Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2025 i Game & Fish

Is it just me, or does time seem to compress the older we get? Maybe it’s just a product of our modern lives, in which everyone (or at least everyone I know) seems to be going 100 miles per hour all the time. Or maybe there’s a biological explanation—something to do with a change in our brain’s chemistry as we age that affects our perception of the passage of time. Whatever it is, I can’t help but feel that the duration of the past 12 months was somehow shorter than that the previous 12 months and the 12 before that. At any rate, my goal between now and the end of the year is to try and slow things down as much as I am able. I’m going to make…

Late-season bowhunting is an entirely different game compared to early-season archery forays. The deer are jumpy after weeks of bullets zinging around them, cover is greatly reduced and the air is bitter. Everything is a touch more difficult for deer and bowhunters alike in the depths of winter. Most hunters reconsider their apparel choices and stand setups when the mercury drops. But few think about one of the most overlooked adjustments you can make for success when the snow flies: changing your bow setup for cold weather. The late season isn’t just about endurance, it’s about adaptation. And that starts with your gear. THE GRIP AND GLOVES The first thing to address is your grip. I wear thin, brown jersey gloves throughout most of October and November. When December and…

With December comes winter. For some, this means the end of another year outdoors. For others, winter offers spectacular fishing, hunting and trapping, especially if you like solitude. As snow piles up along fences, lakes ice up and flocks of geese push south, hunters and anglers can enjoy a season worth celebrating. Hunters can tag a few more deer, chase winter rabbits or spend another morning in a blind waiting for birds. Anglers hit the ice or enjoy open waters devoid of crowds. Trout folks wait for warm afternoons when ice won’t freeze rod guides and little bugs hatch. Across the region, options abound for those willing to embrace the cold. Whether it’s pulling crappies through the ice, slipping through cover for rabbits or watching your breath rise on a…

Black ducks are an enigma to many, but they’re another solid late-season target, often suddenly showing up when there’s snow on the ground and inland lakes are freezing. Where they’ve been the rest of the year is anyone’s guess. Black ducks will mix in with red-legged mallards working harvested cornfields, or you’ll find them frequenting streams and rivers, secluded beaver ponds or spring-fed sloughs that are the last vestiges of open water, and you’ll rarely see more than a handful of birds. The Atlantic Flyway is thought of as a mecca for black ducks, but the Mississippi Flyway also produces plenty of black ducks. Last year, waterfowlers in the Mississippi Flyway harvested an estimated 37,941 black ducks. Ohio and Michigan typically lead the harvest in the flyway, though some other…

Huron has a thriving retail, food and lodging scene, with everything you forgot to pack available in town. The state fairgrounds offer late-season camping, and most hotels welcome hunters and their dogs. Popular eateries include Ryan’s Hangar Restaurant and Prime Time Tavern, but there are also Mexican, Thai and pizza joints. There’s no shortage of hunting lodges, outfitters and pay-to-access operations in the area. All are listed on the Huron Chamber and Visitors Bureau website (huronsd.com). Don’t fret because their address is in another town, everything is pretty close to Huron. And while commercial flights are served by Sioux Falls, private aviation can fly you directly to Huron. If you’re interested in a little friendly competition and fellowship, Huron’s Ringneck Festival and Bird Dog Challenge takes place in early November.…

It was mid-November when Shane handed his Christmas wish list to his mother. It was ambitious, but in line with the wishes of a 16-year-old boy. Right at the top was a Remington Model 700 BDL in .308 with a 3–9x40mm scope. A few days later, when word spread to Shane’s father, he breached the topic with his only son. “Shane, I saw your Christmas list.” Shane ceased eating his breakfast and looked up at full attention. “That’s a great rifle, and you know I’d love to get you one,” started Shane’s dad. “But with the new roof and your mother’s car blowing the transmission this year, I’m afraid we just can’t swing it right now. I’m sorry, son, but don’t worry. We’ll still have a great Christmas, just like…

PRIME TIME FOR PREDATORS See the TRENDING section for the hottest articles about hunting coyotes, foxes, bobcats and more. LATE-SEASON TACTICS If your rut hunts didn’t come to fruition, or you just haven’t had a chance to get out, fear not. Big bucks are still roaming the landscape, and our LEARN section has the intel you need to tag one. LAST-MINUTE GIFT IDEAS Not sure what to get a hunter or angler on your shopping list? Not sure what hunting- or fishing-related gifts to ask for this year? Get some ideas from our Holiday Gift Guide in the GEAR section. PREP FOR FISHING SEASON With hunting seasons winding down, outdoorsmen are starting to think about that first trip back to the water. Check out the latest tips, trends, tackle and…

Every New Year’s Day, just before we tuck into bowls of traditional Hoppin’ John, a humble stew of black-eyed peas and smoked ham hock, my family passes around scraps of paper. We don’t say a word. Each member knows the routine—we write down two or three resolutions for the coming year, and after breakfast we take turns announcing our intentions. Then, my wife collects the paper scraps and puts them in a small heirloom crock we keep on the kitchen counter. They’re handy to refer to in, say, February and March, to see how we’re tracking. But they’re even more interesting as archived documents, to see how our interests and purpose have changed over the years as our priorities have shifted. “Mind my own business,” my teenage daughter resolved in…

When winter sets in and the first skim ice appears on local lakes, many anglers assume the season is over until the ice becomes safe for walking. But the truth is that some of the hottest fishing of the year happens precisely when you least expect it—in cold, open water. Instead of hanging up your rods, consider shifting gears. Target areas where water stays open longer: tailwaters below dams, warmwater discharges near power plants, and slow, deep river backwaters. These places hold fish. The month of December is a secret season for those willing to dress warm and stay mobile. Here are three cold-weather fisheries that will surprise you and may become your favorite winter fishing spots. TAILRACE TARGETS Tailwaters below dams are winter goldmines. The constant current prevents ice…

With big game seasons mostly in the rearview mirror, many hunters from coast to coast will shift their attention to waterfowl this month. Some will take to the marsh or the flooded timber in search of ducks. Others will gravitate to harvested crop fields, where they’ll hope to ambush geese keen to feed on waste grain. As many of us have spent the past couple months sitting alone 20 feet up a tree, the camaraderie of a waterfowl hunt serves as a means to transition to more communal pursuits. The tradition of gathering friends and family for a chilly morning in the blind is another way to celebrate the festive season—and maybe bring home a bird for the Christmas table. When dawn comes and the sky turns that winter pink,…

What has two legs but can’t run, offers support in a time of need, can be ready at a moment’s notice, and asks for nothing in return? A bipod, of course. What did you think I was talking about? In certain situations, when it comes to supporting your rifle for a critical shot, there is nothing better than a bipod. Sure, you can shoot off a pack, bag or a tripod, but for getting into position, getting stable and getting the shot off, nothing else offers the same combination of quick deployment and support. There will be times when the terrain or vegetation doesn’t allow for shooting prone, or there isn’t something on which to set-up. But when you can, shooting prone from a bipod should always be your first…

With the introduction of the .300 Blackout cartridge in 2010, hunters became more interested in shooting subsonic ammunition and hunting with suppressors. This might seem odd because since the introduction of the .30-30 Winchester cartridge in 1895, hunters have been gravitating toward ammunition that pushes bullets faster rather than slower. In other words, the trend with hunting cartridges and ammunition has always been for more as opposed to less speed. However, subsonic ammunition makes a lot less noise—especially when shooting suppressed—and it recoils more softly, too. Both make rifles more fun and easier to shoot. But is subsonic ammunition a good fit for hunting, and what cartridges and loads are best? SUB SCIENCE First, let’s define exactly what subsonic ammunition really is. Subsonic ammo leaves the muzzle of a firearm…

Winter affects the entire swath of whitetail country, and when it hits with a hammer it can cause you to rethink your hunting strategy and your sanity for continuing the hunt. Foul winter weather may not last long in the southern half of the nation, but it does occur, especially with ice. In northern whitetail country, where I hail from, you can expect a battle with frigid Mother Nature just about every year. I’ve fought the good fight through almost every imaginable winter weather scenario. Some I have lost, but I have many in the win column due to persistence, planning and spontaneous adaptation to constantly changing conditions. GIMME SHELTER The Dilemma While traveling to Iowa one season, the weather forecast transitioned from threats of a major winter storm to…

The late season poses many challenges for deer hunters that aren’t necessarily present in the early season or during the rut. There’s the cold, the wind, pressured deer, a lack of cover, and the list goes on. However, with the right clothing, proper scouting and solid preparation, there’s no need to hang up the bow just yet, especially if you still have a buck tag to fill. While the late season can yield some of the toughest hunts of the year, it can also produce some of the best. HUNT THE FOOD Food is everything this time of year. Deer are slaves to their stomachs and must eat heavily to survive. So, hunters should capitalize on feed-to-bed and bed-to-feed patterns. The key to this is scouting. If you have food…

Christensen Arms built their legacy with the carbon fiber-wrapped barrel. In fact, they were the first company to offer one. However, Christensen’s newest rifle, the Evoke, does not have a carbon fiber-wrapped barrel, and it is the least expensive centerfire rifle in the gun maker’s catalog. While the Evoke was introduced in 2024, the rifle wasn’t available until early 2025. The Evoke is now shipping, though, and Christensen is offering it in four different versions. Here’s a look at all this rifle has to offer and how it performed during our testing. RIFLE DETAILS The Evoke uses a new proprietary action that’s built around a radially fluted, two-lug bolt with a 90-degree throw. This is a push-feed-style action, and the bolt is outfitted with the common plunger-style ejector, but it…

How a shotgun fits a shooter and how it feels in the hands are almost as important as how well it shoots. OK, that sentence may be a bit flippant. A shotgun’s ability to produce a desired pattern downrange, with point of impact relatively near point of aim, is also very important. However, the interface between shooter and scattergun—how naturally it feels in the hands, rests against your cheek and points and swings—absolutely matters. And it can be a big factor in why we shoot one shotgun well and another poorly. This is no surprise to the folks at Franchi. Indeed, “Feels Right” is a prominent slogan for the Italian gunmaker and shows up in ads, social media posts and other marketing efforts, particularly those geared toward European customers. Of…