Entries for February 2013

A Southern Baptist church located in the Texas panhandle has gained some national media attention for its offering of a state concealed handgun license (CHL) class as service to its community.

Why would anyone buy a “custom” rifle? Because they want one.

January was a huge month for "Inside the Box." We unboxed the Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener, 5.11 Taclite Pro Pants, Wheeler Engineering's F.A.T. Wrench, and of course, Sightmark's night-vision binocular goggle kit. I don't usually give everything away, but for this round I am!

It was barely 20 degrees on this late-December morning in western Wisconsin, but the radiant warmth of a propane heater and full concealment of a ground blind were more than enough to keep us comfortable. My relaxed eyelids hung like weights in between calling sequences with my Woodhaven Real Hen.

Coyote hunting can be tough in the last few weeks of winter. It’s no government secret that the past decade has seen an explosion in predator hunting popularity.

A Canadian who goes by the nickname “The Rack Man” has several must-see videos on his YouTube channel, and one of my favorites is shown here. This half-minute clip is actually a promo for the DVD, “The Bear at Its Best.”

It’s worth remembering that most of the current crop of wolves in the lower 48 came from Canada via a relocation program—and that Canadians were overjoyed to get rid of them. Alberta in particular has so many wolves that, for residents, wolf season is almost identical to coyote season. No license is required, there's no bag limit and the season is open all year long on private land. It’s not quite as generous for non-residents or when hunting on public land, but it’s close. And that's all the excuse I need to go wolf hunting.

If you do any long-range shooting in the field or at the range, you know how much weather conditions can influence your shots. You also know it's essential to understand how your bullets are flying. Handles those two factors properly and you'll be one step closer to sniper status. The Kestrel 4500 NV Horus ATrag Ballistics shooting meter is a compact tool that might just help you improve your long-range game.

With the passage of new restrictive firearms legislation in New York State and similar measures currently being considered by other state lawmakers, two U.S. firearms makers have stepped forward in recent days in a staunch defense of the Second Amendment, even though it might mean a loss of revenue for their businesses.

Thompson/Center is now offering the Venture Compact rifle—a handy rifle for youth, women or even grown men if the conditions are fitting. I was there for the introduction of the rifle at the 2013 SHOT Show, and I even got to shoot it.