Anthony Licata

An Overview of the Blue Lakes/Pine Forest Range

Online Editors — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:36:28 -0400

Situated in far northwestern Nevada just south of the Oregon border, Blue Lakes are the only alpine lakes in the region, and their value to anglers in the area is immeasurable. But, perhaps more importantly, is the value to the region for sportsmen all over America—it’s perhaps the best region to visit if you’re a chukar hunter, and if you’re interested in mule deer, pronghorn or bighorn sheep hunting, this is the corner of Nevada you’ll want to hit in search of big game.

An Overview of the Cabinet and Yaak Mountains

Online Editors — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:31:28 -0400

It might be tough to believe, but Montana hasn’t protected any of its pristine backcountry fish and game habitat as wilderness in over a generation—the last attempt to create wilderness in the Treasure State was vetoed by President Ronald Reagan over 25 years ago. That’s not to say wilderness doesn’t exist outside those areas already protected in Montana —far from it. But politics and a host of factors have come into play, leaving some of the most deserving fish and game habitat in the state essentially unprotected and exposed to various forms of incursion, be it from mining, oil and gas or even just unneeded road construction.

An Overview of the Gila Mountains

Online Editors — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:26:31 -0400

Situated in far southern New Mexico, the Gilas boast some of the most remote backcountry fish and game habitat in the Lower 48. More importantly, this range of rugged mountains is home to one of the nation’s most rare salmonids, the native Gila trout.

An Overview of the Alpine Triangle

Online Editors — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:16:20 -0400

In the high-country heart of southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountains rests 180,000 acres of alpine habitat that has sheltered some of the best big game hunting and wild trout fishing in the southern Rockies for thousands of years.

An Overview of the Outlaw Triangle

Online Editors — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:34:02 -0400

The Outlaw Triangle is one of the most unique sporting regions in the lower 48. It's actually composed of two special places, the Little Mountain region of Wyoming, and the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam in far northeastern Utah. It's called the Outlaw Triangle because Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid used the area as a hideout in the late 1800s.

An Overview of the Roan Plateau

Online Editors — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:21:50 -0400

The Roan Plateau in western Colorado is the “line in the sand” for the Western sportsman who values intact fish and wildlife habitat and a unique sporting opportunity amidst a sea of industrial development. The Roan, which comprises only 1.5 percent of the entire Piceance Basin, rests above significant reserves of natural gas, but also provides refuge for trophy mule deer, elk, grouse, bear, mountain lion and pure strains of Colorado River cutthroat trout.

VanDam and Louisiana Delta Win Big at Bassmaster Classic

Joe_Cermele — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:51:25 -0500

A guest post by Field & Stream Editor Anthony Licata

The Bassmaster Classic on the Louisiana Delta is over, and there were two big winners.

The first was Kevin VanDam, who extended his dominance on the sport by winning his second consecutive Classic, his fourth overall, and shattering the tournament record for a 3-day, 5-fish bag that totaled 69 pounds, 11 ounces.

Vandam’s closest competition, Aaron Martens, finished 10 pounds behind him, ending up in the second slot for the fourth time in a Classic. On any other day Martens’ tournament bag probably would have been enough; at 59 pounds even it also surpassed the old record of 56-2 set by Luke Clausen at Florida’s Lake Toho during 2006 Championship.

Licata: A Report from the Deer Woods on the Best Day of the Rut

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 10:37:22 -0500

A guest Rut Reporter post from Editor Anthony Licata:

I'm bowhunting this week with Richardson Farms Outfitters in Brown County in southern Illinois, right in heart of one of the nation's best big buck regions.

Tim Richardson reported that rutting activity really picked up last week when a cold front moved in. All of a sudden his hunters and guides reported seeing a lot of big boys on the move.

This weekend the weather switched to a south wind and warmer temperatures, but with the rut cranking, the hope is activity will stay strong all day.

Yesterday, the F&S best day of the rut, was my first in a stand here, and action was great.

I was in an oak in a timbered creekbottom on the edge of a bedding area and a cut cornfield. Several draws and ridges came together here, making it a perfect pinch point.

Introducing Field & Stream and Trout Unlimited's Best Wild Places

Online Editors — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:50:49 -0400

Outdoorsmen understand better than most how special a place can be. That place could be a narrow stream with native cutthroats, or a grand river with rainbows and browns. That place could be mountain valley with elk, or desert canyon loaded with chukar. Places like this are special in their own way, but they also share one important trait in common, which outdoorsmen realize quicker than most: They’re all wild. This year, Field & Stream partnered with Trout Unlimited to showcase the Best Wild Places. Together, we traveled to six spots out West to experience some of the best hunting and fishing and most spectacular wilderness in the country.

The Plea: Remember the Liver

colinkearns — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:37:45 -0500

When my dad was teaching me to hunt deer, he’d run through a checklist before we left the house. License? Got it. Cartridges? Yep. Deer drag? Uh-huh. Empty plastic bread bag? Of course. How else was I to carry home that once-a-year treat: fresh venison liver?

I still pack a bag for liver, but I seem to be the exception judging from the strange looks I get from my hunting companions as I reach into the entrails of their field-dressed deer to pluck that glorious purple slab out of the pile.