Turkeys starved in treetops. Ravenous raccoons killed nesting turtles and newborn fawns. Countless other wild animals perished during a record 219-day flood last year in Mississippi’s Yazoo Backwater Project.
The Yazoo Backwater’s surrounding levees provided the only high ground for displaced wildlife, but all those miles of manmade barriers provided little sanctuary throughout the unprecedented deluge. The Backwater, or South Delta, covers about...

Misery loves company, so let’s begin here: You’re not alone. I’ve missed deer too. Plenty, actually.
I missed the first deer I ever took a crack at. I also missed a big Ohio 8-pointer a decade ago. I missed an opening day Michigan buck just a few seasons ago. And I missed a couple more in between. Every one of these experiences was miserable, depressing, upsetting, disgusting. I know how you feel. But they each came with a silver lining.
What I...

The number of hunters is declining across North America and the anxiety has reached a fever pitch among industry experts and wildlife conservationists.
At this year’s Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show—the largest of its kind in the world—the marquee press conference revolved around recruiting, retaining, and reactivating hunters in the United States.
“This is the show’s most important press conference,” Jim Curcuruto of the National...

Like most firsts, my inaugural shit in the woods was a clumsy endeavor. I was 6 years old and on the brink of an emergency several miles into the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. My mother escorted me behind a large tree, instructed me to pull down my pants, squat, and take care of business. I did as she described and promptly dropped “my business” straight into the pants bunched up around my ankles. 
If you hunt, fish, hike, or camp...

Most tech-savvy whitetail hunters know the basics of how to locate and e-scout public land from the comfort of their homes. But finding the best of the best spots is an entirely different matter. If studying deer habitat on aerial maps is e-scouting 101, then finding public parcels that offer truly top tier hunting opportunities is akin to graduate level work. Here’s a breakdown of the advanced detective work needed to do just that.
The Initial...

It’s becoming increasingly common to travel beyond the border of home states in pursuit of punching tags on North America’s most popular game animal. Although nearly every state hosts huntable whitetail populations, there are a few that stand above the rest. These states have exceptional public land opportunities, economical tags, good license availability, and trophy potential that should titillate every DIY hunter.
Honorable Mentions
Narrowing...