The early winter doldrums can be a frustrating time for whitetail hunters, as the bustling rut activity tapers off into the silence of vacant woods and unfired guns. It is often turns off like a light switch: Deer seem to be running everywhere at the height of the rut, and then it’s over as quickly as it began. The peak breeding period may have passed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a successful hunt in the post-rut weeks of deer season. Deer are creatures of habit, after all, so a few simple adjustments to your hunting strategies can help you bag a mature buck when you least expect it.
Category: Women’s Outdoor News
Texas Hunts with Remington Outdoor: Gators, Ducks, Hogs, & Fish
Back in September, I had the amazing opportunity to represent Women’s Outdoor News on an epic hunting trip, traveling to Texas with Remington Outdoor Company. The trip was the result of a contest last Christmas — The WON’s 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway — the prize being a 2 to 3 day alligator hunt in Seadrift, Texas, with Castaway Lodge. Our giveaway winner was Melissa, a rising veterinarian from Washington State, and she would meet Remington rep Jessica and me in Texas to begin our adventure.
Upon arrival, we planned to start our search for alligators the following morning. Thanks to Hurricane Harvey’s copious amounts of flooding, our guides had no way of knowing just where those gators would be. We fully anticipated needing the full 3 days for each of us to tag out.
WON: Blood Trail Tips and the Leupold LTO-Tracker
For a hunter, few things can be more frustrating than pursuing a downed animal across rugged terrain or in deep woods, thick with underbrush. The feeling of excitement after taking a shot at that trophy buck can quickly be replaced by one of hopeless failure once hours of searching have left you empty-handed. It’s a situation all hunters do their best to avoid. We’d love for every shot to be perfectly placed, dropping game in its tracks—but that’s just not how hunting works. Deer are incredibly strong creatures, and the adrenaline surging through their bodies often gives them the strength to run an astonishing distance, even with a mortal wound. We owe it to our game to give our best efforts for recovery. Following these simple steps can lead you straight to success.
Predator encounter: Leupold + Tikka
Recently, I found myself faced with a “tough” decision. I put “tough” in quotes because it was also quite a delightful decision: I needed to purchase a new rifle. Over the summer, I was partnered with Leupold Optics here on Women’s Outdoor News, and the amazing Leupold team was kind enough to send me a box full of new gear including a scope – the VX-5HD 3-15x44mm CDS-ZL2. (!!!)
Sportsman’s Box: OCTOBER + A GIVEAWAY!
I’ve got something a little different for this month’s box post… A GIVEAWAY with Sportsman’s Box and Women’s Outdoor News!
Sportsman’s Box: SEPTEMBER
It’s time again for another update with Sportsman’s Box!
The September box has some great items that will help us make the transition from summer to fall in the woods. Checking trail cameras, scouting, and deer hunting are top priority this time of year, and, its clear Sportsman’s Box had that in mind when they put this month’s package together.
gear review: XTRATUF Riptide Water Shoe
I recently had the opportunity to review the Riptide performance water shoe by XTRATUF through Women’s Outdoor News, and I was really excited to put them to the test on my paddle board fishing adventures. XTRATUF specializes in waterproof, slip-proof footwear for all conditions, and the Riptide shoe [MSRP $79.99] is designed specifically for activities such as paddle board and kayak fishing. They are made from a breathable airmesh fabric with drainage holes on the sides and a slip-resistant bottom, and a bungee system replaces the laces so you don’t have to worry about them coming untied.
weekend recap: turkey hunting with Patriot Hunts
Hi friends! If you follow along on Instagram or Facebook, you might have seen that I recently had the opportunity and privilege to turkey hunt with the amazing folks at Patriot Hunts this year, and write about our weekend over at Women’s Outdoor News. Ken Barnard, the founder of Patriot Hunts, decided that this year’s hunt would be an all-women’s weekend, with our 2 hunters being Lizzie, a Gold Star Survivor, and Rory, a Purple Heart Recipient. I would guide 1 group, with Rory as my hunter, and Chris Wilson with NWTF would guide the other, with Lizzie behind the barrel. Lizzie is a successful bowhunter, and was familiar with what turkey hunting entails. Rory, on the other hand, had never been turkey hunting before. She would be my hunter, and I was super excited to be a part of her first experience.
Turkey hunting tips with the WON
For turkey hunters, springtime means hearing that unmistakable gobble through the cold morning mist. It startles us, jolting our brains and flooding our bodies with adrenaline. It’s an exciting feeling, to say the least. But, getting there—to where that gobbler is—takes some prep work.
shed hunting with the WON
I recently shared some shed hunting pointers over at Women’s Outdoor News – expanding on my original list of tips and tricks – how you, too, can have a successful shed hunting season.