#HUNTGear

With outdoor gear companies churning out excursion-size packs at a fevered pitch, I was anxious to get Sitka’s take on the bread and butter of a backcountry hunter’s gear.

Unboxing the test rifle, it was clear at a glance that the First Lite is not Roy Weatherby’s Mark V of yesteryear. The Mark V line got something of a makeover in the last few years, and the result is an updated take on an iconic and distinctly American rifle design.

As technology advances, hunters have to keep up in order to maintain any kind of edge that they may have over their competitors when it comes to shooting the biggest bull elk or mule deer buck. AAC has released the Jaeger 30 suppressor in order to cater to the needs and unique style of use that hunters have. This means that the can is made to be rugged, lightweight, compact, versatile and have little or no first round pop.

The pair of hogs popped out of the South Texas mesquite over 100 yards away and made straight for the deer feeder. I shifted in my seat and got ready for a shot—and for my first hunting experience using the new 350 Legend cartridge from Winchester Ammunition.

It might seem that hunting season is too far away to start thinking about, but I can tell you that summer can be one of the most critical times to get busy and prepare for the upcoming season. I have three simple summer scouting tips that will help you feel confident and be more successful during your season.

Elk hunters take to the field each fall with high hopes of notching their tag on a big bull elk (or even a small bull or cow). Often times success slips through their fingers through a comedy of errors. I’ll cover a few big mistakes that can wreck your hunt, that can easily be avoided.

Large guns have a special place in my heart, as they do for most people. The Taurus Raging Hunter in 44 mag is a handgun that put a huge smile on my face the moment I held it in my hand. The Raging Hunter is well constructed. There is extremely little play in any of the moving parts, the cylinder locks positively in place with a dual latch system and the porting on the end of the barrel is not only attractive but reduces recoil effectively; making for a great shooting experience.

I am no different than the next hunter in that I always look for something to make my hunt better. My old blind bag was wearing out and I was glad when I got my hands on the new Old School Camo Blind Bag offered by Lifetime Decoys. 

The Tuffpak is made from a rotational molded high-density polyethylene. The unique shape of the case allows you to pack up to 3 scoped rifles or 5 shotguns with room for extra gear. I recently had the opportunity to use and travel with the Tuffpak case and afterwards I wish I had known about it sooner- especially when I used to compete.