Hunting Gear

With hunting seasons fast approaching, here are two offerings to check out from a pair of topnotch optics companies: Leica and Bushnell.

The frost-covered ground crunched under my insulated boots no matter how hard I tried to sneak to my deer-stand. The rut was in full swing and I had high hopes of filling a buck tag. Nearly as an afterthought, I grabbed a set of rattling antlers as I got out of the truck.

Dental-product engineer Dean Reidt began tinkering with the idea of recording deer movements in 1985 and soon launched a new industry. The idea started when Reidt, a bowhunter, was waiting along a deer trail wondering what deer hunters have wondered for generations: How many deer use this trail when I'm not here?

Today's game cameras feature so many innovations that buying one can seem overwhelming. Which camera should you go with? Which features are necessary and which are not? This guide will run through the various functions of game cameras and key points to consider when purchasing one.  The good news is there are trail cams available for just about every budget.

During deer season, I hunt with my sons Matt and Zach in an area that encompasses tens of thousands of acres of bottomland hardwood forest. The three of us keep in touch on our stands using two-way radios.

Growing up in a farming environment, I learned the importance of having the right tool for the job. Part of my self-imposed duties involved walking the field edges in search of groundhogs. It was my job to try to eradicate the vermin as they wreaked havoc on the local farmer's equipment. Groundhogs didn't do the livestock any favors either, whenever the livestock happened to stumble into one of their holes.

I can't tell you how many times I've been in a hunt camp where someone had a problem with their hunting boots. Usually the boots weren't dry or warm enough, but other times they didn't offer enough support or traction for hunting in rugged terrain or were brand new and simply hurt the wearer. Unfortunately any one of these problems can ruin a day in the field.

Stepping out has taken on a new meaning for women who enjoy the outdoors. We're breaking new ground and in ever increasing numbers, enjoying what many women in the past didn't consider pursuing: a passion for the hunt.

Women's hunting clothing has come a long way over the last two decades.