Hunt365

Two caribou tags, three guys, and two days to do it in. No pressure.

In my 50 plus years of duck hunting, I have learned one simple rule about blinds and that is: You will never get it in the right place the first time.

I was recently on a public land antelope hunt in Colorado. Like most Colorado tags, I had waited several years to draw this tag; five to be exact. I was very excited and enthusiastic about getting out and chasing around some speed goats.

Whether you’re day-tripping or bivy hunting, here’s a list of the essentials to pack.

Life is too unpredictable not to have something as lightweight and compact as these items, which could provide serious help in a life-threatening situation.

While I gathered information and advice from different people throughout the last several months, from lifelong Alaskan residents to gun writers, I tried to follow the old adage: Get the best you can afford.

The does turned and resumed their march in our direction. The buck stopped broadside at 223 yards and the rifle thundered. The wallop of the bullet exploding the heart was clear, and after taking a few steps the giant tumbled to the ground.

When choosing a hunting rifle, caliber is an important criteria. Hunting in the west, I want something that can take down deer, elk, black bear, moose, and anything else that I may go out after. Because of the terrain, I also need a caliber that will retain energy to take game at distances beyond 500 yards.

Once I had picked up the rifle from a local sporting goods store, it was time to add a scope and the various accouterments to turn it into a legitimate all-weather hunting rifle, capable of holding its own no matter what Mother Nature throws at it.