Expert Guides

The author purchased the Girsan MC312 Gobbler as a last-minute replacement before a successful hunt for Rio Grande turkeys and reports that the gun far exceeded his expectations for such an affordable semi-auto shotgun.

That was one of the furthest shots I’ve even made with a thermal optic, at night, on a hog. My guide and fellow hunters were cheering my shot, and I certainly felt good about it. But I also knew the REAP-IR made the shot possible.

I love a good ground blind set for springtime toms. A semi-brushed-in hub-style blind paired with some realistic turkey fakes will create some solid in-your-face action. However, being cloaked in ninja gear huddled in a blind’s back corner while you work a bird with seductive hen talk isn’t the only way to skewer a spring longbeard.

I’m all for making food from scratch, and this column is normally all about crafting tasty meals from the animals you kill. But when you’re planning to add the challenges of backpacking on top of the challenges of hunting, I think you should keep it simple.

Known for their awe-inspiring and challenging habitat, sheep are becoming increasingly popular to hunt so maximizing one’s opportunity if given the chance to pursue them is key.

What are the natural enemies of ammunition? Well, politicians, California in general, and as 2020 taught us, metal prices are all at the top of the list. But a not distant fourth is water and its little brother moisture in general.

I’m an unashamed shotgun nerd, and I love all types of shotguns. This includes guns that are technically not shotguns but use shotgun patterns, shotgun ammunition, and the like. You know, those pesky little firearms like the TAC-14 and Shockwave firearms. These guns tend to be tough to aim and tough to shoot, at least compared to a stocked shotgun. Crimson Trace has your back in making that a fair bit easier via the Crimson Trace Laser Saddle.

One does not have to live through a day of waterfowl hunting on snack cakes, candy bars, apples, and jerky. I know cooking in the blind can be a full course meal as seen in some magazines, but here, we are talking about something good to eat, easy to pack in, easy to clean up and typically gets folks to ask for more. 

If you’ve never heard of Darton Archery, don’t feel bad. Prior to last year, I hadn’t heard of them either, but I had used them throughout my archery career and you probably have, too– I’ll explain