Western Hunter

Western bowhunters require more from their bow sights than our whitetail hunting brethren. Our average shot distances are double that of a tree-stand hunter and many bowhunters today are comfortable shooting at distances that were muzzleloader territory not long ago. Adjustable bow sights and computer-generated sight tapes have paved the way for pinpoint accuracy in […] The post Best in the West: Bow Sights for the Western Bowhunter appeared first on Western Hunter. View the full article

For many years, I packed a pair of 10x binoculars around my neck and a pair of 15×56 Swarovski’s tucked neatly in my pack. The theory was I needed the 10’s for close-up work and quick hand glassing, but once I reached my appointed spot, I would break out the 15’s, mount them on a […] The post 12 Strong: Making the Case for the Versatility of 12x Binoculars appeared first on Western Hunter. View the full article

The big news in Colorado for 2019 has nothing to do with actual hunting, rather the application/tag fee changes (as was highlighted by Mike Duplan in our last issue). The increases include a $3 to $9 per species application fee as well as a $100 preference point fee per species for bighorn sheep, mountain […] The post Hunt Tracker: Colorado appeared first on Western Hunter. View the full article

Mule Deer: The deer draw is a two-step operation to acquire a limited-entry tag. The deer or big-game combination tag ($587/$1001) application is the first step in the process, followed by the limited draw permit choices on the same application. Prior to last year, the deer combination draw was 100%, but in 2018, it dropped […] The post Hunt Tracker: Montana Deer and Elk appeared first on Western Hunter. View the full article

Mule Deer The deer draw is a two-step operation to acquire a limited-entry tag. The deer or big-game combination tag ($587/$1001) application is the first step in the process, followed by the limited draw permit choices on the same application. Prior to last year, the deer combination draw was 100%, but in 2018, it dropped […] The post Hunt Tracker: Montana Mule Deer and Elk appeared first on Western Hunter. View the full article

Over the past 10 years or so, a Western hunter’s standard kit has evolved in many ways. All sorts of gadgets and useful equipment have flooded the market and worked their way into the kit of the average hunter. We find ourselves spending more time researching and more money purchasing pieces that we believe will […] The post Hunt with a Camera appeared first on Western Hunter. View the full article

The Outlook on Coveted Tags in 2018. Bison The massive increase in tag cost between 2017 and 2018 (+$1900 bull/$1750 cow) led to predictions of substantially increased draw odds for 2018. If you look purely at the Area 2 bull stats (the only unit that has been open over the past decade), this would bear […] The post Hunt Tracker: Wyoming appeared first on Western Hunter. View the full article

As with any pursuit, there is a tiresome amount of information to learn. Going through my fair share of hobbies, I’ve never encountered one as complicated as embarking on the journey of becoming a hunter. The topics capable of diving deep within the realm of hunting are at times overwhelming; ammunition, arrows, packs, optics, tripods, […] The post The Overwhelming Nature of Nature appeared first on Western Hunter. View the full article

The best listens for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts With this issue, we’re starting a new column that will highlight podcasts – of the hunting variety and some completely unrelated that can benefit other aspects of your life. Why are we doing this? Well, “listen up”. Podcasts are one the fastest growing segments of all media…and for good reason. Unlike […] The post Podcast Highlights appeared first on Western Hunter. View the full article

The post Father Time appeared first on Western Hunter. View the full article

The post Meat & Memories appeared first on Western Hunter. View the full article

Where to land a sheep hunt outside of state draws For many hunters, a Grand Slam of sheep is the pinnacle of mountain hunting achievement. It’s a highly sought-after goal with a price tag that can be more than an average new home. Unfortunately for many DIY hunters, there are a lot of regulation barriers that prevent you from being able to accomplish […] The post Winning a Sheep Tag appeared first on Western Hunter. View the full article

For many, planning a hunt is a bittersweet endeavor. It is as much tedious and time-consuming as it is exciting and wrought with tradition. Despite the conflicting emotions, or perhaps in part because of them, we endure the process year after year in hopes of learning more about ourselves and returning with meat for our […] The post The Tagline: Planning for Success Starts Here appeared first on Western Hunter. View the full article

In this day and age, in a world of self promotion and images that travel faster through social media than wildfire in a dry forest, how does a potential all time world record archery mule deer buck harvested in early September not be seen around the world until now? It starts and ends with a […] View the full article

When looking at candidates for “Gear Legends”, we’re looking at many possible variables. Has it been around for a significant period of time? Is it still viable? In its product category, how does it rate and how much impact did it have? Did it change the game? It could be argued that no product in […] View the full article

<p><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Horn-Title.png" rel="lightbox[14504]"><img class=" wp-image-14505 aligncenter" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Horn-Title-1024x42.png" alt="Horn-Title" width="1000" height="41" /></a></p> <p>Horn Hunter is part of the Sportsmans Outdoor Products group based in Sandy, Utah. They have a broad lineup of hunting gear under a few different name brands.</p> <p><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Horn-3.png" rel="lightbox[14504]"><img class="alignleft wp-image-14506" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Horn-3.png" alt="Horn-3" width="363" height="300" /></a>It never fails when doing a large review like this that you get a product that pleasantly surprises you, and the Full Curl System is just such a product. While there is some âfatâ that could be trimmed, the versatility of the system shouldnât be overlooked.</p> <p>The general theory with this system is to make it a one-stop shop for all your hunting situations, and for most purposes, it does just that. The frame is beefy and capable of packing heavy loads. You can then add a 1400-c.i. day pack that attaches directly to the frame. For longer trips, you can attach a 3000-c.i. main bag and then piggyback the day pack on it. You can also put in a large meat bag against the frame, which has attached buckles for piggybacking the other bags off of it.</p> <p><strong>Frame/suspension</strong>: The base frame is a tubular aluminum much like a traditional external frame, but with a sheath over the top that integrates with the big bag to slide over the top.</p> <p>The meat hauling system comes with a cloth load sling/meat shelf and two large vertical wings that work with compression straps to firmly secure large and heavy loads. Each wing sports a unique dropdown storage pocket for items as large as a spotting scope. There is also a dropdown water bladder pocket.</p> <p><img class="alignleft wp-image-14507" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Horn-2.png" alt="Horn-2" width="304" height="314" />The molded foam suspension has ample padding for heavy loads, and in addition to the three pockets we already mentioned, there are six additional pockets on the hip belt. The hip belt adjustment is a pull-forward design â a superior design for tighter fit.</p> <p>Itâs a deluxe system for any meat hauler. Overall, the frame pack itself provides 600 c.i. of pockets.</p> <p><strong>Big bag:</strong> The majority of material is a brushed Ripstop Boss/Polyester mix and micro denier. It accounts for 3000 c.i. and includes an expandable shroud. Access is gained from top and both sides. Itâs divided into a large main compartment and lower sleeping bag compartment. One more pocket in the attached lid results in three total storage compartments.</p> <p><strong>Daypack:</strong> This pack has its own shoulder straps and is designed specifically to drop the <a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Horn-4.png" rel="lightbox[14504]"><img class=" wp-image-14508 alignright" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Horn-4.png" alt="Horn-4" width="314" height="438" /></a>frame and other items and go light in a hurry. It has seven total pockets and a dropdown gun scabbard, as well as an additional hydration compartment for when leaving the frame behind. This bag is 1400 c.i., and when used only with the frame, totals 2000.</p> <p><strong>Meat bag:</strong> This bag snaps right into the top and sides of the frame and is surrounded by the shelf and wings. Itâs equipped with two additional buckles on top to buckle in the daypack, piggyback style. Itâs washable and doubles as a gear storage bag.</p> <p><strong>Color/camo options: </strong>Realtree APG, Max 1, Mossy Oak Infinity.</p> <p><strong>Best qualities:</strong> Itâs a significant number of options and tools for the price; a Swiss Army knife of packs; independent frame for packing meat; bags interchange easily; lots of compartments for organization.</p> <p><strong>Could be better:</strong> No real separation for ventilation between your back and the suspension/frame; also not a very ergonomic fit on the hips or back; really nice system, but materials could easily have been trimmed to knock a pound or better off of the total weight.</p> <p><strong>Cost: </strong>$345. <strong>Contact:</strong> <a href="http://www.gohornhunter.com">www.gohornhunter.com</a>.</p> <p><strong>Recommended accessories:</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Hydro Shell rainfly</span> – $26; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Full Curl Duffle</span> (2600 c.i.) – $30; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Meat Bag</span> (2000 c.i.) – $25.99; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Hydration Bladder</span> – $18.</p> <p><strong>Similar Horn Hunter options to consider:</strong> With the Full Curl system, you can order parts individually or as a package. You can get the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Full Curl Combo</span> (frame and daypack) for $267, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Full Curl Big Bag</span> only for $82.50, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Full Curl Day Pack</span> for $68, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Full Curl Frame</span> for $201, or entire <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Full Curl System</span> (frame, big bag, and day pack) for $345.</p> View the full article

“The pack out was long and gave me a lot of time to think about what a true friend I had in Justyn. He never stopped hunting, and his perseverance was the only reason I had the opportunity to harvest this buck.” A Much-Needed Spark Sometimes, as a human being, it’s easy to get stuck […] View the full article

Taking the Scrap and Making it Delicious We’ve carved up our elk and made use of all the best steaks and other cuts. Now that it’s all finished, there will be a very sizeable pile of scrap meat just waiting for you to “turn lemons into lemonade”. Wild game burger is a true staple for […] View the full article

Taking all the meat you can should always be job #1 We spend a lot of time talking about how to break down an elk on the mountain and care for the meat afterward. It’s all a practical and necessary part of elk hunting. However, in these writings, I’ve been making a very basic assumption. […] View the full article

As the light quickly faded in the Sonoran Desert, I had a decision to make; track my buck in the darkness or wait until morning. After locating a few dark reddish/brick-colored blood splatters on the desert floor, the decision was easy; I’d wait until morning to allow enough time for the obviously liver-hit buck to […] View the full article

The first elk tag I received in my home state of Nevada came well after I started elk hunting. Ten years later to be exact. By that point I had shot quite a few bulls myself in other states and guided to many more while working as an elk guide in Montana and New Mexico. […] View the full article

Preparation and knowledge determines the quality and quantity of your table fare Many times, our planning takes us only to the point where we reach our intended goal. We spend countless hours preparing to accomplish a difficult task, yet fail to recognize the elements that are often encountered after we reach our goal. Elk hunters are no […] View the full article

Selecting a Call In today’s market, hunters can choose from short, wide, fat, tapered, stacked, long and skinny reeds. I like an open barrel design or one that’s short and produces a nasally sound. Regardless of the style, the thickness of the reed is critical. Thinner reeds—those around .010 in thickness—are the easiest to blow […] View the full article

The popularity of electric bikes (e-bikes) has exploded in the recreational riding market. Within the last couple of years, hunters have now started to see the benefits, too. I saw my first e-bike a few years ago at the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo in Salt Lake City. I was impressed with the technology, but […] View the full article

Get the inside track on gear that will better your performance On the mountain, your body is already being challenged. The last thing you want to do is experiment with how far you can push your health and fitness, which could lead to a major health catastrophe. Any hunt, whether it be sitting in a […] View the full article