There are few things more precious than a sense of control. We cling to it like small children grasping their mother’s hand. When it’s lost, we’re helpless at sea. What could be worse than losing control of something we love as much as hunting?
This is what I, and tens of thousands of other bow hunters, battle in regard to target panic. But rest assured, there is hope. Here’s how I’ve found my way.
What is Target Panic?
Target panic comes in many...

Picking a puppy from a litter should be an exciting experience, but in the moment it’s easy to get blinded by the collective cuteness of a pile of baby bird dogs. Speaking from personal experience as a self-diagnosed sucker for puppies, you have to maintain a level head and a critical eye when selection day arrives.
Don’t stress, though. By the time this moment finally comes, you’ve done most of the difficult work already. You’ve undoubtedly...

Myths, lies and old wives’ tales loom large in the outdoor pursuits. Here at MeatEater, we’re dedicated to separating facts from bullsh*t, so we created this series to examine suspect yarns. If there’s a belief, rumor, or long-held assumption you’d like us to fact check, drop us a note at factchecker@themeateater.com. 
Claim
Large predators, like bears and sharks, are more likely to attack women who are menstruating.
Origin
The claim’s genesis is...

A few years ago, I interviewed the host of a prominent whitetail TV show about his proven hunting strategies. He started off by saying that he plants around 100 acres of food plots each year. From that point, his hunting decisions are based around having dozens of destination food sources to choose from. Every single one is heavily monitored with trail cams and set up for easy access to blinds and stands. I remember thinking: How is this...

“When I was your age, it was the talk of the town just to see a deer track!”
Sound familiar? Many hunters in the 21st Century have heard similar statements from a father, grandpa, or friendly old-timer reminiscing about the days when whitetail deer were a novelty. Supposedly, the story goes, there was once a time not that long ago when whitetail deer almost disappeared entirely.
I’ve heard it all too, but the idea seems far-fetched. We’re all...

Check out the American Kennel Club’s rankings for the most popular dog breeds from year to year and you’ll see what you probably already knew: Labrador retrievers dominate. Going on nearly three decades now, the Lab has proven to be the most registered AKC breed out there.
Golden retrievers and German shorthairs also make the cut for the top 10, mixed among quite a few breeds that couldn’t hack it for five minutes in a duck blind or CRP field...