Evolution really likes crabs.

That’s not entirely true. Evolution doesn’t “like” anything. It’s just a natural process that develops and changes species. It doesn’t have likes or dislikes.

But here’s what’s kinda crazy — evolution keeps making crabs, and scientists don’t know why. Seriously.

For decades, scientists have been aware of carcinization, the natural phenomenon of organisms evolving into crabs or crab-like creatures.

According to an expert at Florida International University, “Carcinization can be defined as the evolutionary process leading to the crab-like form.”

Evolutionary biologists aren’t sure why carcinization occurs, but some say it might be caused by the crab’s ability to survive. The crab-like form might have features that make it more resilient than other organisms, making it more likely to climb the evolutionary tree.

No matter why they exist, Earth is home to a bunch of crabs (about 5,000 unique species to be exact).

With so many crabs, it can be hard to pinpoint the most expensive varieties. Some are common foods, others are protected and face extinction due to habitat loss. With this list, we’ll look at the most expensive crabs you could actually buy. Keep reading to learn more!

8. The Blue King Crab

photo source: adn.com

First up is the elusive blue king crab. The creature is often found near the chilly Diomede Islands, a small region between Alaska and mainland Russia.

Blue king crabs eat worms, small fish, algae, and even other crabs! Beyond the Diomede Islands, these blue creatures live in cold waters surrounding Hokkaido, Japan, and the Sea of Okhotsk.

Blue king crab prices are hard to nail down, but you could easily spend about $30 on one of these animals. The species is relatively rare and not as popular for eating as the Alaskan king crab. The species’ population is also spread pretty thin, with small pockets living scattered across the globe.

Warming oceans could be causing the crabs’ strange distribution. The animal evolved to live in cold water, so changing temperatures can isolate them in colder remote regions.

All those factors make the blue king crab hard to find and pretty expensive.

Did you know?

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says the blue king crab population is quite low, so commercial fishing companies can’t catch them. The Department says there aren’t any direct threats causing the risk of extinction, but the species’ small population is concerning.

7. Coconut Crabs

photo source: animals.howstuffworks.com

The massive coconut crab is just that: massive. These huge creatures are about 40 inches long and weigh 10 pounds, making them some of the biggest crabs on this list.

When they’re young, the nocturnal coconut crab lives in dense vegetation or piles of fallen coconuts to avoid the sun.

As they get older, the crabs usually make burrows among tree roots and logs. These damp homes keep the animals safe from the heat until they head out for food at nightfall.

As scavengers, coconut crabs eat the shells of other crabs to get their daily dose of calcium. They also enjoy fallen fruit and dead animals found near their beachfront homes. Some even eat birds!

Sadly, coconut crabs are threatened by habitat destruction and over-harvesting. The species was officially labeled “vulnerable” by the IUCN, and experts are worried about their future. As a result, these animals can be hard to find and very expensive.

Did you know?

Female coconut crabs usually choose to mate with males that are the same size or bigger than themselves.

6. The Dungeness Crab

photo source: sfgate.com

The Dungeness crab, a popular meal in the San Francisco Bay Area, is known for its mild taste and juicy texture. The variety is a common choice for crab cakes, but its steep price tag is a little hard to swallow.

Final costs depend on the crab and its seller, but you could easily spend $40 on one of these creatures. Others go for closer to $45 per pound. For a typical 2-pound crab, you’re looking at a $90 dinner.

Did you know?

The Dungeness crab lives along sandy ocean floors near the coast of Alaska. It can also be found down in Magdalena Bay, Mexico, and throughout California’s coastal waters.

5. Stone Crabs

photo source: commons.wikimedia.org

Stone crabs are often found along the coasts of North Carolina and Florida. The variety is a favorite among restaurants, many of which charge upwards of $70 for a small plate of stone crab claws.

Stone crab claw harvesting is a pretty unique process. Fishers catch the animals in underwater traps, then break off their claws and throw the rest back to the waves. Crabs can regenerate limbs, so the animal will regrow its missing claws over time.

Florida is one of the biggest producers of stone crab claws. The state regulates harvesting by requiring each claw to be at least 2 ⅞ inches long before its removed. Some scientists are concerned about claw harvesting despite this rule.

A study by the state of Florida found that as much as 82% of crabs die when both claws are removed and up to 60% die when one claw is removed. Those high death rates make some worry about sustaining healthy stone crab populations.

Did you know?

Stone crab claws have to be boiled and put on ice soon after removal, otherwise they go bad.

4. The Alaskan Red King Crab

photo source: cnbc.com

Coming in at number four is the Alaskan red king crab, a large species that can live up to about 30 years. Males can grow up to about 24 pounds and have legs up to 5 feet long.

Red king crabs live throughout the coastal waters of Japan, British Columbia, the Bering Sea, Alaska, and many other regions — but the most expensive variety comes from Alaska.

A 2-pound, wild-caught Alaskan red king crab can sell for up to $180!

Did you know?

Like other crabs, this variety is omnivorous. The species enjoys a whole range of dead and decaying organisms along the ocean floor, including fish, plants, and more.

3. Crystal Crabs

photo source: oceanictrading.com.au

The crystal crab is one of the most popular varieties among high-end chefs. The species has a thin shell and yields large portions of meat, making it a popular choice for restaurants.

Crystal crabs only live along the western coast of Australia. As deep-sea crabs, the species can be tricky to catch, making it more expensive. Although the variety isn’t endangered, crystal crabs’ isolated population boosts prices too.

A single crystal crab can sell for as much as $300, making it the third most expensive crab on the planet.

Did you know?

Unlike other species, crystal crabs remain white after being cooked.

2. The Giant Spider Crab

photo source: christies.com

The horrifyingly huge spider crab lurks along the seafloor near Japan. Living up to 100 years, the massive creature can grow legs over 12 feet long and weigh more than 40 pounds!

Despite their monster-like appearance, giant spider crabs are actually quite tame. The animal moves slowly along the ocean floor, snacking on dead organisms as it moves through the water.

Giant spider crabs aren’t commonly fished because they live so deep under the waves. Still, the creatures are a delicacy in Japan. If they aren’t eaten, the species might be preserved and presented as a unique collector’s item — like this taxidermied specimen sold in 2014. The huge creature was auctioned for about $12,000!

Did you know?

Giant spider crabs often live 50 meters below the ocean surface.

1. Snow Crabs

photo source: cnbc.com

Snow crabs are the most expensive crabs.

Snow crabs are mainly found along parts of Greenland, Eastern Canada, Alaska, and Japan. You could easily spend several hundred dollars on these animals regardless of their origin, but Japanese snow crabs can be particularly expensive.

Why? In Japan, snow crab fishing season runs from November to early March. Traditionally, buying the first caught crab is a status symbol. People are willing to spend thousands to get their hands on the first crab of the season. One sold for $18,000 in 2018, while another earned a jaw-dropping $46,000 in 2019.

Tetsuji Hamashita purchased the record-setting crab, saying, “I know it’s extreme. But it’s the custom.”

Did you know?

Snow crabs live among the muddy bottoms of cold ocean waters. The creatures feed on worms, fish, shrimp, and other small organisms.

Whitetail hunters and land managers have been playing around with the idea of food plots for nearly 40 years now. And admittedly, a lot of folks have become quite proficient at planting food plot crops that rival the best farm crops out there.

Even vegetable gardeners would have to be envious at the results seen by those deer hunters who are merely trying to provide the best food plot for the deer on their land.

This year, I’m back at it in our “Fallow to Fabulous” experiment. Last year’s success included two small food plot that were grown on land that hadn’t been farmed in over 15 years. I started out by killing (or attempting to kill) all of the weeds. Wasn’t real successful at that. But I was successful in getting those two plots to grow brassicas quite nicely. Yeah, I know that’s not a major accomplishment, because growing brassicas is fairly easy, even in sandy soils like we have here in central Wisconsin.

In any event, this year I’m back at it. In fact, this week, I (with all credit to my friends who have equipment) worked the plots and again got some brassica seed planted. I went back with the proven blend of Antler King Honey Hole. Honey Hole is a mixture of five unique varieties of brassicas, which include three varieties of rape, and two varieties of turnips. This blend provides an ideal plot for the fall and winter. After the first frost the plants go from bitter to sweet and the deer love them. In fact, we darn-near filled all of our tags during the early archery season while hunting over these plots. It was simply amazing to see deer flock to these plots after not having any real source of supplemental food for years. I know for a fact that it drew deer to our hunting property from a lot of the neighboring properties.

The Next Big Thing in Food Plots?

Both plots are relatively small (less than 1/4 acre each), and I used the same amount of Honey Hole when seeding the plots this week. However, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by a “newer” product that Antler King has been offering: Kale.

Yes, kale. That nasty leafy green they put on your plate when you order a sandwich at the restaurant. Yeah, yeah, I know some folks love kale, especially when it’s cooked with mashed potatoes, but I’ve alway found it kind of gross, to be honest. Bitter tasting (to me, anyway), and even though I know it has a ton of good nutrients in it, I’ve always shied away from including it in my salads.

Well, I’m not a deer, and I’m certainly not waiting around until late fall for it to “sweeten up.” Apparently, that’s exactly what kale does … because it IS another form of brassica!

I simply took 1/2 pound of the seed (way more than enough) and cut it with the Honey Hole seed I was planting. I don’t know of anyone who personally has planted a food plot of just kale, so I didn’t want to roll the dice on being all-in just in case the deer didn’t take to it right away. But after reading all of the information about this specific strain, I’m really intrigued as to how these plots will turn out. And we just received a good dose of rain, so this stuff should germinate before too long.

More About Kale Food Plots

Here’s a little more info on the seed itself from Antler King:

•Kale is a member of the brassica family and is extremely cold tolerant, easy to establish and provides a fantastic cool-season food source.

•Kale is packed with protein (20-30%) and vitamins and can produce up to 10 tons of forage per acre.

•Kale will grow best in cooler climates as the plant’s leaves will sweeten as the temps get colder.

•Like other brassicas, a frost will create a molecular change and further sweeten the leaves and increase attraction.

•Kale is best planted from July through October and works as a great fall and winter forage crop in the Southern U.S. and a summer, fall and winter forage crop in the North, Northeast, and Midwest.

•Kale prefers lighter soils; sandy, sandy loam or light clay and will perform best in a pH ranging from 5.5-7.0.

Kale Conclusion

So … I will keep my fingers crossed that these brassica plots flourish and the kale is something that helps improve them even more than last year. I will also report back with photos of the progress; and trail-camera photos and videos of any visitors we might get over the next several weeks.

Fishing has been around for a while. For thousands of years, humans have been catching aquatic creatures for food — so fishing rods are a pretty ancient invention. The tool was used throughout China, Egypt, and Greece in 2000 BC, but rods were invented even earlier than that.

Before rods, prehistoric humans probably caught fish with their hands or other traps. Eventually, fishing hooks were carved from wood or bone to catch fish more easily. Then came fishing rods that were much more similar to modern inventions. By the 15th century, deep-sea fishing was underway and seafood was a typical part of the global diet.

Today, fishing is a popular pastime and a common source of food. Learn more about the most expensive fishing rods you can buy with this top 10 list.

Dobyns Champion Extreme HP Spinning Rod

photo source: americanlegacyfishing.com

First we have the Champion Extreme HP Spinning Rod by Dobyns. This high-end system has a lot of nice touches that boost the price. Each rod features “Kigan titanium frame zirconium insert guides” and classic hook keepers to avoid tangles. The rod also offers high-quality cork on the handle.

Dobyns rods are designed by Gary Dobyns himself — a legendary tournament fisher. Buyers enjoy a lifetime warranty and all the benefits of a rod designed by a pro.

Did you know?

Dobyns says he wasn’t satisfied with what the fishing rod market had to offer, so he made his own designs. With decades of experience, Dobyns rods are some of the best out there.

The Legend X Series Casting Rod

photo source: fishermanswarehouse.com

Coming in at number nine is the Legend X Series Casting Rod by St. Croix. This high-end rod offers classic design details combined with advanced technology. St. Croix says the rod is “built upon a super-high modulus graphite blank with FRS in the lower section,” giving users a high-strength and durable rod that’s simultaneously light-weight.

At more than $400, this fishing rod is one of the most expensive on the market.

Did you know?

St. Croix has been around for over 70 years. The business operates in Wisconsin and Mexico, producing a range of fishing rods for freshwater and saltwater fishermen.

50W 2-Speed Reel on a Bent Butt Tournament Edition Rod

photo source: eatmytackle.com

This tournament-level rod and reel combo stands out with high-end design and careful craftsmanship. Stainless steel, saltwater resistance, and smooth finishes make this rod extremely expensive. Sold by Eat My Tackle, the setup costs an eye-popping $734.99 — making it the eighth-most expensive fishing rod you can buy.

Did you know?

So what’s the point of the bent butt design? It comes down to how the rod is used. Bent designs are good for heavy drag and heavy tackle while straight designs are better in most other cases. Bent butt rods are also useful for people who have trouble controlling the rod, like kids or smaller adults.

The T&T Paradigm Fly Rod

photo source: tridentflyfishing.com

Up next is this beauty from Thomas & Thomas (T&T). The classic design may look simple, but expensive touches like authentic American maple details and T&T’s attention to detail boost the rod’s appeal — and price. At more than $900 apiece, these rods are the seventh-most expensive on the market.

T&T rods are handcrafted in the U.S. The company was founded in 1969 by Tom Dorsey and Tom Maxwell. For decades, T&T has been at the pricey end of the fly fishing market.

Did you know?

T&T fishing rods were given to President Regan and First Lady Nancy Regan to be gifted to the Royal Family.

Sage R8 Core Fly Rod

photo source: gorgeflyshop.com

The R8 Core Fly Rod by Sage is a corrosion-resistant design that sells for more than $1,000. The pricey rod offers easy control and connection with the water so users can feel subtle movements without the risk of losing their catch.

Sage says this rod is focused on “maximum versatility and applies new revolutionary material technology.” The durable design features Ziricote wood, anodized aluminum, and real cork. The whole setup makes it easy to gauge the power you need in each cast for precise fishing and careful catching.

Did you know?

Sage says this rod promotes “zen-like awareness” of quiet movements in the water so users never miss a fish.

The G. Loomis Asquith 690-4 All Water Fly Rod

photo source: americanlegacyfishing.com

Next up is the Asquith 690-4 by G. Loomis. The fly rod offers durable materials that avoid ovalization and a saltwater-friendly reel system. Overall, the entire rod system costs a whopping $1,175.

Loomis says its mission is to “heighten angler experience through creating tools that expand tactical opportunity.” The brand offers a range of products, including cheaper options like this rod which sells for less than $300.

Did you know?

Historians say the oldest references to fly fishing date back to the 13th century in England. These early fly fishers used their rods to catch grayling and trout.

2021 XOS GT’n’Doggie 7’6 Expedition

photo source: fishingandboatingdeals.com

Hamachi’s 2021 Expedition rod is designed for travel. The system easily breaks down for easy storage so users can fish all over the world, but the design is strong enough so you never lose a fish. With “a parabolic rod rated at PE 5-10, with a max drag of 22kg@ 45 degrees and 18kg@ 60 degrees,” the Expedition is ready for anything.

All those cool features come at a price though — at more than $1,200, this rod is the fourth-most expensive on the market.

Did you know?

Deep-sea fishing showed up around the 15th century, but fishing was an important part of the human food supply long before that.

Penn’s Creek Full-Flex Split Bamboo Fly Rod

photo source: orvis.com

Heading into the top three we find the Penn’s Creek rod by Orvis. This fishing rod costs an eye-popping $2,998, but the optional personalization feature boosts that price by $45.

This rod is known for its light-weight feel and beautiful design. Orvis used real bamboo for flexibility and durability, making this a great option for avid fishers or collectors.

Did you know?

Orvis was founded in 1856 by Charles F. Orvis. The brand was established in Vermont and provided fly fishing equipment. Now, with over 160 years in the history books, Orvis offers a range of outdoor gear — including expensive fishing rods.

Oyster Bamboo Fly Rods

photo source: oysterbamboo.com

Coming in at number two are Oyster Bamboo Fly Rods. These pricey fishing rods are made by Bill Oyster, a famous fly rod maker who has crafted rods for people like President Jimmy Carter. Each rod costs about $5,760 and buyers have to provide a $1,440 deposit before the creation process begins.

Each Oyster Bamboo Fly Rod is custom-made when a customer puts in their order. As such a skilled craftsman, Bill Oyster has worked with students from across the globe to teach the careful art of making fly rods.

Did you know?

President Jimmy Carter said, “It is obvious to me that this Oyster rod will be my favorite.”

The Hermès Fishing Rod

photo source: vogue.com.au

The Hermès fishing rod is the most expensive fishing rod you can buy.

At more than $13,000, this fishing rod by the luxury brand Hermès is by far the most expensive rod on the market. The crazy-expensive design features pricey materials like sycamore and leather.

Hermès might be mostly known for its fashion, but the company regularly offers pricey non-clothing items. Beyond this fishing rod, Hermès sells lures and a satchel that’s perfect for carrying your bait — if you can afford it, that is.

Did you know?

Hermès was founded in the 1830s. To this day, the brand is family-run and independent. The brand is known for high-end designs and pricey products like this $12,000 jacket for men.

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As the buck approached, I gazed ahead and spotted the shooting lane. He would be there in seconds, and I knew the day of truth had arrived. A cluster of honeysuckle allowed me to draw my bow. Then, he entered the small opening I had made several weeks earlier after setting up the stand.

Upon releasing the arrow, I saw the white vanes disappear into the deer, forward and slightly low. Meanwhile, the buck’s hind legs kicked out. He ran hard for 30 yards, then slowed to a staggering walk like someone well over their legal limit of alcohol. His tail twitched erratically as he did his best to stay on his feet, but I could see that time was against him. Moments later, he fell and lay motionless.

Although the kill was quick and took only seconds, I had already determined the arrow zipped through the buck’s heart. A visual confirmation gave me a good idea of where the arrow hit, but it was the deer’s reaction to the impact that provided solid evidence of a heart shot.

Most archers take only ethical shots and have a good understanding of whitetail anatomy.

Bowhunters shoot for the largest vital area — the lungs. Nevertheless, it takes only an inch of aiming error to turn a quick recovery into a long tracking endeavor. This is especially true of deer that travel long distances because of bowhunters who begin tracking too soon after the shot. This most often happens because the archer has failed to accurately understand where the arrow hit and assumes he will have a prompt recovery.

The Boiler Room

I’ve always classified the vital heart and lungs as the boiler room. An arrow that takes out both lungs will result in a quick and humane kill. The lungs of an adult deer are roughly nine inches in diameter and offer the largest target.

A deer that is hit in both lungs typically runs hard and fast. This is provided the heart is spared. They remind me of a racehorse running down the final stretch of the track. Long strides are common, and their belly is low to the ground.

Most deer that are hit will flee the scene with their tail down. Watch deer carefully after the shot for any clues you can gather about where they are hit. Such clues can be extremely helpful in planning your recovery strategy.

While this is the common reaction, exceptions do exist. Consider a mature doe my son shot several years ago as it stood broadside. He swore the arrow passed through the deer just behind the shoulder but began to wonder after she ran a short distance, stopped, looked back and snorted. Then she fell to the ground. Upon field dressing the deer, it was obvious the arrow had penetrated both lungs. I point this out just to let you know unusual incidents do occur.

The lung-shot deer usually runs only 100-150 yards. However, if the broadhead takes out only one lung, their reaction could be entirely different. Many run hard at first but slow to a walk after a short distance. A deer shot in only one lung is often difficult to recover and requires extreme patience when tracking.

The buck mentioned at the beginning of this story reacted like a classic heart-shot deer.

Back legs usually kick out as the deer promptly leaves the scene, appearing as if they received an electrical shock. They run erratically for a brief distance and may change directions repeatedly. It’s common for them to slow down just before they drop.

There are cases where heart-shot deer have traveled up to 200 yards, but this usually occurs if the arrow only nicks or slices the heart. An arrow that hits low, just behind the front leg at the brisket, could nick the heart and miss the lungs entirely.

A paunch-shot deer will typically walk very slowly, with its head down. Another common trait of the paunch-shot deer is a hunched over appearance. As the deer walks, its back end could appear raised, with the legs in a wide stance.

The Abdominal Wound

The reaction of a deer hit in the abdomen differs greatly from that of a lung- or heart-shot deer. In fact, the difference is like night and day.

Tracking the animal also requires a different approach.

I classify an abdomen shot as anything including liver, stomach and intestines. Although the kidneys are located high and just in front of the hips, they do not relate to the paunch wound. A severed kidney results in immediate hemorrhage and will put a deer down quickly.

A paunch-shot deer usually runs only a short distance before stopping. In many instances, it will jump or flinch as the arrow hits before bounding away. It seldom runs hard and will usually appear to lope. The distance it travels before stopping could vary from only a few yards to 100 yards. In many cases, a deer with an abdomen wound will stop within 50 yards.

Once the deer stops, it could stand in place for one or more minutes. I know of one liver-shot buck that ran about 80 yards before stopping. It then stood in one location for 15 minutes before slowly walking away.

Once a paunch-shot deer begins walking, it will move very slowly with its head down.

Another common trait of the paunch-shot deer is a hunched over appearance. As the deer walks, its back end could appear raised, with the legs in a wide stance.

Most deer with an abdominal wound will bed down within a short distance if left alone.

If you can’t find blood on the ground after the shot, your next best option is to find your arrow and examine it carefully. Bright-colored blood on your shaft could indicate a lung hit, while darker blood or stomach material are sure signs of an abdomen shot. And, of course, if the arrow is free of blood and/or hair, you know it was a clean miss.

The liver-shot buck mentioned previously laid down after walking 40 yards from where it had stood. I was able to see this from my stand only because I had excellent visibility.

The bedding down quick theory is applicable with a liver or stomach wound — but only if the hunter does not begin tracking too quickly. The exception is the intestinal-shot deer, which could travel much further before bedding.

I suggest waiting several hours before tracking an abdomen-shot deer. This deer can be recovered if the hunter is patient.

Muscular and Skeletal Reactions

One common muscular and skeletal wound is the back shot. A friend of mine refers to this as “no man’s land.” That’s understandable, since a deer hit here is difficult to recover. Although there is a major artery that runs perpendicular with the back, most high hits will miss this vital blood vessel. Of course, a high hit could result in a spine shot that drops a deer immediately, but it should not be considered a target. Back hits usually occur when the archer does not get down on his target, or misjudges yardage.

Most deer hit high will run hard and fast, resembling that of a lung-shot deer. There are a couple of differences, however. A deer with a back wound runs hard but doesn’t take the long strides. Thus, the belly will not appear low to the ground. Most back-shot deer will usually stop running within 100 yards, whereas the lung-shot deer will usually run hard until it goes down. Determining the difference, though, could depend upon your visibility.

Other muscular and skeletal wounds will react in much the same way as the back-shot deer. One exception is the hip shot. Even when bone is missed, an arrow will inflict major damage to the ham muscle. You often notice this when the deer exits, since it could favor one leg. You might find more evidence when you track the deer, since blood typically runs down the leg and is found in tracks.

Fortunately, many muscular and skeletal wounds are superficial.

A deer that flees the scene of a shot with its tail flagging may indicate a clean miss. Deer that are missed also will often stop after a short distance and look back curiously at the site where the arrow sailed past them.

Nevertheless, I suggest you always give 100 percent when tracking such an animal. As mentioned previously, there are always exceptions to how a deer reacts when hit, and you seldom know exactly where your arrow hit until you make a recovery.

The Clean Miss

Like most bowhunters, I’ve missed my share of deer. It’s easy to do and will often occur from no fault of our own. There are always those dreadful limbs that seem to come out of nowhere. Then there are times when that dreaded buck fever interferes with our concentration.

Nevertheless, we cannot always determine if we hit or miss when the shot is taken. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat in my stand wondering if I missed or hit the deer.

Sometimes I’ve been sure of a hit, only to discover a complete and embarrassing miss.

Other times, I’ve cursed myself for missing, only to discover a perfect hit. Usually, when I’ve mistaken a hit or miss, it’s due to poor visibility following the shot.

It’s normal for deer to run when a miss occurs. However, there are telltale signs that seem to point to a probable miss. Consider the deer’s alertness. If he runs and stops, looks back with the head held high, there’s a good chance you missed. Most deer, when hit, do not want to stick around and ask questions. A wounded deer seldom runs and then stops to look back and focus on the shot location. Of course, it’s common for a deer to appear spooked when missed, even if it has no idea what happened. Some will not demonstrate curiosity, while others will.

Another trait of a hit deer is the tail dropping. The tail of some deer will drop halfway the first few yards it runs, and then drop completely after running further. Most deer you miss will run with their tail flagging. Again, consider this only a general rule. I’ve seen a few mortally wounded deer run with their tail flagging until they fell or stopped running.

Sounds that follow the shot could indicate a hit or miss. When an arrow hits the body cavity, you usually hear a dull thump. A loud crack could indicate bone, such as a rib, but it also could be the sound of the arrow hitting a tree or rock. Such was the case for me last season when a 10-pointer came into my grunts. I shot between two small hickory trees and thought I was on target. I heard the loud noise of the arrow hitting, well, something. The buck lunged forward, ran a short distance, stopped and looked back. I searched for 30 minutes for my arrow, to no avail. Only when my wife Vikki showed up and helped did I unravel the mystery. She spotted my arrow 10 feet above the ground, dead center in one of the hickories.

There is one final note worth mentioning about a hit or miss. Most archers know when they make a good shot as soon as they release. If you shoot within your effective range, have no doubts as to yardage and are not trying to push an arrow through a tight opening, you can be almost certain you will get the job done. The only other thing is to know that you aimed and followed through. I’m usually aware of this and can be certain that when I release the arrow the job will be done. Then there are those times that I did not do as I should have — I knew when I released that I could be in trouble!

The Super Slam of North American Big Game 29 is the ultimate quest for a big game hunter. Are you that hunter who has what it takes? The Super Slam of North American Big Game takes serious dedication and years to accomplish. First, a hunter must register the legal taking of 29 big game animals native to North America. The official archives are kept through the Grand Slam Club/Ovis (GSCO). A hunter must register with GSCO, pay the $25 membership fee and submit the trophy hunt online. The membership and submission of your trophy hunt can be found here:

SLAMQUEST

Here is a list of big-game animals for the Super Slam on North American Big Game 29 and the hunts we have available.

North American Big Game 29 Species

Alaska Brown Bear –

• The Alaska brown bear is the largest bear in the world, larger than brown bears of Europe and the grizzly bear. Brown bears in Alaska live off of a protein-rich salmon diet and can be found along the Alaska coast and near spawning salmon runs.

Alaska Brown Bear Hunt

Black Bear –

• The Black bear is found in the western United States and has the largest population of any bear in the world. Black bears are found in Alaska, Canada, Florida and Gulf Coast areas.

Black Bear Hunts

Grizzly Bear –

• The grizzly bear is found in a range of areas in North America but the largest populations of grizzlies are seen in Alaska and Canada. Grizzlies like to wander and can kill animals as large as a moose; however, these bears eat a lot of berries, roots, nuts and different types of grasses to survive.

Grizzly Bear Hunts

Polar Bear –

• The polar bear populations are mainly found in the southern part of Hudson Bay and James Bay in Canada. They can be seen on the shores and pack ice of the Arctic Ocean. Polar bears spend years out on the ice but the pregnant females will come ashore to den.

Cougar –

• The cougar is a solitary, silent large cat and are entirely carnivorous. It has many common names such as mountain lion, panther and puma. They are the second-largest cat in the western hemisphere and only North American cougars are allowed to take for the Super Slam quest.

Cougar Hunts

Columbia Blacktail Deer –

• Columbia Blacktail Deer are found in the North American Pacific Coast region to the southern part of Monterey County of California. These deer have similarities to the mule and Sitka deer but can be distinguished by antlers, overall coloration and tail.

Coues Deer –

• Coues deer are found in southwestern Arizona and a little bit of New Mexico. They are often called little desert dwelling siblings of the whitetail deer. Top End Adventures offers a few Coues deer hunts.

Coues Deer Hunts

Mule Deer –

• Mule deer are found all over in the western United States, western Canada and adapt to a wide range of habitats. Bucks can range from 150 – 300 lbs and will migrate to the high mountainous country by themselves to lower ranges during the winter to avoid deep snow levels.

Mule Deer Hunts

Sitka Blacktail Deer –

• Sitka Blacktail deer are located in the wet coastal rain forests of north-coastal British Columbia and Southeast Alaska. Averaging from 90-120lbs, this subspecies of mule deer is the most common deer in Alaska.

Whitetail Deer –

• Whitetail Deer are one of the most common deer you will find in North America. They average in weight from 100-200lbs. A very easy way to identify this species is simply in its name, check the underside of the animal’s tail.

Whitetail Deer Hunts

Rocky Mountain elk –

• The Rocky Mountain Elk is commonly known for having the largest antlers of all elk subspecies. They are found in the Rocky Mountains and many adjacent ranges. An average weight for a bull is 700lbs and their antlers can weigh up to 40lbs alone.

Rocky Mountain Elk Hunts

Roosevelt Elk –

• Weighing in from 700-1,100 lbs, Roosevelt Elk are the third largest mammal in North America. Roosevelts are a subspecies of elk found in western Oregon.

Best Elk Hunting States

Tule elk –

• Tule elk are the smallest species of elk found in North America. These smaller elk are mainly located in the state of California. Females often average 370-430lbs while the males can weigh anywhere from 440-550lbs.

The Best Elk Hunting States

Barren Ground Caribou –

• This medium-sized caribou is mainly found in the Canadian territories of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. The Barren Ground Caribou are smaller and lighter-colored then the boreal woodland caribou.

Central Canadian Barren Ground Caribou –

• Living in the tundra and Arctic islands, these caribou can vary in size dramatically depending on where they are located. Mature bulls can weigh 250 to 450lbs and antlers for the CCBGC score around the same as the Quebec Labrador caribou.

Mountain Caribou –

• Very similar to Woodland caribou, this is an endangered species. They reside in British Columbia and western Alberta. In early 2019, the remaining southern mountain caribou were taken and put into maternity pens.

Quebec Labrador Caribou –

• This medium-sized tundra caribou is very similar to the CCBGC. Hunts for this subspecies can start at about 10,000 USD.

Woodland Caribou –

• Mountain caribou, or in other names, Boreal woodland caribou are one of the most endangered mammals in North America currently. These caribou live in the mountain ranges of British Columbia, Alberta, and parts of Idaho and Washington.

Alaska Yukon Moose –

• The Alaska Yukon or in other names, the giant moose, is a subspecies of moose native to ranges from Alaska to western Yukon. This moose is the largest subspecies of moose to roam the boreal and deciduous forests.

Alaska Moose Hunt

Canada Moose –

• There is an estimated 500,000 to 1 million moose in Canada. These moose are mainly located on the hillsides of the western mountain ranges. A mature bull’s antlers usually range between 120 and 150cm between the widest tips.

Canada Moose Hunt

Shiras Moose –

• Measuring over six feet at the shoulder and weighing up to 1,000lbs, the Shiras moose is Colorado’s largest big game animal. Colorado has one of the fastest growing populations in moose in the lower 48 states.

Moose Hunts

Bison –

• Mostly found in conservation areas, bison can be found in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Bison are commonly called buffalo in the US and Canada but are only distantly related to the true buffalo. Adults can grow up to 6ft and 7in in height and 11ft and 6in in length.

Muskox –

• Muskox typically weigh in from 500 to 800lbs. These huge mammals have inhabited the Arctic for thousands of years, and their long shaggy hair is well adapted to the frigid climate.

American Mountain Goat –

• These hoofed mammals are endemic to North America and commonly found on cliffs and ice. Mountain goats will weigh from 90 to 300lbs and are protected by their woolly white double coats.

Mountain Goat Hunts

Pronghorn Antelope –

• Pronghorn Antelope are mainly found in North America. Their natural ranges are most commonly extended from southern Canada to northern Mexico. The pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in the western hemisphere with running up to speeds of 42 mph for one mile.

Antelope Hunts

California Bighorn Sheep –

• Known for its large horns, the Bighorn sheep is native to North America. California is home to tell different subspecies of sheep, the desert Bighorn and the Sierra Nevada Bighorn.

Dall Sheep –

• Dall sheep, or in other names, the thinhorn sheep can be found in northwestern North America. Both male and female sheep carry a huge set of horns, but the females are often shorter and more slender.

Dall Sheep Hunts

Desert Bighorn Sheep –

• This subspecies of bighorn sheep is native to the deserts of the intermountain west and southwestern regions in the US. With rams weighing up to 250lbs, Desert bighorn sheep are the largest native animal in the Grand Canyon National Park.

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep –

• Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are the largest wild sheep in North America, the males can weigh up to 300lbs while just their horns alone can weigh up to 30lbs. The females, or ewes, are about half this size.

Stone Sheep –

• Native to northwestern North America, the Stone sheep is a southern subspecies of the Dall or Thinhorn sheep. These sheep can be found mainly in British Columbia seen licking minerals at Summit Lake or other Provincial Parks.

Missouri is a state with diverse landscapes, rich history, and abundant natural resources. It has over 44 million acres of land, of which about 60% is privately owned. But who are the largest landowners in Missouri, and what do they do with their land? In this article, we will reveal the top 10 landowners in Missouri and explore their backgrounds, interests, and impacts on the state.

Top 10 Landowners in Missouri

1. The State of Missouri

The largest landowner in Missouri is the state itself, which owns over 3 million acres of land. This includes state parks, conservation areas, historic sites, and other public lands. The state manages these lands for various purposes, such as recreation, education, wildlife protection, and natural resource conservation. Some of the most popular state-owned attractions in Missouri are the Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, the Mark Twain State Park in Florida, and the Katy Trail State Park that spans across the state.

2. The United States Government

The second-largest landowner in Missouri is the federal government, which owns over 1.4 million acres of land. This includes national forests, wildlife refuges, military bases, and other federal properties. The federal government administers these lands through various agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Park Service. Some of the most notable federal lands in Missouri are the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the Mark Twain National Forest, and the Fort Leonard Wood Military Reservation.

3. Missouri Department of Conservation

The third-largest landowner in Missouri is the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), which owns over 460,000 acres of land. The MDC is a state agency that was established in 1937 to restore and manage the state’s fish, forest, and wildlife resources. The MDC owns and operates conservation areas, nature centers, shooting ranges, fish hatcheries, and other facilities that provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, education, research, and wildlife management. Some of the most visited MDC properties are the Busch Wildlife Area in St. Charles County, the Runge Nature Center in Jefferson City, and the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery in Branson.

4. The Ted Turner Reserves

The fourth-largest landowner in Missouri is Ted Turner, a media mogul and philanthropist who owns over 149,000 acres of land in the state. Turner is the founder of CNN, TNT, TBS, and other cable networks. He is also a passionate environmentalist and conservationist who owns more than 2 million acres of land across the U.S., making him the second-largest individual landowner in the country. Turner’s properties in Missouri are part of his Ted Turner Reserves, a collection of luxury eco-tourism destinations that offer guests access to his private ranches and wildlife reserves. Some of his ranches in Missouri are the Bar K Ranch near West Plains, the Flying S Ranch near Salem, and the Osage Hills Ranch near Rolla.

5. The Ozark National Scenic Riverways

The fifth-largest landowner in Missouri is the National Park Service (NPS), which owns over 80,000 acres of land in the state2. The NPS is a federal agency that manages national parks and other natural and cultural heritage sites across the U.S. The NPS’s largest property in Missouri is the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR), which was established in 1964 as America’s first national park to protect a river system. The ONSR encompasses over 134 miles of the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers in southern Missouri, along with their surrounding forests, caves, springs, and historic sites. The ONSR attracts over one million visitors annually who enjoy activities such as canoeing, camping, fishing, hiking

6. The Weyerhaeuser Company

The sixth-largest landowner in Missouri is the Weyerhaeuser Company, a timber and forest products company that owns over 75,000 acres of land in the state. Weyerhaeuser is one of the world’s largest private owners of timberlands, with more than 24 million acres of land in the U.S. and Canada. Weyerhaeuser’s lands in Missouri are mainly located in the southeast region of the state, where it operates several mills and plants that produce lumber, plywood, oriented strand board, and other wood products. Weyerhaeuser also manages its lands for wildlife habitat, recreation, and conservation.

7. The Pioneer Forest

The seventh-largest landowner in Missouri is the Pioneer Forest, a privately owned forest that covers over 65,000 acres of land in the state. The Pioneer Forest is owned by the L-A-D Foundation, a non-profit organization that was founded in 1962 by Leo Drey, a businessman and conservationist who is considered to be the father of sustainable forestry in Missouri. The Pioneer Forest is managed according to the principles of natural forest management, which aim to preserve the ecological integrity, diversity, and productivity of the forest. The Pioneer Forest is open to the public for hiking, hunting, fishing, and other low-impact activities.

8. The Bass Pro Shops

The eighth-largest landowner in Missouri is Johnny Morris, the founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, a retail chain that specializes in outdoor gear and equipment. Morris owns over 50,000 acres of land in Missouri, most of which are part of his Big Cedar Lodge resort near Branson. Big Cedar Lodge is a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a variety of accommodations, amenities, and attractions, such as golf courses, spas, museums, restaurants, and wildlife parks. Morris also owns Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, a 10,000-acre preserve that features trails, waterfalls, caves, and wildlife.

9. The University of Missouri

The ninth-largest landowner in Missouri is the University of Missouri (MU), which owns over 40,000 acres of land in the state. MU is a public research university that was founded in 1839 as the first public institution of higher education west of the Mississippi River. MU’s lands include its four campuses in Columbia, Kansas City, Rolla, and St. Louis, as well as its research farms, forests

10. The Missouri Botanical Garden

The tenth-largest landowner in Missouri is the Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG), which owns over 30,000 acres of land in the state. The MBG is a botanical research and education institution that was founded in 1859 by Henry Shaw, a wealthy businessman and philanthropist. The MBG’s main campus in St. Louis is one of the oldest and most beautiful botanical gardens in the world, featuring a variety of gardens, conservatories, and collections of plants from around the globe. The MBG also owns and manages several other properties in Missouri, such as the Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in Chesterfield, and the Commerce Bank Center for Science Education in St. Louis.

Conclusion

Missouri is a state with many large and influential landowners, who own and manage millions of acres of land for various purposes. Some of these landowners are public entities, such as the state and federal governments, the MDC, and the MU. Some are private individuals or organizations, such as Ted Turner, Johnny Morris, the L-A-D Foundation, and the MBG. Some are corporations or businesses, such as Weyerhaeuser and Bass Pro Shops. All of these landowners have a significant impact on the economy, environment, culture, and history of Missouri.

Most Asked Questions and Answers

Here are some of the most asked questions and answers about the top 10 landowners in Missouri:

Q: Who is the largest individual landowner in Missouri?

A: The largest individual landowner in Missouri is Ted Turner, who owns over 149,000 acres of land in the state.

Q: Who is the largest private landowner in Missouri?

A: The largest private landowner in Missouri is Weyerhaeuser, a timber and forest products company that owns over 75,000 acres of land in the state.

Q: Who is the largest public landowner in Missouri?

A: The largest public landowner in Missouri is the state itself, which owns over 3 million acres of land.

Q: How much land does Missouri have?

A: Missouri has over 44 million acres of land, of which about 60% is privately owned.

Q: How much land does the federal government own in Missouri?

A: The federal government owns over 1.4 million acres of land in Missouri.

Q: How much land does the state government own in Missouri?

A: The state government owns over 3 million acres of land in Missouri.

Q: How much land does the MDC own in Missouri?

A: The MDC owns over 460,000 acres of land in Missouri.

Q: How much land does Ted Turner own in Missouri?

A: Ted Turner owns over 149,000 acres of land in Missouri.

Q: How much land does Johnny Morris own in Missouri?

A: Johnny Morris owns over 50,000 acres of land in Missouri.

Q: How much land does the MBG own in Missouri?

A: The MBG owns over 30,000 acres of land in Missouri.

Introduction

I may certainly be biased in my thinking, but I think that first focal plane riflescopes are perhaps the best development of the last couple decades. Sure they existed before then, but they have only become prevalent to the general shooting public over the last ten or fifteen years. Before we get too deep into the subject, lets make sure we both understand what this subject is about. So we are on the same plane so to speak.

Focal Planes

No, I’m not talking about an aluminum lifting body flying through the atmosphere, I’m talking about a point of focus used in your shooting. When you look through a scope and see the magnified image of the target, you are looking through several lenses inside the scope. A first focal plane scope (often called a front focal plane) has the reticle placed effectively before the magnification.

A second focal plane riflescope as you might imagine has the reticle placed after the magnification feature of the scope. These two different construction techniques allow for two differing functions. Most of us have likely used the more traditional second focal plane scope. When the magnification ring is turned and the scope zooms in or out, the reticle remains unchanged. For most of the past, with simple duplex or crosshair reticles, this wasn’t a big deal as the only relevant point on the reticle was the tiny intersecting point at the middle.

As reticle technology has grown over the years, additional points (subtensions) of hold have been added to our reticles. These additional reticle markings are for measuring hits and misses as well as holding wind corrections and holdovers. This is only relevant to the discussion in that the values of these additional points can change when used in a second focal plane optic. In a first focal plane scope, the reticle is magnified with the image. As the scope zooms in, both the target and the reticle increase in perceived size. The advantage to this lens configuration is that the reticle values stay the same regardless of what magnification the scope is set to. Second focal plane reticles typically register full value when they are at their maximum magnification.

Which is Better for long-range?

Despite a revolutionary change towards front focal plane scopes, one is not necessarily better than the other. Its simply based on the user’s preference or purpose. Both types of riflescopes have their pros and cons, so better is not the way to look at it. For example, if you are shooting extreme long range (ELR) competitions then you likely would prefer the finer size of a second focal plane reticle on a target that is three-thousand yards away. And on the other hand, if you are shooting a PRS Match where you have to quickly call your own shots and make corrections at varying ranges it helps to have your subtensions uniform regardless of magnification setting. So while some folks will try to convince you that one is better, keep in mind what you plan to do with the scope.

Pros and Cons

To help you better make a choice between these two scope configurations, I’ll discuss a few of the pros and cons of either selection. First focal plane scopes as I mentioned keep the reticle values intact regardless of what magnification setting you use, this comes at an additional expense. Many manufacturers offer near identical scopes in both FFP and SFP, with the latter being the more affordable option. If reticle usage isn’t part of your routine then this may not be a justified expense. Whereas if you use reticles frequently, it is well worth the added cost.

As I mentioned above, reticle thickness can be a downside to FFP scopes depending on the reticle design. As the reticle increases in size with magnification it can obscure the target or aiming point. Second focal plane scopes don’t have this issue as the reticle is always the same size. They also don’t become so fine as to become illegible at lower power. If you have poor eyesight or other issues related to reticle size, you may be better off with a SFP scope.

If you are looking for a very high magnification optic like a 5-50X, you will find that nearly all of them are SFP, their reticles would otherwise disappear at low power, or cover up a truck at maximum power. If you do use your reticle for measuring hits, misses, and range features with a second focal plane reticle, you may need to refresh your math skills. Using a SFP reticle to measure things at any magnification besides its calibrated setting will require you to calculate the actual value based off the magnification setting and the measurement with the reticle. Some people like math but they should not be trusted.

Shop all riflescopes at Euro Optic

Scopelist Also has a great selection of riflescopes

And maybe if you’re looking for something cheaper, shop at Palmetto

Conclusion

There is no wrong or right answer when it comes to focal planes, there is only an evaluation of their applications. Things such as engagement distances and moving targets should surely be considered when deciding which way to go. I have fully embraced the FFP revolution that has occurred these past years, and I think the huge increase in FFP market share tells that I am not alone. The rapid expansion of long-range shooting and related competition has likely driven the trend.

Whether you are a competitive shooter, a military or law enforcement sniper, or just a redneck hunter with serious intentions, the FFP scopes of today can give you an edge that shooters of the past would lust after. But that’s not to say SFP scopes are inferior, as the brilliant shooters of the past have shown us.

-CBM

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.

We have some great new Thermal Rifle Scopes in 2024. Here is a list of my Best 5 Thermal Scopes 2024. We are currently in the process of reviewing them and will be posting videos on The Old Deer Hunters Youtube Channel.

ALL Scopes Available at Outdoorlegacygear.com

Pulsar Thermion 2 DUO D XP50 Thermal/Day Scope

Best Thermal/Day Scope – Multi-spectral

Pulsar Night Vision has release the Pulsar Thermion 2 Duo DXP50, the first multi spectral hunting riflescope. It combines thermal imaging with of full-colour daytime optics to provide the hunter with a true night or day hunting scope.

Thermal Image for Night Hunting – Full Color Digital Image for Day Hunting

The Pulsar Thermion 2 Duo DXP50 is based on the Thermion 2 XP50 Pro, plus a 4k full-color channel for daytime hunting.

The Thermal can be use in darkness, fog or rain, and the 4k resolution digital camera gives you a clear, full color image during the day. Plus you can record your hunts.It requires only one click of a button to switch between the two channels – thermal and daytime digital. It’s simple, fast and convenient.

Using the Thermion Duo DXP50 as a daytime riflescope is simple and easy as the lens does not require focusing. The daytime digital channel gives you a focused image at any range.

There is an equal field of view for both thermal and digital channels. You can easily switch between thermal and digital without compromising focus on the observed object and clearly identify your target any time or any weather condition.

The new riflescope is equipped with a high-sensitivity European-made Lynred sensor with < 25 mK NETD which unprecedented heat separation when observing in low temperature contrast conditions such as rain or fog.

The 640×480 pixel resolution ensures exemplary detail and identification of the target and the surrounding landscape. The size of the sensor allows for a wide field of view for comfortable and informative observation of both static and dynamic scenes.

Just like the Thermion 2 LRF, the Thermion Duo DXP50 features high-precision ambidextrous focusing knobs. They now come with a fin lever, which perfectly does the job for precise focusing of the thermal channel. Positioned on both sides of the scope, the knobs make this device comfortable for both left- and right-handed users.

High-definition digital zoom allows the hunter to zoom-in with up to eight times magnification without loosing image quality—ideal for long-distance shooting. One of the Best 5 Thermal Scopes 2024.

See our Christmas Gifts Suggestions For Hunters

Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XG50 Thermal Scope

Best ALL PURPOSE Thermal Scope

The 2024 Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XG50 is a new thermal rifle scope with a lot of improvements over the original Thermion XG50 introduced a couple of years ago. It has a new thermal sensor, Laser Range Finding (LRF) capability, magnification of 3X-24X and is priced at $6000.

The Thermion 2 LRF XG50 has a new sensor for improved image quality and overall performance. The original XG50 used a BAE sensor, but it did not quite live up to normal Pulsar performance standards.

Fast forward to 2024 and Pulsar has upgraded from the Thermion XG50 to the Thermion 2 series. The Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XG50 now has a new 12-micron Lynred thermal sensor for improved image quality and overall performance. Plus, it now has laser range finding capability and Stream Vision Ballistics software (coming soon) that actually plots the aiming point for the target. (more about that later).

The combination of LRF and 3X base magnification make this scope ideal for coyote hunters who have to often deal with longer shots than hog hunters. It is also great for hog hunters because the field of view is 46 feet wide at 100 yard. The LRF is a good option for all hunters because it is so difficult to judge distance at night.

The new Thermion 2 LRF XG50 is a 640×480 high definition thermal rifle scope. The differences between the new Thermion 2 LRF XG50 and the Thermion 2 XP50 Pro are the magnification range and the different types of thermal sensors.

The XP50 Pro has a magnification range of 2-16X with a 17-micoron <25 MKv sensor. The Thermion 2 LRF XG50 has a magnification range of 3-24X with a 12-micron <40 MKv sensor. I compared these scopes side by side, and both have about the best image available in this price range of under $6000.

The Big Question everyone has “Is the XG50 image quality as good as the XP50?”

The Thermion 2 XP50 Pro has a little better heat separation capability so the image may be a little better in bad weather. The Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XG50 has a 12-micron sensor that makes the animal appear larger in the screen with more detail. Lets take a look side by side and see how they compare in the video below.

After testing the two scopes side by side, the answer to the Big Question is YES! The image of the LRF XG50 is as good as the XP50 Pro.

The image of the Thermion 2 LRF XG50 is as good or maybe better because you can see more detail of the target animal, and the detail of the background is not bad either. Just look at the video abovw to see for yourself. One may be better than the other in different weather conditions, but on a good thermal night, they are both great. The video shows you a good image, but the image in the scope is even better. You will be very pleased with the image quality.

Hunting With The Thermion 2 LRF XG50 is totally enjoyable. There are no “I wish my scope had…) thoughts going through your mind. I think it has the perfect magnification range, a superior image and with all the features of a Pulsar Thermion 2, you can hardly ask for more. One of the Best 5 Thermal Scopes 2024.

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InfiRay Bolt V2 TH50c Thermal Scope

Best Thermal Scope For Coyote Hunting

The new InfiRay Bolt TH50c V2 now has audio recording in 2024 to go with one of the best thermal scope images available on the market.

The InfiRay Bolt TH50-C Thermal Riflescope is the latest addition to the Bolt series of thermal rifle scopes and is distributed in the United States by IRay USA. The InfiRay Bolt TH50 3.5x14x5 has a 640×512 12-micron thermal processor, 3.5X base magnification, and a 50mm objective lens. It is a tube-type thermal scope that looks very much like a traditional glass scope which makes it more user-friendly for bolt-action rifles. Of course, it is right at home on a modern sporting rifle as well. The image is displayed on an OLED screen, with a 2560×2560 pixels resolution. It has all the features needed to be a great scope and carries a price tag of $5495.

Features Include:

• High-Resolution 640X512 Sensor
• Rugged Aircraft Aluminum Housing
• Internal Recording
• Wifi connectivity with InfiRay Outdoor App
• 8 Hour internal battery
• 18500 Removable/Rechargeable Battery Capable (4hrs)
• Full Circular Display
• Tactile Turret Adjustment
• 30mm Mounting versatility
• Weighs 33 ounces

I was very happy to see InfiRay and IRayUSA offer the new Bolt series of Thermal Rifle Scopes. I have to say I am a fan of the new tube-type thermal rifle scopes. Not only do they work much better on my bolt action Tikka T3, but they are much easier to use. The controls are handier to use in the dark than the older models with just a row of buttons on top. Zooming is done with the top turret knob. The power, record, brightness, and palette buttons are grouped together on top of the eyepiece making it very convenient.

Overall, the InfiRay Bolt TH50-C is one of the best thermal scopes I have used. It has an excellent image, is solidly built, comes with a 5-year warranty, but most of all it is easy to use. If your main hunting interest is coyotes, there is nothing in this price range that will beat the overall capability of this scope. The scope has excellent image quality, the dual battery system gives you 8-10 hours of battery life with inexpensive 18500 backup power in your pocket. Controls that hunters use the most at the tip of your fingers. It may not record audio, but it is a coyote killing machine. One of the Best 5 Thermal Scopes 2024 I have tested.

If you buy this scope, you will not be disappointed. AVAILAVABLE at Outdoorlegacygear.com

Best Compact Thermal LRF Scope

The AGM Varmint LRF TS50-640 2.5-20X Thermal Rifle Scope is AGM’s top-of-the-line laser range-finding thermal scope. This new thermal rifle scope gives you a great image and a built-in, easy-to-use Laser Range Finder for under $4995. In addition, this new scope is powered by a single rechargeable 18650 battery that will give you up to 4-6 hours of hunting time on a single charge.

The AGM Varmint TS50-640 2.5-20X LRF is a compact thermal scope with laser range finding capability. It uses a 640×512 resolution, 12-micron thermal processor. It has a base magnification of 2.5X and a digital zoom to 20X. The AGM Varmint LRF TS50-640 2.5-20X has a 1024×768 OLED screen and provides an excellent image day or night.

This optic can be used as a thermal riflescope or handheld monocular and can be applied to scenarios such as patrolling, hunting, and static observation. It is only 8.5 long × 2.6 wide × 4.2 in tall and weighs less than 25 ounces.

The built-in laser range finder of the AGM Varmint LRF is accurate out past 600 yards. It has a small box on the screen that you bracket the target in, then a single push of a button gives you the range that is displayed in the upper right corner. The range has a single or continuous 15-second scanning mode.

One 18650 rechargeable battery gives the device up to 6 hours of continuous operation time on a high-grade fully charged battery. Compared to a similar scope using CR123 batteries, the Varmint’s 18650 rechargeable battery will save you about $10 per hunt. Two 18650 batteries are provided with the scope.

An external 5V power bank (battery pack) can be used via a USB to USB-C connector but you probably won’t need it if you charge the two supplied batteries before your hunt. The device has 16 Gig’s of storage for onboard video recording and image capturing. It does not capture audio. An internal Wi-Fi module for live video streaming and video/image recording via the T-Vision application are included.

Another plus for this thermal riflescope is the mount. It comes from the factory with the excellent American Defense Manufacturing single lever quick detachable mount at no extra charge. This single lever configuration is not only secure but makes reattaching the scope to the rifle quick and easy without a need to re-zero. One of the Best 5 Thermal Scopes 2024.

N-Vision Optics Halo-XRF Thermal Scope

Best Thermal Scope On The Market <$10K

The N-Vision Optics Halo-XRF Thermal Scope is arguably the best thermal scope on the market. It is priced at $9,495.00. Based on the American made BAE thermal core, it has a fantastic image even above the base magnification. It also runs on 18650 batteries and has an ADM QD mount. One of the Best 5 Thermal Scopes 2024 – actually the best of all.

If you can afford this scope, buy it and you will be extremely happy.

See N-Vison Halo XRF Video Review Here

AVAILAVABLE at Outdoorlegacygear.com

Specifications

Calibration (NUC) Manual: Manual

Identification range: 380 yards Display Type: OLED 640&times;480 B&W Size: 8.9 x 4.1 x 3.4 inches Recognition range: 726 yards

Detection range: 2020 yards

Power: two 18650 batteries

Digital Zoom: 1x/2x/4x/8x

Sensor Pixel Pitch: 12 um

Remote power: USB 5.0V

Resolution: 640 x 480

Magnification: 3.5x

Refresh Rate: 60 Hz

Weight: 41.5 oz

Lens: 50mm F1.1

Focus: Fixed