

External Influence

Extreme speeds will magnify all of the variables in every shot. You’ll find yourself battling the wind, gravity and operator shakiness in different ways.

You’ll also find that some arrows which shoot fine at lower speeds can’t handle the added pressure of flying at 450-500 FPS – it’s fast!

Difference between kinetic energy (KE) and speed (FPS)

It appears that most hunters thirst for speed in their crossbow. This does makes sense, as more speed means more distance, better accuracy, and less chance for the animal to escape.

On the other hand, it raises questions of ethics as higher speeds at a more considerable distance may make you miss your target (or the intended part of the animal).

What’s more, when you increase speed, you often do so by reducing the mass of the arrow and therefore reducing the energy.

The following analogy may help to understand; first of all, imagine getting hit by a grain of sand at 100mph. Frustrating indeed, but nothing to write home about. Then imagine getting hit by a brick at 20mph. With the latter, you risk death.

The point is, when targeting speed, we should also target increased KE, to take down bigger animals you’re proud to take home.

One Commonality between these crossbows

Almost all of the bows have one thing in common: reverse-draw technology. Reverse-draw technology essentially means that you are drawing towards the riser – the aluminium connecting limb to bow – instead of away from it.

A lot of the crossbow companies pay royalties to Kempf – the designer – to use his patent, as there seems no better way (for now) to get more output from a crossbow.

Improved crossbow balance

The most powerful crossbows generally require longer power strokes, to generate more force.

This usually would create a more substantial weight imbalance toward the front of the crossbow.

Reverse draw technology shifts the risers from the front of the crossbow to its center, to provide excellent balance and reduce front-heavy crossbows.

Exceptional accuracy

The centrally positioned risers mean that the crossbow doesn’t feel as heavy, and you can both hold your aim for longer, or quickly react to unpredictable situations.

Heavily reduced noise

The fact the string pulls through these risers effectively elongates the power stroke, while reducing the draw weight. Aside from generating higher speeds, it also results in significantly less vibration, meaning shots 3x quieter.

Better trigger experience

If you don’t have as much draw weight, the trigger isn’t going to be as strained, and this results in a better, all-round shooting experience.

The Fastest Crossbow Reviews

Ravin R500 Vs TenPoint Nitro 505

Firstly, take a moment to recognize that in 2019 we had just broken the 400 FPS barrier with the TenPoint Nitro XRT 432 (Cabela’s/Amazon). Within a year, the XRT was flying at 470 FPS. Now in 2024, we have two 500+FPS crossbows. An incredible performance leap in just four years.

Secondly – and read this carefully – these crossbows offer more penetration over 50 yards than a compound bow at point blank!

Do I buy the R500 or the Nitro 505?

If you’re looking for purely the fastest, the Nitro 505 is the fastest crossbow in the world, flying ten feet per second faster than the R500. However, the R500 is a more consistent crossbow when tested with field points, multiple broadheads, and from multiple positions. The R500 experienced ‘flyers’ less regularly and not nearly as wildly as the Nitro 505.

A few poor review comments on the TenPoint website support this, claiming poor grouping and quality control before shipping.

Safety

The R500 also feels like a safer bow thanks to its design – a shroud that covers the string.

Pricing

Pricing is always important. When both crossbows came out, you had to spend upwards of $3000. Check Amazon (R500 / Nitro 505) or Cabela’s (R500 / Nitro 505) for the latest prices.

Performance

Crossbow performance, as mentioned, is improving dramatically year on year. However, the R500 and the Nitro 505 are certainly not the most accurate crossbows we’ve tested. Supporting (yet necessary) accessories, such as bolts, fletchings, broadheads, etc., are not keeping pace. In the next couple of years, this may be where crossbow brands try to make gains, making these bows as reliable as they are powerful.

Fastest Crossbow in the World/Fastest TenPoint Crossbow: The Nitro 505

Weight: 7.9 lbs Length: 30.5 inches Width (cocked): 6.5 inches Width (uncocked): 12 inches Draw Weight: 300 lbs Power Stroke: 17 inches Speed: 515 FPS

When you first look at it, it follows the typical TenPoint design, with its ACUslide cocker, reverse-draw technology, and some slightly beefed-up limbs. The knocks on the bolts are also a little beefier. You can use these new knocks on old TenPoints, but you can’t use older versions on the new Nitro 505 because the bolts are designed to perform (or not break!) at extreme speeds.

The ACUslide cranking mechanism feels wonderfully safe. It takes all the weight out of the action and will not unwind on you halfway through. It also decocks so safely that your children can perform the entire process. In comparison, this was a better experience than the original Ravin until Ravin included the automatic e-cocking mechanism, which is another technological leap forwards. The Nitro’s finger shield protects you comfortably from the string.

Although not on par with the crossbow for quality, the package scope has been built by Hawke and is a marked improvement on the typical standard scopes they include.

The S1 trigger is a two-stage zero-creep trigger with a crisp break on the shot at four pounds in testing.

The Nitro 505 was also a little louder than some other bows, but it’s understandable with the power and vibration it generates.

Fastest Ravin Crossbow: R500

Weight: 8.4 lbs Length: 28 inches Width (cocked): 3.6 inches Width (uncocked): 7.6 inches Draw Weight: 300 lbs Power Stroke: 15 inches Speed: 505 FPS

Ravin has developed and introduced a Hex Coil system mounted to a reverse-draw system to reach eye-watering speeds and make their crossbow the best for portability and maneuverability. Uncocked, it’s 7.7 inches, and when cocked, it sits at a streamline of 3.6 inches. With a weight of 8.4 pounds and a length of 28 inches, you never feel hampered by trees and branches and will often find creative ways to aim from cover.

Cocking a crossbow has become painless and automatic. The crossbow has a VersaDrive cocking system with an integral screw drive that has allowed the Ravin team to include an electronic cocking option on a later release without the need for a cocking crank. If this is for you, ensure the version you buy includes it.

I like this design’s safety because the crank is housed in a shroud that protects your fingers and body from accidents around the string.

This crossbow is capable of deadly accuracy of well over 100 yards (although we don’t recommend this for hunting). I loved seeing it tested with the Garmin X1i Crossbow Scope to see what’s possible when the best crossbow and scope technology meets.

This scope isn’t included in a standard package, though! You’ll get a fully-assembled crossbow, six bolts with field points, a removable draw handle, a quiver, and an illuminated speed-compensating scope. I feel that some of these add-ons are a little cheaper than the crossbow itself, which is a shame for such an expensive purchase.

Understandably, the bolts are tailored to the extreme power of the R500; your warranty will be voided if you use any others.

Scorpyd Nemesis Review 480 FPS

Weight: 7 lbs Length: Unknown Width (cocked): 8.9 inches Draw Weight: Unknown Power Stroke: Unknown

Scorpyd, sadly, decided to recall the Nemesis due to serving wear issues.It’s a shame as the Nemesis flew at a whopping 480 FPS.

The 480 FPS rating was taken with a 400-grain arrow. There are reports of a massive 505 FPS achieved with the 375-grain bolt; which would be the first time a crossbow broke the 500-FPS barrier back in 2019. Was this a 500-FPS crossbow?

At 480 FPS, this crossbow generated a whopping 189.2 FPKE.

Scorpyd knows how to make fast crossbows, and seem to prioritise it over anything else.

That’s not to say though that the bow didn’t have balance, precision and versatility, thanks to its reverse-draw technology and patented SearLoc Trigger System.

Special Mentions

• Possibly the first ever 500+ FPS crossbow back in 2019

TenPoint Nitro XRT Review 470 FPS

Weight: 7.4 lbs Length: 30.7 inches Width (cocked): 7 inches Draw Weight: 225 lbs Power Stroke: 16.5 inches

TenPoint Nitro XRT is one of our favourite crossbows ever. It doesn’t just appear in our review of the fastest crossbows, but in our review of best crossbows, too.

It’s an all-round monster weapon, which hits a crazy 470 FPS, generating more than 185 FPKE.

It has a silent draw system, and an improved trigger with a string-latch design (although we still felt there was room for improvement). It is also comfortable to shoulder for those long days hunting.

It’s excellent weight-distribution with the reverse-draw technology make it a piece of cake to handle and aim. Perhaps the only thing stopping this crossbow being our favourite ever is the expensive price tag.

Fastest Scorpyd Crossbow: Aculeus Review 460 FPS

Weight: 7.5 lbs Length: 34.5 inches Width (cocked): 12.875 inches Draw Weight: 180 lbs Power Stroke: 18.5 inches

The Aculeus remains in the top three for speed, and will undoubtedly be available at a discount rate from the new Scorpyd Nemesis. This could work in its favor, given that these crossbow prices range into the thousands.

Fastest Recurve Crossbow: Excalibur Bulldog Review 440 FPS

Weight: 6.2s lbs Length: 35.75 inches Width (cocked): 23 inches Draw Weight: 300 lbs Power Stroke: 14.5 inches

What’s more, you can enjoy all the typical advantages of a recurve bow, in maintenance and crossbow weight.

We wonder, however, just how long those limbs are going to last on a cocked crossbow 23 inches wide and with a 14.5-inch power stroke.

Another issue is noise. Perhaps you want to try heavier bolts or purchase a full suppression system? This, of course, will take away a little from the 440 FPS – your call!

Can a deer get out of the way anyway if a bolt is travelling 440 FPS? Maybe not, but ethical hunting is important. If you hit the wrong part of the animal, it could end up hurt, or taking longer to die than is necessary.

Special Mentions

• The Fastest Recurve Crossbow

Most Accurate: Ravin R29 Review 430 FPS

Weight: 6.75 lbs Length: 29 inches Width (cocked): 5.75 inches Draw Weight: 240 lbs Power Stroke: 12.5 inches

That’s because they didn’t achieve 430 FPS by compromising other aspects needed for crossbow hunting.

The Ravin R29 sits in at an incredible 5.5 inches shorter than the R20, at 29 inches in length, with a more than reasonable 12.5-inch power stroke to deliver a punishing 164 lbs of kinetic energy.

It has incredible six-inch cocked full width and weighs only 6.75 lbs. This makes it our favourite fast gun for a long day hunting. You can shoulder this crossbow all day, and instantly react to surprises. Wow!

If you’re happy to compromise down to 400 FPS (I mean, come on, it’s not exactly slow…), check out the Ravin R26. This won our best crossbow; with sleeker dimensions and all-round perfection.

Special Mentions

• The Most Accurate Fastest Crossbow

Fastest Barnett Crossbow: Hypertac Pro 430

Weight: 8.9 lbs Length: 31 inches Width (cocked): 9.125 inches Width (uncocked): 13 inches Draw Weight: 230 lbs Power Stroke: 14.25 inches Speed: 430 FPS

With the scope, it showed impressive, tight grouping with field tips over 60-70 yards. Although not pre-installed, I also liked how straightforward it was to set up.

The bow is fairly noiseless thanks to the unique cam design on the inside of the limbs, which reduces vibration (which produces noise).

Its unique integrated string hook system functions well with the TriggerTech Zero Creep trigger, which fires at exactly three pounds. TriggerTech is Barnett’s proprietary technology that drops a free-floating roller between the sear and trigger, making the shot crisp and smooth. It’s better visualized than described:

The Hypertac 430 has a custom feel to it. The buttstock and cheekpiece have micro-adjustment options to set the perfect length of pull. The forend has an optional flip-down Verti-Grip to shoot the crossbow like an assault rifle.

The bow has a cocking crank integrated, which allows you to both cock and decock safely. If you release the crank before it’s cocked, it will not dangerously unload. On the negative side, the crank was unexpectedly loud, as was the removal of the safety.

The package bow comes fully assembled with three 22-inch Hyperflite arrows, a 1.5-5×32 illuminated speed-compensating scope, an integrated cocking crank, a side-mount quiver, and rail lube.

Also, a special mention for the proprietary (and therefore not the easiest to get hold of) Hyperflite bolts. Despite being a little expensive, they have a high-quality feel with a slimmer 204 diameter, 1000 straightness, stiff spine with 60 grains upfront to increase your FOC by 25%, increasing penetration by 30% over a standard crossbow bolt.

Fastest Crossbow for the Money/Youth: Centerpoint Wrath 430

Weight: 8.3 lbs Length: 28.26 inches Width (cocked): 9 inches Width (uncocked): 13 inches Draw Weight: 200 lbs Power Stroke: 15 inches Speed: 430 FPS

For this reason, I love to recommend the Wrath as the best crossbow for women or youth. Its short length (28,26 inches) and nine-inch Width, when cocked, are the best you will find on a bow two or three times less expensive than most on this list.

The Wrath is attractively priced for beginner hunters at less than $1000. You get a high-quality crossbow at an entry price.

Velocity Outdoor, the parent company for CenterPoint Archery, bought out Ravin in 2018, and we see the Wrath share technological similarities, such as the wheel system the best Ravin crossbows have.

It has a bullpup design, meaning the release lies behind the trigger. This design leads to a longer power stroke and increased speed despite not having a longer bow.

It also has a folding stirrup which is useful when using the rope cocker. There is a package version with a silent cocking crank, too. The cocking crank is useful as a bipod which is excellent for beginners or youth hunters, given the crossbow’s 9-pound weight.

Safety is also a primary consideration, which is wonderful news for beginner/young crossbow hunters. When you cock this crossbow, it automatically assumes the safe position. What’s more, it’s not possible to dry fire.

The package includes a fantastic 4×32 illuminated scope with ballistic aiming points inside, three 400-grain carbon arrows with field points, a quiver, and the earlier-mentioned rope cocker.

Conclusion – the fastest crossbow

The fastest crossbow is sure to be the Scorpyd Nemesis, which may be the first crossbow to break the 500-FPS barrier!

Until it comes out in a few weeks, the champion remains the 470 FPS TenPoint Nitro XRT, not only of note for its speed but for its all-round excellence as a weapon.

All of the above crossbows are excellent over distance, without compromising power.

If you prefer the traditional recurve bow, then look no further than the Excalibur Bulldog 440. We’d be interested in your feedback down below on its durability and how often it needs taking care of.

Dicks Sporting Goods offers a generous return policy for their customers, however, there are a number of things to be aware of which we’ll cover below.

The company was established by Richard Dick Stack in 1948. Dicks Sports return policy is very generous in its terms and conditions, which is very convenient for its users.

We’ll discuss the terms outlined in their return policy, including refunds, exchanges and how to return your goods.

Dicks Sporting Goods Returns

Customers can return their goods within 60 days of purchase, either by mail or in-store, according to the company’s terms in the Dicks Sporting Goods return policy. Dicks Sporting Good return policy allows you to return unworn, unwashed, undamaged, or defective merchandise purchased online or in-store.

Moreover, the company has extended its return period to 90 days for both online and in-store orders from the previous 60 days. This has also extended for Calia and Field, Golf Galaxy and Stream.

Most products are returnable within 30 days at Dick’s Sporting Goods Warehouse stores, which has a separate policy in place.

How To return Products at Dick’s Sporting Goods

Dicks returns gives you two options to return its product – by mail or by visiting any of the Dicks stores. We have provided the details of both the return policies below

Dicks Sporting store return policy

Before returning your products, make sure that it is unworn, unwashed, and undamaged.

Here are some easy steps to go through, if one wants to return the merchandise by paying a visit to the nearest store:

• You can locate your nearest store by visiting this link.
• When you know your local store to return your product, pack your product in the original packing.
• Accompany your product with an original slip.
• Store personnel will help you in processing your return.
• Your refund will be immediately processed to your original form of payment.

You can also contact your local store operator to know more.

return policy for online Via mail

Are you too lazy to walk-in to your nearest store, Dicks provides you the option to return the items by mailing it to them.

The company will issue a refund for the purchase price of the item within 60 days of return.

To return items by mail, you need to go through the following steps:

• To start your return with Dick’s Sporting, visit the website.
• Go to the return page by visiting this link.
• Fill in the order details and Zip code and proceed as per given instructions, and you will get the return label.
• Click on the “Find order” tab to go to your order details.
• The return label has a return department address (place of returning), and the packing slip contains the specific instructions to return.
• Attest the return label to your package.
• Now you can schedule a pickup or drop off at the carrier of your choice or UPS drop-off location.

Shipping and handling charges are not refundable.

Exchange Policy

Dicks Sporting exchange policy for the company is the same as its return policy, you need to return your items within 90 days to get the product exchanged.

Follow the below steps to get your product returned:

• Start your return by visiting the website and follow the instructions as given in the ‘return by mail’ process.
• Place the new order for the replacement.

See Also: Wayfair Return Policy

Refund Policy

Returns are generally directed to the original mode of payment by Dicks, make sure that the items are in original condition.

• If you return your item in the store, it can take up to 14 business days for the refund to be processed to your original form of payment. If it’s been more than 14 days, you should first reach out to your bank or aggregator.

• If you have returned your item by online mode, it usually takes 2—3 weeks from DICK’S Sporting Goods to receive your return for a credit to be issued. Dicks will issue Refunds to the original form of payment for the purchase price of the item, including sales tax

Exclusions

They have a different policy for different products like dicks shoe return policy, dicks bike return policy, dicks sporting goods kayak return policy, dicks sporting goods return policy for online stuff, etc.

Dicks sporting goods return policy is pretty favorable for its customers; it requires you to return the items before 90 days to get a full refund. It takes 14 days for processing of your return:

If you wish to return without receipt, you can do so without an original sales receipt or pack slip, but the product must be returned using a valid ID, and you will receive a store credit for the lowest selling price.

FAQs

Can I return Items To Dicks Without a Receipt?

Returning goods to Dicks Sporting Goods without a receipt is possible, however, you may only be eligible for store credit and are required to present your ID. It may be possible to receive an email copy of your receipt. All decisions are final and at the discretion of management.

Conclusion

Do you know that Dick’s sporting entered into women’s athletics in 2015 and into team sports in 2016?

Dick’s Sporting Goods offer quality products, but then also you end up getting a damaged item… Hard luck! Don’t worry and file a return request immediately.

Don’t forget to check these out – GameStop, and Nike Return Policy.

For further queries about Dicks Sporting Goods return policy, I’d suggest you comment down below and our experts are more than happy to answer.

Related: Kroger Return Policy