Indholdsfortegnelse for December/January 2024-25 i Game & Fish

I love to hear stories of hunters taking big late-season bucks. They provide inspiration while I do my own late-season hunting, which is typically less than productive in terms of tags filled. That doesn’t mean it’s not fun; the post-Christmas deer season in my home state of Pennsylvania is one of my favorite times to chase whitetails. Thing is, those same whitetails have been chased by other hunters almost nonstop for two and a half months by the time the late season rolls around, and the odds of getting the drop on any deer—let alone a good buck—are perhaps the lowest of the season. It can happen, however, and I’ve had a couple chances over the years to take nice deer in early January that almost resulted in success. Maybe…

I would love to write a piece about just how good late-season hunting can be, particularly when you get the type of weather patterns that drive bucks to feed well before sunset and fill ag fields to the brim with whitetails. When that takes place, the waning days of the season can certainly be some of the very best of the year. But, alas, I can’t do it. Why? Because I simply don’t have a whole lot of experience with that situation to relay. In fact, quite the opposite has shown to be true. Where I live and hunt, the late stages of deer season can be mighty tough indeed. This is, of course, due to significant and steady hunting pressure that’s been in place and building since early October.…

Waterfowl always migrate south in the fall and winter, right? Well, not necessarily. During milder winters, some ducks and geese simply elect to stay farther north. Instead of migrating, they’ll tough out a few months of snow and ice to remain closer to their breeding grounds. To survive in this scenario, waterfowl require two things: food and water. Luckily for them—and for those of us who enjoy hunting them—both can often be found in the same place. FIND THE “X” Many rivers, assuming sufficient flow, stay open or at least partially open through all but the most severe cold, offering waterfowl prime loafing areas. These same rivers also provide water for ranchers and farmers growing crops in adjacent fields, resulting in prolific yields of grains like barley, corn, oats and…

We blasted away from the marina and roared through Costa Rica’s Golfo Dulce toward our offshore target about 15 miles into the Pacific. Tame seas met us near Matapalo Rock just off Osa Peninsula’s point. Nevertheless, the crew and I held on tightly to any nearby flybridge support structure, grab rail or seat arm as Capt. Manuel Rodriguez opened up the four screaming outboards powering the boat. We were after big Pacific sailfish. It took us about 20 minutes aboard the 39-foot Front Runner to reach the captain’s favored fishing grounds. The crew quickly set out an enticing spread of ballyhoo rigs, giant lures and squid teasers in the cobalt waters behind the craft. Within 15 minutes, we had a sailfish knock down one long-rigger bait before deciding to swim…

When we factor in the cost of going thermal, some of us go ahead and add in the price of a new rifle, too. Although it doesn’t take a lot of effort to remove and remount a couple optics when switching from a traditional riflescope to a thermal unit and back again, most of us would rather leave them alone so that we don’t have to zero them again. An efficient alternative comes in the form of the Burris Thermal Clip-on, or BTC, which clips onto the existing optic’s objective bell and can be removed in seconds without substantially altering point of impact. The BTC35 is now in its third generation and boasts more features than ever before. When it’s off the rifle, a rubber eye cup is included to use…

BIG RACKS, 2024 Take a look at these great trophy whitetails tagged during 2024 hunting seasons all across the country. Read “Tagged Out: Big Bucks from 2024” for highlights. TALKIN’ TURKEY Whitetail fever settles down with the end of the holidays, but turkey talk will begin soon. Here’s a conversation-starter: “Top 20 U.S. Counties for Turkey Hunting.” ALL ABOUT THE BASS A New Year’s resolution for many bass anglers is to catch more and bigger fish next season. Winter-binge on bass know-how with “Crash Course” videos, part of our “Special Collections” section. SLAB-TASTIC CONTENT More than a half-million users searched for and found crappie content on gafmag.com in 2024. See what else was trending in “Top 10 Game & Fish Stories, 2024.” TICK TOCK ON HOLIDAY GIFTING Don’t wait until…

Unless you have access to private aircraft, there is no fast and easy way to get to Cibolo Creek Ranch outside of Marfa, Texas. If you don’t live within driving distance of this isolated corner of the Lone Star State, your best bet is to fly to El Paso, rent a vehicle, drive east on I-10 to Van Horn, head south on Highway 90 to Marfa, then pick up Highway 67 south to the entrance to the ranch. All told, the drive from the airport will take about 4 hours. If you arrive at the turnoff to the ranch after dark, it is advisable to turn on your high beams for the 4 1/2-mile drive to the 1800s-era fort that has been transformed into a magnificent hunting lodge. This is…

The Christmas season isn’t the only one happening this winter, as hunting and fishing seasons are still going strong through the New Year. Deer hunters are making the most of late opportunities, duck hunters are rounding out their season, and upland bird hunters are still chasing pheasants behind bird dogs. In open water, river smallmouths are stacked up in deep holes, while crappies and other pan-fish hold tight to sunken brush. Meanwhile, out on the ice, things are just getting going. The start of a New Year may be upon us, but if you look hard enough, hunting and fishing seasons never truly end. 1 LAKE MICHIGAN DUCKS Open-water duck hunting along the Wolverine State’s portion of Lake Michigan offers a sea duck-like experience in the heart of the Midwest.…

Of all the sportfish pursued through the ice, few are as nomadic as the beloved yellow perch. Perch schools are always moving, and while modern ice anglers know the value of mobility, few practice it to the extent necessary. To keep on roaming schools, ice anglers must fully embrace a mobile mentality, never staying too long in one spot. Adopt this mindset and plan accordingly, and you will almost certainly catch more and bigger perch. LEARN THE PROGRAM When safe ice covers Midwestern lakes and reservoirs, masses of perch anglers descend. While some may fish a few favorite spots in the course of a day, many post up on structure, setting up a shelter or cutting a few holes. They break out tackle boxes, rod cases and heaters. A few…

Boom! The gaudy rooster cartwheeled down, sinking a few inches into a snowdrift. My wirehair brought back some of that snow in his beard along with the ringneck, and I breathed deeply, savoring the winter day. Temperatures, while cold, were a bit warmer than in the more northern parts of the region, and while there was some snow on the ground, there was less than could be found in those areas. I had good odds of finding another pheasant. Or a bobwhite. Or possibly even a sharptail. That’s winter hunting in Nebraska for you. While it may not hold the same ringneck numbers as some of the surrounding states, Nebraska does offer solid variety and—in many cases—better weather and fewer late-season hunters. Winter hunting can be a crapshoot anywhere any…

Whitetail hunters appreciate good optics that are reliable, durable and offer clear views from dawn to dusk. Many also have limited budgets that preclude them from making a significant investment to acquire such capabilities. Rather, they tend to look for quality options that meet both their hunting needs and their financial requirements. Bushnell’s new R-Series optics perfectly fit this niche. The series currently consists of the R3 and R5 product lines, which include binoculars, riflescopes and laser rangefinders. All are purposefully designed to meet the demands of whitetail hunters while also remaining highly affordable. The R3 line is intended to offer the performance and features that whitetail aficionados need, while the R5 line is a step up, providing enhanced optical performance, upgraded materials, and advanced features and capabilities. For starters,…

Manufacturers build rifles by combining three primary components: the action, the barrel and the stock. These pieces must work together for the rifle to function and deliver accurate fire. They should also provide a comfortable and effective shooter interface. The chassis rifle is a modern take on combining these parts, and instead of a one-piece stock, most chassis rifles have a two- or three-piece configuration. The chassis holds the action and provides the solid base for the attachment of the fore-end and buttstock. A STURDY FOUNDATION Having a separate part of the stock hold the action allows manufacturers to use a very strong material—usually aluminum or magnesium—in its construction. This robust chassis will support the action and not allow it to shift between shots. Sometimes, the metal chassis is also…

Before my eye caught the brownish mass drifting irregularly through the thick tree line 200 yards away, I’d been seriously considering filling my doe tag. It was the first afternoon of Illinois’ second firearm season, and from my stand tucked inside a small woodlot, I could see five of them milling around in a harvested cornfield to my right. Earlier that morning, I’d stumbled my way through leftover snow to hunt a stand down in a timbered bottom, but I’d come up empty, seeing only one doe. That first sit’s minimal activity and the anticipation of bringing home meat had me contemplating shooting a doe. The large, russet-colored apparition in the trees changed that in an instant. With the does now forgotten, I watched what appeared to be a big-bodied…

Tucked away in a remote corner of West Texas, Cibolo Creek Ranch (cibolocreekranch.com) effortlessly marries modern luxury and 19th-century history. The ranch’s buildings were originally erected as forts that served as the headquarters of ranch settler Milton Faver’s cattle operation, as well as strongholds against local bandits and Native American raiders. Much of the history of the place has been preserved, and museums on the premises are dedicated to artifacts and works of art from the region. Comfortable, well-appointed guest rooms offer respite after a long day of hunting, and the flavorful southwestern and Mexican food, prepared on-site by chef Metzli Rodriguez and her team, is exceptional. In addition to Carmen Mountain whitetails, Cibolo Creek is home to mule deer, elk, aoudad and numerous exotic species, including axis deer, blackbuck,…

There are several different ways to trap raccoons, but one of the easiest and most effective is using dog-proof traps. Suitable for both beginner and advanced trappers, these simple traps, when placed in the right spots, work very well. If raccoons have become a problem on your property and you need to manage the population, familiarize yourself with dog-proofs and get to work. SET THE TRAP Dog-proofs are basic devices featuring a cylinder-type trap with a trigger inside. The cylinder is attached to a stake and chain. Once the trap is staked—either at an angle or up and down—or secured to a tree, place your bait within the cylinder and beneath the internal trigger. To set the trigger, squeeze the spring on the trap’s side and set the latch. That’s…

With more than half my hunting life in the rearview mirror, I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest fan of late-season muzzleloader hunts for whitetails. The hunt excites, but the conditions often dampen the spirit. Snow, ice, freezing rain and frigid temperatures plague many hunts. Still, with a solid plan focused on whitetail weaknesses at this time of year, and a willingness to endure a little discomfort, success is entirely possible. Three key elements stand out in the late season: feed, bedding cover and a fading rut. Learn these elements and adapt them to your specific hunting area, and you can make a respectable last-ditch effort to add a trophy to your wall and meat to your freezer. LAST FIELD STANDING Across the Midwest, whitetails require immediate re-energization after the…

With any late-season bird hunt, there are always some extra things to consider. First off, focus on safety—both yours and your dog’s. Be mindful of hypothermia symptoms in canines, put a vest on your dog and check paws frequently for ice cuts. Roads can often be treacherous, with drifting snow and muddy conditions if the sun comes out, so take extra care when driving. And, when in the field, wear clothes, socks and footwear that adequately protect you from the cold. When planning a hunt, obtain all possible information online or via hard copy and consult the state’s Upland Game Bird Hunting Outlook for advice on areas of the state with the best hunting opportunities for your desired species. You’ll need a hunting license and a habitat stamp (a two-day…

TShane was 16 when he began to discover he had other interests than just hunting and fishing. One Friday evening his father caught up with him before Shane left to watch the high-school basketball game. Shane wasn’t going so much for the game as for a certain young lady whom he knew would be there. “If you plan to go duck hunting in the morning,” his father said, “you need to be back at a decent hour. I need help loading the boat in the morning, and I don’t want you to be dog-tired and worthless.” “Dad,” said Shane, with embarrassment in his voice, “would you be upset if I sat this one out? You know I really want to go, but Charlie and I are supposed to meet up…