“pack out”

Our man chases elusive mule deer through the wild weather and perilous wildlife of Wyoming’s high country.

Be it a bucket list hunt in a land of giants, an anniversary escape with a loved one, a quick scouting trip turned big-buck showdown or the culmination of a trophy slam, American Hunter readers searched for and found opportunity near and far this past year.

Any big-game hunt should incorporate a comprehensive plan to extract the meat in any weather or terrain. Sometimes that’s easier said than done, especially when it’s extremely hot or a bull dies in a precarious position. Here’s how to keep the bounty of the hunt clean, dry and cold.

You can shoot a can off a post at 400 yards, you hike 5 miles like it’s a trip to the corner store, but if your conviction calls it quits, you’re done for.

When you eat what you kill, it’s your job to ensure your prime cuts stay in prime condition between the field and the fork.

The big island is home to an abundance of game including Sitka blacktail, ducks, and fox … and of course, very large brown bears. If you’re looking for adventure, Kodiak is calling. Just be warned: getting there may be the easiest part.

This latest Member's Hunt comes from Kristine Humphreys of Castro Valley, Calif.

Tactics that work for whitetails back East may not cut it for deer of the plains and mountains across the West.

This latest Member’s Hunt comes from Ruben Conde Jr. of Wellton, Arizona.