“western states”

Cory Lundberg is young, tough and knows how to kill predators. He outfits in several western states including Utah, Wyoming and Oregon, among others, offering predator hunts, varmint shooting and combinations of the two, and his success is about as good as it gets.

Three western states tout booming grizzly bear populations, thanks to four decades of conservation efforts resulting in the species now hitting carrying capacity.

Application deadlines, research into the best game units, bonus points: Any hunter who has never navigated Western states’ big-game draws has a lot to learn. Here’s how to approach “tag season” for your best chance at success.

Harvest data from Western states and provinces suggest shooting more bucks one year reduces the prevalence of chronic wasting disease the next. What’s more, the pressure on the buck segment seems to be more effective if the harvest occurs near or during the rut.

While hunting participation at the nationwide level is down, license sales in Western and Southeastern states are booming.

For guys like Jeremiah Waugh, shed hunting is an addiction. He's only one of the many western hunters joining a cult-like following of the "sport."

Rabbit hunters on the eastern seaboard be warned—Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Type 2 (RHDVT2) appears to be spreading in a select few states and Canada.

What it means and how to cope: a dismal but honest look at the current state of Western tag allocations, with ideas for alternate hunting adventures.

The numbers don't lie. Though residents fill the fields, nonresident hunters are a loyal bunch, and their interstate travels increasingly are helping sustain conservation efforts.