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I am the oldest of three sons, along with brothers Gary and Richard. Being the oldest, I was the first that dad taught how to handle and shoot a gun. A few years later, Gary and Richard also received the same training. We were taught on a Savage Arms Corp. Stevens Model 15 single-shot bolt-action that chambered the .22 Short, .22 Long and .22 Long Rifle cartridges. It was manufactured as an inexpensive rifle with an initial cost of less than $4. We lived in Sacramento, Calif., and about 30 miles north, in Loomis, was our grandparents’ ranch, which we…

Late last month, I pulled up to a field site at first light to start a long day of turkey habitat surveys. My work as a wildlife research technician takes me to both public and private land, but this site happened to be on one of my favorite wildlife areas: a lakeside section with forested draws and fields of native tallgrass.I slowed my truck to a crawl so I could scan the fields for a reddish-brown back or a tail flicking. I usually spot a doe or two out feeding when I get there early–but that time, I saw tines.…

When Southwick Associates and DJ Case & Associates conducted a survey for Outdoor Stewards of Conservation (OSC) in 2024, it focused primarily on shooting participation by underrepresented groups. The results, released earlier this year, included the fact that 73 million people who identify in three minority groups are interested in giving target shooting a try for the first time in their lives.  The survey also dives into photos that are most effective at attracting newcomers to the sport. The results are something to keep in mind when sharing any you’ve taken, whether in person or on social media. It may…

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Like most whitetail hunters, I learned to hunt with company. For me, it was my dad, his brothers, and a few of their buddies. Swapping stories around a campfire, ribbing each other about misses, backslapping over notched tags, and arguing about where the deer are moving have always been part of deer-hunting culture, but if you always have someone in the next stand over, you’re missing out on a different side of the game.Hunting alone changes the way you move and make decisions. There’s no one to bounce ideas off. You have to look harder for sign. And when you…

Having a thermal-imagining monocular at hand can solve a lot of problems. They are excellent at spotting and tracking game, as well as detecting other hunters in the field. Their typical cost, however, makes it hard for many to commit to a purchase, particularly if it will only see limited use. And lugging a heavy optic makes little sense if you may only need it for a few minutes of the hunt. For these reasons, Pulsar created the Axion 2 XQ35 Pro, a lightweight, relatively low-cost thermal device that makes an excellent companion for any outdoor endeavor. Thermal-imaging technology utilizes…

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00:00:01 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Wired to Hunt Foundations podcast, your guide to the fundamentals of better deer hunting, presented by first Light, creating proven versatile hunting apparel for the stand, saddle or blind. First Light, Go Farther, Stay Longer, and now your host Tony Peterson. 00:00:20 Speaker 2: Hey everyone, welcome to the Wired to Hunt Foundation’s podcast, brought to you by first Light. 00:00:24 Speaker 3: I’m your host, Tony Peterson. 00:00:26 Speaker 2: Today’s episode is all the books, kind of just like staying in our lane when it comes to deer hunting, so that we…

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