“cds”

With the freedom to unplug your shotgun, use electronic calls and, best of all, no bag limits, a conservation snow goose hunt offers plenty of off-season fun.

The “No Bullshoot” Gear Report

Looking for new glass? 2016's batch of new hunting optics is pretty impressive. Here are some of the top new wares.

The NRA Women's Leadership Forum began more than a decade ago, and has since grown into one of the largest and most influential philanthropic groups within NRA. This weekend, at the 145th NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Louisville, the organization will host its annual gathering. Weatherby and Leupold have teamed up to support the Women's Leadership Forum and NRA alike, and will be offering a special rifle and riflescope combination package for auction at the event.

Riflescopes with parallax adjustments, illuminated reticles, 8X zoom ranges and turrets dialing past 1,500 yards are impressive, but do we really need that to still-hunt whitetails in Ohio farmland or chase elk at 8,000 feet in Idaho? An optic like Leupold’s new VX-3i 3.5X-10X-40mm with the Boone & Crockett ballistic reticle is likely better suited for most hunters’ needs. This 12.6-ounce scope, a reengineered upgrade from the previous VX-3, is bright, sharp, slim and extremely reliable.

If you're going to hunt elk, you'd best be prepared.