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The Best Field & Stream Reader Photos From January 2012

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:06:52 -0500

The 50 Best Field & Stream Reader Photos of January.

Using Wolves to Control Elk Population at CO Wildlife Refuge?

Sarah Smith — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:59:37 -0500

--Chad Love

Federal wildlife officials are considering using wolves to control the elk population at Colorado's Baca National Wildlife Refuge.

From this story in the Billings Gazette:

Federal officials are considering using wolves to control the number of elk in Baca National Wildlife Refuge, a proposal that is drawing criticism from hunters and ranchers and support from environmentalists. And a plan that is drawing comparisons to what has happened in Montana and Wyoming since wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service planner Laurie Shannon says the use of wolves in Colorado is not the preferred alternative, but it's an option for controlling elk herds that have taken a heavy toll on the cottonwoods and willows lining stream banks.

The Best Shotguns of 2012

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:56:43 -0500

These are the best new shotguns of 2012.

The Best New Rifles of 2012

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:41:18 -0500

The Best New Rifles of 2012.

SHOT Show 2012 From The Floor: Day 3

Online Editors — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:48:52 -0500

Photos from the floor of SHOT Show 2012, Day 2.

SHOT Show 2012 From The Floor: Day 2

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:34:22 -0500

Photos from the floor of SHOT Show 2012, Day 2.

SHOT Show 2012 From The Floor: Day I

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:48:40 -0500

Photos from the floor of SHOT Show 2012, Day 1.

The Best Field & Stream Reader Photos From 2011

Dave_Maccar — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:15:14 -0500

The 60 best photos submitted by readers in 2011.

Field & Stream's Best Photo Galleries and Blogs of 2011

Dave_Maccar — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:53:52 -0500

The 25 best online stories from F&S in 2011.

Food Fight Friday: Elk Strap vs. Pheasant Marsala

Sarah Smith — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:58:49 -0500

by David Draper

Elk Strap vs. Pheasant Marsala

If your New Year’s resolutions include going on a diet, you might want to avert your eyes as this week’s Food Fight is guaranteed to get your stomach growling. I’m putting one of my favorite pheasant dishes up against Wild Chef reader Chris Johnson’s stunning elk strap. I have a pretty good feeling Johnson is going to run away with this one, but maybe you readers will surprise me with a win.

The Best Field & Stream Reader Photos From December 2011

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:44:10 -0500

The 50 Best Field & Stream Reader Photos of December.

First Shots Photo Collection

Online Editors — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:59:48 -0500

A collection of jaw-dropping hunting and fishing photos from Field & Stream's "First Shots" magazine section.

The 75 Best Field & Stream Reader Photos From November 2011

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:13:59 -0500

The 50 Best Field & Stream Reader Photos of October.

Idaho Officials Nab Aussie Hunters For Taking Antlers, Leaving Meat To Rot

Sarah Smith — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:10:02 -0500

--Chad Love

Thanks to a group of wildlife officers who tracked their movements for days, three Austrialian hunters who used the idaho backcountry as their personal no-limit killing ground and garbage dump have been banned for life from hunting in Idaho.

From this story in the UK Daily Telegraph:

Dressed in camouflage, the three officers from Idaho Department of Fish and Game were deep undercover in the rugged mountains, living on rations, camping rough and for nine days intently watching their quarry: A group of Australian hunters. The game wardens were aware that Anton Kapeller, 58, from central Tasmania, had for 20 years been bringing other Australians and New Zealanders to Idaho to hunt elk, deer and wolves. They had long suspected him of illegally hunting elk out of season. But what really motivated them was that Kapeller left his camps, high in the beautiful mountains, littered with rubbish.

There was also a suspicion he was committing the ultimate sin: Taking antlers and leaving the meat to rot.

Day One: Exploring Idaho’s Clearwater Basin

Online Editors — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:00:58 -0500

by Hal Herring

Hunting Amidst Grizzlies: Always Respect the Bruin, and Remember Your Bear Spray

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:05:38 -0500

by Hal Herring

Hunter shoots charging griz in Badger-Two Medicine area
By Karl Puckett

A Kalispell elk hunter shot and killed a charging grizzly bear in the Badger-Two Medicine Area of the Rocky Mountain Front on Wednesday. It was the third instance of hunters shooting grizzly bears in self defense on the Front — and at least the eighth in northwestern Montana — since big-game rifle hunting season began three weeks ago.

In an interview, Ben Laster, 28, described the shooting of the female grizzly as "the worst thing I've had to do in my life."

I was hunting just east of the Scapegoat Wilderness boundary, about a week ago. In the half-light before dawn, the tracks in the snow on the game trail looked like they might be human. As the light came up, though, it was clear that they were grizzly tracks, the improbably huge mitten-like print with the perfectly round toes, the frozen steep ground scored by the big diggers, like a badger print blown up, a badger from an old black and white Godzilla movie. Most of the tracks were blurred—there was more than one bear traveling here, and it looked like we were all going to the same place, a little pass about a mile and half off.

The 50 Best Photos from Round II of the 2011 F&S Fall Trail Cam Contest

Online Editors — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:51:21 -0500

The Best 2011 Round 2 Trail Cam Photos

Ohio Bowhunter Tags Back-To-Back Boone & Crockett Bucks

Sarah Smith — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:10:44 -0500

For the second year in a row, Ohio bowhunter J.T. Kreager dropped a record-book buck on his first sit.

Moostaken Identity: Eleventh Case of People Shooting Moose On Elk Licenses

Sarah Smith — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:11:52 -0400

--Chad Love

Hunters in Colorado seem to be having a hard time telling their elk from their moose.

From this story in The Denver Post:

In the aftermath of the state's 11th case of mistaken identity so far this hunting season, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is at its wits' end. "A lot of people are shooting moose on elk licenses," said CPW statewide information officer Randy Hampton. "It's happening too frequently and it's frustrating. People need to take some time and identify their target clearly. It's the first rule of hunter safety: Know what you're shooting at."

Food Fight Friday: Reader Faceoff

Dave_Maccar — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:45:55 -0400

by Colin Kearns

This week we’re feature two Wild Chef readers facing off with a couple of delicious looking food photos. It’s a tough call on who’s going to win this one, as they both look fantastic. On the one hand, tacos are a personal favorite of mine, so maybe Andrew gets the nod. On the other hand, Michael from Texas hits a trifecta with elk in sausage form, served with beer at a college football game. I just can’t decide, so it’s up to you guys to pick a winner.

Andrew's Chile Colorado

Vs.

Michael's Elk Sausage

Heroes of Conservation Winner Announced!

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:58:38 -0400

At a time when the U.S. government is being asked to do more with less, conservationists all over the country are doing more without waiting to be asked. These efforts were recognized at the sixth annual Heroes of Conservation awards gala, sponsored by Field & Stream and Toyota. "It's a critical time, budgets are tight, and it is possible that essential projects to restore and protect America's wildlife and lands will be shelved due to lack of funds," F&S Editor Anthony Licata said at the Washington, D.C. event. "But there is hope. We are humbled by and incredibly grateful to people like our heroes, who are willing to work even when there isn't a budget."

Video, Interview: Mountain Biker Clobbered by Charging Antelope

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:31:20 -0400

by Dave Maccar

Charging wildlife isn’t the first thing on a mountain biker’s mind in the heat of a race, but the animals don’t know that.

Evan van der Spuy was racing in the 38 km Time Freight MTB Express mountain bike race at Albert Falls Dam, 20km outside the city of Pietermaritzburg in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa for Team Jeep South Africa over the weekend.

His teammate, Travis Walker, was in third place with a GoPro camera mounted on his bike, and captured this amazing footage below of Evan, who was in second place until this red hartebeest (a member of the antelope family) had something to say about it.

Yes, the hit was as hard as it looks. Evan was stabilized with a neck brace and taken to the hospital for overnight observation. He sustained a minor concussion, whiplash and some bruising on his head where his helmet imploded on impact.

F&S spoke to Evan today to get his take on the events behind this video, which is rapidly going viral.

Evan said he is recovering well, and feels extremely lucky.

“Luckily I walked away with just a bit of whiplash and a concussion, considering what happened,” he says. “I saw the animal moving to cross the road in front of me, but when I saw how close it really was, I was shocked. Then, from the moment it hit me I was unconscious. I actually don’t know what happened from then.”

(Bonus Report) Draper: While You Were Thinking about The Deer Rut...

Sarah Smith — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:19:29 -0400

Rut Reporter David Draper grew up hunting deer and small game throughout this region and presently lives on a family farm in Nebraska. Draper, former communications specialist for Cabela’s and an authority on the Great Plains, subsists on a diet of duck breast and venison. States covered: ND, SD, NE and KS.

With any real serious deer rut activity still a few weeks away, I didn’t want you all to forget about the other ruts that are going on around the region right now, so I’m submitting this bonus Great Plains report about elk and pronghorn action.

I spent the weekend guiding Ron Rousey on an elk hunt here in Nebraska, where he was lucky enough to draw a once-in-a-lifetime tag. It sounds a bit weird, but the Cornhusker State has a healthy and growing elk herd-- enough so that there are actually seven different hunting units across the state.

The Ten Commandments of Elk Hunting

Dave_Maccar — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:56:03 -0400

by David E. Petzal

I went on my first elk hunt, to Montana, in November, 1971. I did not get an elk. This year, four decades later, I hunted in Utah and did get one, which you can see here. He’s a 6x6, 8 ½ years old, and about 800 pounds. The handsome devil on the right is my guide Amos Ames, which is the finest name I’ve heard for an outdoorsman since Ted Trueblood. Amos has guided for elk for over 30 years, and is a forest-fire fighter, a rodeo clown, a cowboy-boot maker, and a general hard-case geezer.

An elk hunt is about the finest experience you can have standing up, and since I’m in a benevolent mood, I thought I’d pass along what I’ve learned from four decades of chasing the crazy bastards up and down mountains. Forsooth:

I. Thou shalt be in shape, for elk dwelleth not in the flatlands, nor where there is oxygen.

II. If thine ass resembleth 20 pounds of chewed bubble gum, bitter shall be thy lot.

Food Fight Friday: Seafood Boil vs. Elk Backstrap

Dave_Maccar — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:48:22 -0400

by David Draper

Summertime is all about cooking, and eating, outdoors, so this week’s food fight celebrates the upcoming season.

Outer Banks Seafood Boil

Vs.

Bacon-Wrapped Elk Backstrap