DPMS Panther Arms is a fierce cat in the firearms industry—a force to be reckoned with. The pulse of this black-gun beast echoes throughout the arteries of the world from its heart in central Minnesota. From there, AR-15s are produced by the truckload and shipped to thousands of freedom fighters and hungry hunters.

Dear Anti-Hunters,

We have bad news for you: Our army is multiplying. We'll continue to stand our ground, benefit the economy, support the growth of wildlife, and fill our freezers with wild meat to feed our friends and families.

Sincerely,
American Hunters

It's always fun reflecting on "firsts" ... especially when it involves hunting. My first kill with a bow was last fall in western Oklahoma. If you're an archer who gets the North American Hunter print edition, you can read the full story about my hunt in the new "Adventure Bowhunter" section; anyone can view it in our digital edition. The story is on Page J.

Bowhunters, can you remember the first time you tagged a critter with your bow?

A big part of my unforgettable bowhunt last fall at Croton Creek Ranch and Outfitter was, of course, camaraderie with fellow hunters and other folks at the ranch. One of the greatest gents I met was a guy by the name of Larry Smith. His name might lead you to believe he's just an Average Joe, but Larry has something magical up his sleeve: Buck Blitz.

If there's one sound that's most difficult for turkey hunters—especially new turkey hunters—to recognize, it's the spit and drum of a strutting tom turkey. And I would argue that the spit-drum is an even more magical sound than a gobble. Your spine will tingle every time you hear the spitting and drumming of a gobbler, especially when there's a tag in your pocket.

The air-conditioning unit in my small apartment has been struggling to keep up, barely able to cool my bedroom. It's been tough to sleep. It has been unbearable to go running outside. My waders almost overflowed with sweat yesterday while trout fishing. I've cursed and complained about the heat because of the discomfort it has caused in my daily life.

Big deal. As the nation struggles through a horrendous drought—declared a national disaster in 1,016 counties in 26 states—the hardships I'm encountering don't even register on the "who gives a crap" scale.

If you want to routinely kill longbeards and big bucks, you simply can't rely on luck. There's a science to it, and Dr. Grant Woods from "GrowingDeer.TV" has it down. On Aug. 12, 2012 (next month!), he's allowing a small number of hunters to join him at The Kentucky Proving Grounds to soak up his expert knowledge at the annual Field Day event.

Headlines from the past week are promising for waterfowlers. Get your ducks in a row and this season could be epic.

Out of all the Zombie Top 5s I've featured this week, this is probably the one you've really been waiting for. Without further ado, and in no particular order of greatness, here are the Top 5 Zombie Hunting Guns from Outbreak:Omega 5.

This is difficult to admit: Sometimes a firearm alone, or even a full arsenal, will not suffice for eradicating zombies and surviving the zombie apocalypse. When things get super nasty, you must be prepared for close-combat defense with a blade. Like guns, there are plenty of knives and uniquely wicked cutting tools on the market. The zombie hunters at Outbreak:Omega 5 carried a terrifying blend of zombie-slashing tools.