Gear

A good turkey choke can turn any old shotgun into a certified gobbler getter. It might require some trial and error to figure out which turkey loads a choke patterns best, but that's part of the fun. Of course, it isn't feasible (definitely not affordable) to test every ammo and choke combination...

Hunting Gear

Best Rubber Hunting Boots

You don't have to be a scent-control junkie to appreciate a good pair of rubber hunting boots. They're perfect for those late-season whitetail hunts when you need to layer extra socks, run some toe warmers, and keep your scent to a minimum. But, they're also necessary if you spend a lot of time in...

Some hunters love disappearing into the wilderness and hoofing it miles. Others don’t mind a little motorization to help them punch their tags. Last fall, a Can-Am Defender saved my flatlander legs and lungs while I tagged a bull elk in Idaho, especially when it came time for the pack out. Back home...

Gear

Gear

5 Things to Keep in Your UTV Emergency Kit During Hunting Season

Jun 26, 2024Some hunters love disappearing into the wilderness and hoofing it miles. Others don’t mind a littlemotorization to help them punch their tags. Last fall, a Can-Am Defender saved my flatlander legs and lungs while I tagged a bull elk in Idaho, especially when it came time for the pack out. Back home in eastern North Carolina, I’ve been known to use a UTV for all kinds of pre-season prep, from hanging treestands to schlepping corn.Things can go sideways fast, whether you’re running an ATV or side-by-side in the backcountry or even your own back forty. Flat tires, dead batteries, broken belts, or leaky fluids can ruin an otherwise fine hunt. That’s why having a solid emergency kit should be a non-negotiable.“When traveling off-road, it's crucial to be prepared for whatever the trail might throw at you. From inclement weather to changing trail conditions or even a dreaded mechanical issue, countless scenarios can play out on an ATV or UTV ride,” Eric Storz, with Can-Am Off-Road, told MeatEater. “As the old saying goes, ‘It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.’”

Smiling woman hunter wearing glasses and camo cap carrying a wild turkey over her shoulder

Alice Jones Webb

Alice Jones Webb

If you ever hunt overseas, you will undoubtedly encounter DIY shooting sticks. In places where there are few trees or rocks to brace a rifle on, like parts of Africa, a tripod shooting stick is standard issue. Simple, cheap, and effective, shooting sticks allow a foot-bound hunter to brace...

Gear

Gear

How to Make DIY Shooting Sticks

May 6, 2021If you ever hunt overseas, you will undoubtedly encounter DIY shooting sticks. In places where there are few trees or rocks to brace a rifle on, like parts of Africa, a tripod shooting stick is standard issue. Simple, cheap, and effective, shooting sticks allow a foot-bound hunter to brace themselves for a shot just about anywhere. And while these tools have been eclipsed by more modern tripods in the U.S., I’d argue they are more versatile and easier to pack around.With practice, a rifle shooter can quickly pick off targets around 300 yards away with a set of sticks. When not in use, your shooting sticks make a perfect walking stick. Best of all, they are far lighter, less complicated, and cheaper thanmodern tripodsor anything you can find at a sporting goods store. Here’s how to make your own shooting sticks for less than $50.

You can make your own shooting sticks for less than $50. Matthew Every

Man holding turkey tail fan, wearing camo jacket and cap in bare-branch woods

Matthew Every

Matthew Every

How to Spend More Time Outdoors with Your Family

Jul 24, 2024Whether you’re a hunter, angler, or outdoor recreator, you might find it tricky to navigate all your pursuits while balancing family time. There’s no better way to remedy this dilemma than by mixing the two.Some of my earliest memories in the outdoors involve me tagging along with my dad and grandfather on rabbit hunts or deer dog drives. I did little more than play with sticks or search for arrowheads in the dry or shallow creekbeds. Other times, my dad dragged my brothers and me camping at our family property to freeze or sweat through our sleeping bags. It was a lot of work for him, but it’s a huge reason my brothers and I have remained so involved outdoors.Now that I have a family of my own, I understand what my dad was doing. I also realize the effort and time that it takes to make the outdoors a priority with your family. It can be extremely fun and extremely tiring, but it’s always worth it. If you want to introduce your family to hunting or just lose cell reception for a weekend, here are a few ways toconsider getting outdoors with the rest of your crew.

Whether you’re a hunter, angler, or outdoor recreator, you might find it tricky to navigate all your pursuits while balancing family time. There’s no better way to remedy this dilemma than by mixing the two. Some of my earliest memories in the outdoors involve me tagging along with my dad and...

Gear

Gear

Truck Upgrades for the Field: Lighting

If you spend enough time chasing game, exploring river accesses before daylight, or driving down two-tracks that barely qualify as roads, you’ll eventually realize that your truck isn’t just transportation, it’s a critical part of your gear system. Over a few articles, we’re going to dive into...

On the surface, spotting scopes have limited applications for most hunters. The whitetail crowd can put them to use for dialing in summertime bachelor groups munching away in the beans. The western crowd can employ them for on-the-job recon to locate bedded mulies, bands of early-season elk in the...

Man in orange cap using a spotting scope on a tripod, overlooking a mountain valley

Gear

Gear

How to Use Your Spotting Scope to Be a Better Hunter

May 12, 2018On the surface, spotting scopes have limited applications for most hunters. The whitetail crowd can put them to use for dialing in summertimebachelor groups munching away in the beans. The western crowd can employ them for on-the-job recon to locate bedded mulies, bands of early-seasonelk in the high country, and really any stalkable critter.That might be good enough, but it doesn’t have to be. There are ways to utilize long-range glassing to not only monitor critters, but figure out exactly how you can either ambush them, or crawl into range before you run out of daylight. One of the best ways I’ve found to do both is to utilize a phone scope to film the action, and then review it in real time.

Smiling hunter in camouflage with mud-smeared face, wearing First Lite beanie and chest harness

Tony J. Peterson

Tony J. Peterson

Pickup truck bed with open camper shell, wooden storage drawers and cooler; drawer reads "YETI"

Gear

Gear

Seth Morris' DIY Truck Camper Build

Dec 29, 2025As the lead photographer at MeatEater,Seth Morrishas spent years traveling the world documenting hunts, fishing trips, and backcountry adventures from behind the lens. That time in the field—often in remote, demanding conditions—has given him a deep understanding of what actually matters when you’re living out of a vehicle. Add in the fact that Seth is a serious hunter and outdoorsman himself, and you get a camper setup that’s built from experience, not theory. Every decision is geared toward efficiency, durability, and the realities of camping, hunting, and fishing out West.

The crux of Seth’s setup is the camper shell—a raised fiberglass topper. The extra height adds much-needed headroom, making the space far more livable for extended trips. Windows with screens bring in daylight and airflow, which is clutch when you’re camped for multiple days or dealing with warmer temps. It’s a simple foundation, but one that immediately transforms a truck bed into a functional shelter.

As the lead photographer at MeatEater, Seth Morris has spent years traveling the world documenting hunts, fishing trips, and backcountry adventures from behind the lens. That time in the field—often in remote, demanding conditions—has given him a deep understanding of what actually matters when you...

Two hunters in camo jackets and caps, one white‑bearded, holding a packet reading "AMERICAN BUFFALO"

Gear

Gear

Best Gifts for Hunters

Jun 6, 2022Hunters can be picky when it comes to gear. Luckily, you don’t need to buy them a new hunting rifle, bow, or even the best binoculars. Some of the best hunting gifts I’ve received over the years were unexpected pieces of gear that I probably wouldn’t have bought for myself. I still have a pair of heavy-duty hunting gloves I got in middle school. I’m sure my aunt didn’t envision me wearing them almost twenty years later, but I break them out when it gets super cold. Sure, they fit tighter than they did when I was sixteen, but they’re still just as warm.Whether you’re looking for a stocking stuffer, a last-minute gift, or, like Cousin Eddie, something real nice, here are some of the best gifts for hunters you can find.

Hunters can be picky when it comes to gear. Luckily, you don’t need to buy them a new hunting rifle, bow, or even the best binoculars. Some of the best hunting gifts I’ve received over the years were unexpected pieces of gear that I probably wouldn’t have bought for myself. I still have a pair of...

Hunter placing mallard decoys in shallow water wearing camo waders

Hunting Gear

MeatEater Crew’s Thoughts on the First Lite Forge Waders

Aug 2, 2022First Lite just unveiled their brand new Forge Waders, and for the past four years, some of the MeatEater crew have been putting them through the ringer as part of testing measures. From setting beaver traps to bear hunting and, of course, good ole late-season duck hunting, the crew threw everything at these waders before landing on a finished product.These waders have been expert-tested and reviewed, and the feedback from die-hard duck hunters helped inform the thoughtful and intuitive design of First Lite’s Forge Waders. Here’s a look at some of those specs.Material: Nylon Weight: 9.5 lbs Boot: 14-in. LaCrosse Alpha Wader 1000 g PrimaLoft Gold One-piece design Zipper: YKK Aquaseal submersible Seat: Mapped OrthoLIte O-Therm Aerogel Magnetic, self-draining high hand pockets Neoprene knee pads MOLLE attachments on chest pockets Camo Pattern: First Lite Typha or Darkwater

First Lite just unveiled their brand new Forge Waders, and for the past four years, some of the MeatEater crew have been putting them through the ringer as part of testing measures. From setting beaver traps to bear hunting and, of course, good ole late-season duck hunting, the crew threw everything...