"Criminals and tyrants—tyrants especially—beware: Lockdown is not an option at the Stevens residence, and 911 will be dialed after the security of my home has been established."

I couldn't put it any better.

Last week was Alabama’s end to a very long deer season. I had a front-row seat into the closing hours as I hoped one of the big bucks that had been showing up on scouting cameras would have one final hankering for a salad meal before the end of shooting light. Despite hunting a variety of habitats and using several tactics, I failed to bring home a “'Bama bruiser.”

Shed antler hunting is a game we take seriously at the farm. We learn a lot from the time we spend in the woods looking for antlers, which taunted us all season long. For example, every year I learn my old eyes ain’t what they used to be. I have also learned that no matter how much thought and effort I put into making a deer antler necklace (the only acceptable reason for a man to look at Pinterest), my wife prefers something a little shinier on Valentine’s Day. But most importantly, we learn more about the land we manage.

If you're a media professional—reporter, blogger, editor, etc.—it's a given that at some point in your career you'll be forced to attend an event that's ... tediously boring. Sometimes it's simply a matter of stroking an ad client or industry partner by showing them that you care by just being there. Quite honestly, that's the experience I expected when I signed up for the PrimaLoft press conference at the 2013 SHOT Show.

A well-rounded predator hunter should have more than one tool in his toolbox. The old adage that says, "If your only tool is a hammer, soon every problem looks like a nail," applies to predator hunting, too. Besides calling—which we sometimes get stuck on—a good hunter knows how to stalk and how to work baits. Another valuable skill is the ability to go long.

I enjoy hunting whitetails just about anywhere. Alabama is one of my favorite states to hunt deer south of the Mason-Dixon line.

While most of my time at the 2013 SHOT Show was focused on getting the lowdown about new hunting gear, I also had the unique opportunity to sit down with Dan Ashe, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. If you're like me, the "g" word (government) elicits a feeling of instant skepticism—especially when dealing with anyone who holds a government title in front of their name.

A few Super Bowl commercials will make you laugh this Sunday, while others will leave you thinking: They spent how much to show that piece of crap?

I wouldn't call myself a full-fledged scouting camera junkie, but cams definitely add enjoyable and productive elements to the hunt. The Moultrie Panoramic 150 is an impressive new scouting cam that was introduced at the 2013 SHOT Show. It's an amazing camera for the price.

Huntworth is a new brand hoping to make a major mark in the hunting apparel market. They're already making huge strides with big-box retailer distribution. I tested some of their prototype threads last season, and overall I was impressed. The Huntworth balaclava was a life-saver during my brutally cold Montana elk hunt. Their Stealth Series gloves also proved to be warm and extremely comfortable.