As I see it, one of the most important things that makes hunting so unique from other sports is that each man—and woman, of course—is allowed to define their version of what constitutes a “success” and what constitutes a “trophy.”

It’s the complexity of waterfowl hunting that makes it so appealing to me. There’s so much to it ... decoys, blinds, calling, shooting skills, dogs, on-the-wing identification, strategy, location, planning, preparation, and on and on and on.

Black bears have quickly become my favorite game species to pursue—yes, even more favorable than hunting whitetails—and after spending a week in Strong, Maine, with Scott York of Spruce Mountain Guide Service, hunting black bears with hounds has become a favorite way to pursue my favorite game.

Have you ever wished to be the shooter on a major hunting show? It’s really a trip, and something I never thought I’d be doing mid-way in my career. But in reality it’s not always hunting. It really is a combination of hunting and producing, and often the two collide.

With many archery-only deer hunting seasons underway across the country and bowhunters by the thousands heading afield, more and more men and women who opt to hunt with bow and arrow are carrying something additional with them these days: a handgun.

I just got back from my first waterfowl hunt of the season in a place I’d dreamed of hunting for many years—the Peace River Region of northern Alberta. It’s a l-o-n-g way up there, but the distance somehow makes it even more desirable as a hunting destination.

It’s go-time for moose. I'm hoping to put at least one huge ungulate in the freezer this fall, and the elk slipped by me in the short (I mean short) window I had to pursue them. Now I have the opportunity for a Canada moose.

Frost isn’t far away, but maybe far enough that danger is still roaming around in the form of poisonous snakes.

At the end of August 2011 I had the opportunity to participate in my first pronghorn hunt. Living in Minnesota and doing most of my hunting here, I had never experienced the thrill of hunting in wide-open areas like northwest New Mexico has to offer. 

Believe what you will about modern opinion polls—particularly those during the general election cycle—but these days they’re often surprisingly accurate and reflect the general consensus of how many Americans vote and think.