“blood trail”

The author is reminded of the old adage, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.”

Big bucks don’t grow on trees. They grow amid the trees by eating natural forage and, when a hunter does things right and hits a lucky streak, by eating forage planted by man. Just ask Brad Gaddis of Oklahoma.

Upland and waterfowl seasons are open but a fraction of the year—so, what do you do with your faithful gundog during the 9 or 10 months when you aren’t hunting? A dog bred to hunt ought to hunt, of course, but he doesn’t necessarily need to fetch birds to be happy. Kyle Wintersteen offers a few suggestions on how you can keep your favorite hunting buddy occupied in the "offseason."

If you haven’t the space, finances nor stamina to keep two hunting dogs—one that points, and one that flushes and retrieves—then get in line for a versatile hunting dog.

Years of experience teaches hundreds of lessons if you keep an open mind. Of course, it is better to learn those lessons from the mistakes of others so here are five to avoid this season.

Nicely done! All your planning came to fruition, and you just shot a deer. If it didn’t drop within sight, though, the high-fiving may be premature. What you do next will determine whether you go home with fresh venison or just a sob story. Never fear, though—Bryce Towsley is offering a few tips to help ensure you recover your prey.