While everyone’s fishing, he’s scouting because he believes 97% of buck beds are distractions.

In a GPS-collar study highlighted by Field & Stream contributor Adam Lewis, the average buck used 31 different beds, but only about 3% became high-fidelity “bedrooms” they returned to again and again. Lewis breaks down what separates those locations and how hunters can use the research to scout smarter this season.

Adam Lewis is a teacher, award-winning outdoor writer, and host of the Deer IQ podcast. He specializes in applying science to practical strategies for public and private land whitetail hunters. Drop a “BUCK” comment and we’ll DM you Adam Lewis’ full Field & Stream story. ...

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Good hunting and fishing start with good habitat.

A 40-year-old interpretation of the Endangered Species Act just changed. For decades, federal agencies could treat significant destruction of critical habitat as a form of “harm” to endangered wildlife. A newly finalized rule removes that interpretation. Supporters say the change brings the law back to what Congress originally wrote. Opponents argue it weakens protections for species that depend on habitat to survive.

This doesn’t change hunting seasons, fishing regulations, or public land access. It could change how future federal reviews evaluate projects involving habitat used by endangered wildlife, and it’s already facing legal challenges. We’ll keep following the story—and what it means for hunters, anglers, and the places we all rely on. ...

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This happened in 60 seconds 🌽

One trail cam photo shows a hog helping itself to a pile of corn. The next was captured exactly one minute later after the hunter says it was taken with a 22 ARC at 40 yards.

Introduced by Hornady in 2024, the 22 ARC was built to launch high ballistic coefficient .22-caliber bullets from the AR-15 platform, delivering flatter trajectories and better wind performance than many traditional .223-class cartridges. Our own testing found it to be one of the most capable long-range .22 centerfire cartridges available—and this hunter says it didn’t need long to prove itself.

Trail cam sequence via u/astrocavediver
22 ARC photos: Richard Mann / Field & Stream ...

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New boundary maps reveal how much Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante could shrink if the proposal moves forward. Swipe through, then tell us what you think.

Story by @travishallmedia | Maps by @wildernesssociety sourced from @mypubliclands July 2026. ...

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The name finally makes sense.

The Texas rig has been fooling bass since the 1950s with three simple parts: a bullet weight, an offset worm hook, and a soft-plastic worm. Epic Bait Molds looked at that recipe and decided it needed to be much, much bigger.

The Beyond Braid team found the Texas-sized Texas Mega rig at Epic’s booth during ICAST but if you follow MLF you’ve probably already seen Jacob Wall give it a test drive with his new “pressured fish strategy.” @beyond.braid @epicbaitmolds ...

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He could’ve called the first shelter done.

Instead, he tore the whole thing apart.

Version two hides a tarp beneath the bark, adds another layer of weather protection, and swaps bare ground for a thick bed of moss. Funny how a few small changes can turn “I could sleep here” into “I’d stay a while.”

u/just_cool_studio ...

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Martha Stewart resurfaced one fishing reel... so we kept digging. Turns out the rabbit hole includes fly fishing with Ted Turner, a day on the water with Bassmaster, time aboard a Maine scallop dragger, and enough fishing lore to earn an invite from PENN and a tournament invite for her and Snoop Dogg.

The comments passed the vibe check. ...

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A fly reel that does 2X the work 🤯

Loop’s new Classic X Multiplier might be the best-looking reel at ICAST—but it’s the performance that really turns heads. Unlike a traditional fly reel with a 1:1 retrieve, the Classic X packs a revolutionary 2.5:1 gear ratio, letting you recover more than 2½ times as much line with every crank.

Why does that matter? When the biggest steelhead of your life takes a blistering run straight at your feet, you can pick up slack in a hurry, stay connected, and keep that chromer from throwing the hook.

Game-changing? We think so. Y/N you agree?
Story & video by @ryan_chelius ...

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Some tackle shops become legends. Capitol Fishing Tackle was one of them. For more than a century, the legendary shop called Manhattan home before quietly becoming part of New York history.

In October 2003, Field & Stream documented the shop in a feature titled “The Weirdest Tackle Shop in America.” Looking back today, it reads like a snapshot of a place that could only have existed in one city at one moment in time.

Story: Jonathan Miles | Photography: Jon Wasserman
Field & Stream | October 2003 ...

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During an Oval Office ceremony on July 13, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing federal agencies to reduce the size of Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments. Both landscapes are managed for multiple uses and remain open to hunting and fishing.

Supporters say the move gives Utah more control over federal lands. Opponents argue it removes protections for wildlife habitat and backcountry landscapes.

Like previous efforts to shrink national monuments, the order is expected to face legal challenges.

Full story by @travishallmedia for Field & Stream. ...

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