The Subtle Art of Still-Hunting Western Big Game

I was alone and creeping silently through a boggy, hidden stand of aspen and willow deep in the timber, wandering a circuitous path toward a meadow where we’d spotted a small elk herd earlier. Suddenly, something large stood up from its bed behind a wide spruce not 30 yards in front of me. With elk on the mind, I mewed with the Phelps Maverick diaphragm call on the roof of my mouth. The animal stopped. I nocked an arrow. But instead of a bull, a...

The Art of Pan Roasting

Pan roasting is one of my favorite cooking techniques. I often implement it because it yields excellent results and will work with any kind of protein. This two-step process starts with searing meat in a hot sauté pan, flipping, and immediately transferring to a hot oven. This technique is one of the best ways to cook wild game evenly and ensure that it retains moisture. It’s ideal when preparing thick cuts, like the breast of a Canada goose. It...

The Art of Observation (for Deer Hunters)

By Joe Elsinger One of the skills most critical to a hunter’s success is simply observing his or her surroundings. Observation is a fundamental component of woodsmanship. There may come a day when a hunter can replace woodsmanship with various technology, but I hope I don’t live to see it. There was a time when a kid wasn’t considered prepared to hunt deer unless he or she had first sharpened their skills on dozens or hundreds of small game hunts...