Game & Fish June/July 2025

Some of my fondest childhood fishing memories involved floating the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania with my grandpa and brother in an aluminum jon boat. Float trips were a big deal, a highly anticipated adventure, each summer—mainly because they meant we’d be fishing for most of the day rather than just a few hours. For my brother and me, a float down the Susquehanna brought aspirations of catching smallmouth bass (and maybe even a muskie!) in what we considered nearly uncharted waters. Grandpa made sure the trips almost always included a section of river his grandsons had yet to fish in their young lives, and the unknown fostered a giddiness for days before any float. Like most trips I’ve embarked on, even as an adult, one of the best parts…

THE GREAT DIVIDE OVER NEW DEER CARTRIDGES Are the new and latest deer loads any better than the tried-and-true ammo from the past? From the standbys of .308 and .30-06 to the 6.5 PRC and 6 mm Creedmoor loads, here’s a look into how these cartridges stand up to each other. Check out our “Gear” section for more. SUMMER CAMPING GUIDE From helpful how-tos on campsite tasks and family-favorite outdoor recipes to the best gear and destinations, our Summer Camping Guide sets you up for success in the great outdoors. YIPPEE KI-YAY While e-callers are great at getting the attention of coyotes, underused and underappreciated howler calls are incredibly effective in calling dogs in from a long way off. See our “Hunting” section for more. LONG-RANGE MATH Take a deep…

As a hunter, I’ve killed a lot of bears, but I’ve never had to shoot one that was trying to chew on me. I’ve also done a lot of hunting with handguns and have conducted a lot of terminal ballistics evaluations. However, few things are as valuable as first-hand experience, and Tim Sundles, who owns Buffalo Bore Ammunition, has had a lot of firsthand and up-close experiences with bears and handguns. Anyone curious about protecting themselves from bears with handguns would be wise to hear his thoughts on the subject. Before I share Sundles’ advice, though, I want to tell you about Ian McMurchy, who had more experiences with bears—black bears, brown bears, little bears and big bears—than anyone I’ve known. Ian retired from the Saskatchewan Department of Wildlife in…

Just as sure as beads of sweat will roll down your forehead and sting your eyes, the heat of summer will spark terrific inshore fishing in many areas. Down South, for instance, popular targets like redfish, speckled trout and snook are characteristically active as water temperatures climb, feeding aggressively in preparation for their summer or fall spawning. In the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, striped bass and bluefish embark on epic feeding frenzies as they gorge on schooling baitfish. Whether you’re chasing limits of eating-size fish or a trophy for a viral photo-op, this is truly the time to tap into the inshore action. When faced with such apparent bounty, however, many anglers encounter a significant speed bump that can derail any outing before it begins. It’s precisely the number of choices…

If you want your boat to deliver more tomorrow than it does today, it’s time to enter the spin zone, because getting your propeller dialed in is the number one way to attain the performance you’re looking for. And if you haven’t tried swapping props in the past, chances are the one you’ve been using is no longer in optimal condition and is robbing you of fishing time and money at the gas pump. IMPORTANCE OF PROP SELECTION Why don’t all boats come with the perfect prop in the first place? Because the ideal choice depends on a number of variables, including the hull’s design and dimensions, the weight of the boat and its load, and the performance aspects on which you place a premium. Top speed, fuel efficiency, hole-shot…

When you have no idea what prop is most appropriate, using an online “prop finder” can be a great place to start. Many are available from outboard manufacturers and propeller shops. Mercury Marine (mercurymarine.com), Yamaha Marine (yamahaoutboards.com), Solas (solas.com) and West Marine (westmarine.com) are among the best. They help narrow your prop search by letting you choose from the provide options in boat type and size, engine make and model, and additional variables to select a propeller that should fit the basic parameters and at least come close to meeting your desired performance requirements.…