“spot and stalk”

If you are heading out on your first-ever black bear hunt this spring, you may be a bit confused as to what gear you really need to be comfortable and successful. Besides the obvious, here’s what you have to throw into your duffel.

Most of us who think we are serious shooters have a dirty little secret: We do not shoot enough. We talk about it and make a lot of grandiose plans but maybe spend a few hours on the bench all summer. We need a better reason to get out there and shoot, something that will get us off that bench and away from the air conditioning. Deer hunters, I present to you the lowly groundhog.

Browning Hell's Canyon Speed line consists a dozen garments including outerwear, and all are available in A-Tacs camo. For all but late-season western deer and elk hunting, it can’t be beaten.

There are tougher big game animals out there. But bears are bears, and a poorly-hit bear that escapes into thick cover and must be tracked can be bad news.

Spring is here, but that doesn’t mean we need to put our boots in the attic and forget the combination to the gun safe—there are plenty of hunting opportunities that come along with the changing seasons. Let’s take a look at five spring hunts that meet a variety of budgets.

The frosty white-tipped tom of the West lures many turkey hunters from other regions. But the bird that roams the Rockies can’t necessarily be hunted the same ways as birds in Eastern forests.

Here’s a detailed look at the top black bear cartridges for rifles and handguns.

In hunting there are the rifles you choose to make sure you take an animal humanely; and then, there are the rifles you choose to make sure the animal doesn’t take you. A choice for a black bear rifle lends itself to the latter.

Contributor Philip Massaro shares some of his favorite rifles and loads for different bear hunting scenarios.