Innholdsfortegnelse for April/May 2025 i Petersen's Hunting

MY DAD, a duck hunter, owned just two rifles: A Ruger 10/22 he kept in his truck for ridding the farm of skunks and other varmints and a Winchester Model 94 in .30-30. To my knowledge, he used that Winchester just once, to kill his first and only deer. Big-game hunting just wasn’t for him. Instead, he took us kids to various duck blinds and goose pits, bought us shotguns and did his best to turn us into wingshooters. After that first hunt, he leaned the Winchester against the corner of his closet where it didn’t see the light of day for another 40 years (except for the few times my brother and I pirated it outside to shoot stumps, bottles and other inanimate objects). When my father passed away,…

Two buddies and I rounded a hilltop, eager to get into glassing position before daylight. The herd of elk we’d seen the night before had moved. Rather than be across the canyon as anticipated, they were 100 yards below us. The air was calm. We waited. When shooting light came, I dropped a cow elk from the back of the herd, 250 yards from where we sat. The rest of the herd casually kept walking. A buddy shot another one. We let the herd feed around a knoll. We caught up with them on the other side and our third tag was filled within 15 minutes. The herd of over 300 head continued moving through the sage and bedded down 500 yards from where the last elk fell. How could…

Winchester’s 6.8 Western was introduced during the worst cartridge famine of this century. Yep. COVID. But the chambering had one gigantic advantage: Unlike all others, fodder for 6.8 Western rifles was readily available on store shelves. That simple fact was enough to get a significant percentage of the hunters in my home area of southeastern Idaho shooting the 6.8 Western. And once they’d hunted with it and seen its awesome combination of downrange authority with mild recoil, they were sold. By now, many of the serious hunting families in my area have at least one 6.8 Western in the household. However, I understand that’s not the case in most areas. Now, more than three years since the 6.8 Western’s introduction, it’s harder to find ammo. And, disappointing to most 6.8…

Were you to say the ’90s was the last great decade, I wouldn’t argue. I was in my teens then, sporting a chili bowl haircut and listening to a curious mix of nü-metal and Garth Brooks CDs. Bill Clinton was perfecting the White House intern program and the stores were full of gun magazines, many of which were thick with articles about handgun hunting. That was the cool thing to do back then, just like long-range shooting is the trend of today. Handgun hunting was so popular that several companies produced specialized bolt-action and break-action pistols chambered for necked rifle cartridges to meet the demand. They were neat guns, but I always thought carrying a 4-pound, .308 pistol with a scope was kind of missing the point, at least as…

AS A GUNWRITER, A LOT OF RIFLES COME THROUGH MY HANDS. YEAH, I KNOW, MOST FOLKS FIGURE THE GUN COMPANIES GIVE THEM TO US. SOUNDS NICE, BUT IT DOESN’T USUALLY WORK THAT WAY. MOST “TEST GUNS” MUST BE RETURNED OR PURCHASED. THE PRICE CAN BE RIGHT, SURE, BUT HOW MANY RIFLES DOES ONE NEED? I know veteran gunwriters who purchase every test gun that comes their way. Without question, they’ve amassed significant collections. I have not. When I was fairly young, I got cleaned out by burglars. Others I know lost their guns (and everything else) to fire or flood. Nobody wants to go through that twice, so I established a couple of simple rules. First Rule: I try to not get attached. There are exceptions, but most of my…

WHEN I PICKED UP BROWNING’S ALL-NEW CITORI 825 FIELD FROM MY FFL, I WASN’T SURE WHAT TO THINK OR HOW TO FEEL. With the black Browning-branded box in my back seat, I drove slowly, musing about the many pheasants, quail, and doves — so many doves — I’d taken over the years with various Citori 725 models. From the Sporting to the Field to the Feather Superlight, Citori 725 over/under shotguns have filled the mouths of my trusty retrievers and my freezer more often than I can count. Browning is a kingpin in the over/under game. The legendary Superposed was John M. Browning’s last shotgun design. The stacked barrel shotgun was stylish and one of the first successful over/under shotguns ever produced. Clay busters and upland hunters favored the gun…

MY GRANDFATHER BUILT HIS OWN HOUSE FROM SCRAP LUMBER SALVAGED FROM DECOMMISSIONED ARMY BARRACKS. MY FATHER WAS A FARMER WHO COULD FIX MOST ANYTHING WITH LITTLE MORE THAN BALING TWINE AND WD-40. ME? Those skills skipped a generation, relegating me to writing hunting stories and gun reviews. So, when Christensen Arms gave me the opportunity to build, and test, a Ridgeline FFT – one of their premier rifles, I thought “What’s the worst that can happen?” Then I thought, “Well, the worst that can happen is having the thing blow up in my face.” Luckily, the gun I assembled from a pile of parts did not suffer any critical failures, but did, in fact, turn out to be one of the more accurate rifles I’ve had the pleasure to test.…

THE WINTER RANGE ELK HERD OF 300+ HEAD WERE CLUMPED TOGETHER IN THE CENTER OF THE FALLOW FIELD IN NORTH CENTRAL MONTANA. THE HERD MOVED AS A SINGLE ENTITY, CONSTANTLY CHANGING SHAPE AND DENSITY LIKE AN AMOEBA UNDER A MICROSCOPE. The five or six legal, shooter bulls were always out of range and shielded by the cows, calves and young bulls. Dominant old cows deftly maneuvered the gaggle out of rifle range. After five days of playing cat and mouse with the herd, my guide and I were more than frustrated. I believe we were bordering on mental collapse. We hoped the established paradigm would shift this last morning of the hunt. With the wind in our favor, we snuck through the swampy cottonwood bottom that bordered the vast fields.…

BUILT USING A REFINED, LIGHTENED “WOMBAT” VERSION OF THE LEGENDARY STILLER ACTION DESIGN, THE VENATIC IS A HUNTING RIFLE THAT COMBINES PRECISION SHOOTABILITY WITH REASONABLY LIGHT WEIGHT. Ergonomics are such that they enhance the shooter’s accuracy by minimizing much of the bad influences commonly imparted by us inconsistent humans. Weight—which in a precision rifle is certainly tied to shootability—is kept relatively light through the use of aggressive skeletonizing of the steel action, deep-cut fluting on the barrel and premium carbon fiber in the hand-laid stock. It’s worth noting that although the 6.5-pound bare weight is light, the Venatic is not so light that it’s twitchy and difficult to shoot well. Along with other popular rounds, the Venatic is chambered in .25 Creedmoor, which is debatably the best of the Creedmoor cartridge…

It’s true that, as we get older, time accelerates. Not all of us are blessed with the longevity to experience this. I have been and can verify. In 2023, this excellent magazine celebrated its 50th anniversary. Seems like last week when I had a flurry of deadlines for that special issue. It does feel like a long time ago when the first issue of Petersen’s HUNTING showed up on the newsstand. Dad noticed it, bought one and gave it to me. I was just turning 21 in the fall of 1973, in my last year at Kansas University. In August of that year Dad and I did our first “big hunt,” a mixed-bag adventure in northern British Columbia, with pioneer outfitter Frank Cook. On the way into camp, we passed…

Every hunter knows that quality optics are critical to the success of any hunt, and this year there are several outstanding new optics for every type of hunt and every price range. This list includes everything from clever bino harness accessories to top-end optics equipped with the latest ranging technology and wireless capabilities. Whether you’re hunting small game and whitetails or chasing elk and sheep in the mountains, there’s a new optic listed here that will help make your hunt a success. BUSHNELL R-SERIES New this year from Bushnell is the release of the R-Series line of optics. Designed specifically with whitetail hunters in mind, the R-Series rangefinders, binoculars and riflescopes all offer excellent optical performance and great value. The new R3 line includes binoculars in 8x42 and 10x42 configurations,…

ON THE PAGES OF THIS PUBLICATION, I’VE OFTEN CHALLENGED READERS TO “GET CLOSER”, FOCUSING ON THE THRILL OF THE STALK RATHER THAN THE CURRENT EMPHASIS ON LONG-RANGE SHOOTING. I try not to be a hypocrite, so when I got the opportunity to hunt pronghorn antelope in Colorado’s wide-open eastern plains with an iron-sighted muzzleloader, I jumped at the chance. Doing so turned out to be a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience that put the “hunt” back in hunting. I’ve been on my share of antelope hunts and have taken multiple goats in four different states. They are among my favorite North American game animals to hunt due to their unique habits, elusive nature and the challenging terrain that they inhabit. That said, I’ve never had an antelope hunt that lasted…

SHOTGUN SNOBS OFTEN TURN THEIR NOSE AT THE MERE MENTION OF TURKISH-MADE SCATTERGUNS, UNJUSTLY LABELING FIREARMS MANUFACTURED THERE AS POORLY CRAFTED PERFORMERS. Admittedly, I have had minor problems with one Turkish-made shotgun in the past, but by and large, the majority of them I have tested and reviewed have delivered reliable performance while boasting reasonable price tags. Spandau Arms Premier Field over/under shotgun was no different as I put it through the paces this fall in pursuit of a variety of upland birds across the West without a glitch. It is worth noting that while Spandau Arms shotguns are manufactured in Turkey, they are imported and distributed by SDS Arms who proudly call Knoxville, Tennessee home. Since their introduction, Spandau Arms has taken great pride in engineering and manufacturing shotguns…

THE RESOUNDING SUCCESS OF SPRINGFIELD ARMORY’S MODEL 2020 WAYPOINT RIFLE CAME AS NO SHOCK, BUILDING UPON THE COMPANIES LASTING REPUTATION OF EXCELLENCE AND RELIABILITY. The Model 2020 custom-grade action, paired with a carbon-fiber stock, TriggerTech trigger and a smorgasbord of other useful features, culminated in a precision instrument capable of delivering pinpoint accuracy both at the range and in the field. Springfield’s newly released Model 2020 Boundary delivers the same level of precision and reliability as its predecessor, while minimizing bulk and shaving weight, ideally situating itself for backcountry adventures. At first glance, the stark similarities between the Waypoint and Boundary are clear. The precision Model 2020 action - featuring dual locking lugs, a fluted bolt and a 90-degree bolt throw – lies at the heart of both rifles. Having shot…

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN RIFLES THAT WORE STUBBY BARRELS, RUNNING FROM 16 TO 20 INCHES, WERE COMMONLY CALLED “CARBINES” AFTER, YOU GUESSED IT, THE OLD FRENCH WORD CARABIN, WHICH IN FACT MEANT SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT. GO FIGURE. Tikka’s new offering, the T3x Drover, fits the description of a carbine in that it has a 19-inch barrel and is short, light, handy and fast to the shoulder. Fitted with a European-style Battue-ramp rear sight illuminated with bring green fiber optic “runway lamps” that direct the eye to the hooded red fiber-optic front sight, its initial intent was for use on running or driven game, but these attributes also make it just about perfect as a rancher’s truck gun or a guide’s backup. It would also be a great choice for…

FOR YEARS, PART OF MY ROUTINE AS A WRITER WAS CATALOGING THE BEST-SELLING FIREARMS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS THERE WAS ONE CLEAR WINNER IN THE HUNTING RIFLE MARKET: THE RUGER AMERICAN. Month after month, year after year, the affordable, astoundingly accurate American led the list in rifle sales. However, the American Rifle was initially launched in 2012 and after a decade it was due for an update. That’s exactly what happened in 2023 when Ruger introduced their revamped American Rifle Generation II. At its heart the new Generation II rifle is very much like the original rifle. Both utilize a push-feed three-lug action with a plunger-type ejector that extends through the recessed bolt face and an extractor that is the outboard lug. The full-diameter…

The Toyota Hilux had just crested the steep hill when we spotted him—a monster of a roan antelope standing in the clear. The PH stopped and let the truck roll backward down the hill, both of us cringing as the brakes squeaked us to a stop at the bottom. We jumped out as quietly as possible and snuck forward hoping that the bull hadn’t spooked. He didn’t and he dropped to a single shot through the shoulder. Roan are big, tough animals and the PH said that he’d never seen one succumb so quickly. At 60 yards, the roan was my closest shot of the trip and my furthest, a cagey zebra mare, was right at 375. Achieving both penetration and expansion at a variety of distances while breaking bones…

In true Leupold Optics fashion, the release of their brand new VX-6HD Gen 2 riflescope builds upon the proven platform and makes one of the very best hunting riflescopes available even better. How? Read on. CONTINUAL INNOVATION The iconic gold ring fixed upon the objective bell of premium Leupold riflescopes has long been an indicator of superior optical performance. In 2012, Leupold launched the VX-6 riflescope which proudly wore the gold ring emblem and represented their flagship series of hunting scopes. With a firm belief in innovation, Leupold built upon the VX-6 foundation with the release of the VX-6HD in 2017. The new scope brought a series of upgrades, most notably of which was the implementation of the CDS-ZL2 turret system, providing shooters extended range as well as a ZeroLock…

Rifles and shotguns are important tools of the hunting trade, but if you’re going to be successful in the field you absolutely must have good ammunition. This year there’s a long list of fantastic new loads for every pursuit, and there’s even a brand-new car- tridge that incorporates cutting-edge technology. Whether you’re looking for shotshells, centerfire rifle ammo or even bear-defense handgun loads, you’ll find what you need in this roundup of the best new ammunition for hunters in 2025. FEDERAL 7MM BACKCOUNTRY Federal Premium’s brand-new 7mm Backcountry cartridge is making quite the splash. Before you roll your eyes at yet another 7mm ammo offering, let me emphasize that this is a totally different hunting cartridge. The 7mm Backcountry pushes a 170-grain bullet at 3,000 feet per second from a…

AFTER A WEEK OF GRINDING SUNUP TO SUNDOWN AND FEW ELK SIGHTINGS TO SHOW FOR IT, I FINALLY GLASSED UP A MATURE 5X6 BULL WALLOWING IN THE MEADOW 650 YARDS BELOW ME. Frantically gathering my gear, I dipped out of sight from the bull and hustled several hundred yards down the ridge to get within shooting distance before daylight faded. Eventually, the ridge dropped away leaving nothing but a steep hillside scattered with shin-high sagebrush between me and the bull. Now exposed, there was no way I was getting any closer. Crawling over the crest of the ridge, my rangefinder read 380 yards. That distance was pushing the envelope of what I considered my effective range, but I knew that with a good rest, the shot was doable. I situated…

I NESTLED UNDER A TALL PINE TO AVOID THE SPITTING SNOW. EVERY MUSCLE IN MY ARMS FIRED TRYING TO KEEP THE RED DOT AIMED AT THE SPOT THE TURKEY WOULD SURELY POP OUT. Sam’s calls from over my shoulder were immediately answered by a thundering gobble. The big bird moved in the creek bottom, erupting again as he tried to find a path through the thick willows. My mind was in overdrive, taking in every single detail of the soggy flat and the massive Idaho hillside jutting up in front of us. Frozen pellets of graupel pinged off the barrel and red-dot sight, my eyes straying to the junctures of the shotgun’s rib and barrel where the Mossy Oak Bottomland camo was perfectly rippled in a miniature yet familiar pattern.…

EXPERIENCE, PAIRED WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY, LENDS A STRONG HAND TO THE SAVVY HUNTER. YET, ADVERSITY STILL REGULARLY WEAVES ITS GRIP INTO OUR ADVENTURES VIA VARIABLES OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL. Adversity leaves the discerning hunter but two options: gripe about the misfortune and wallow in sorrow or roll with the punches and grind through the suffering. The pursuit of a monarch-worthy Barbary sheep, in the remote and rugged expanses of the Glass Mountain range in extreme West Texas, provided a welcomed reminder of this reality. Fortunately, good people, a positive attitude and a shared drive and desire to find success concocted an ideal remedy. Though native to the Barbary Coast of North Africa, free ranging herds of Barbary sheep (also referred to as aoudad) not only survive but thrive in numerous…

THE MOSSBERG NAME IS SYNONYMOUS WITH FIREARMS THAT ARE BOTH AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE – TWO DESCRIPTORS THAT DON’T NECESSARILY GO HAND IN HAND. Their Patriot line proves you don’t have to spend a fortune for a hunting rifle. In fact, you can buy a Patriot for less than you’d pay for most polymer framed pistols. The bolt-action Patriot is available in seven chamberings. Each is suppressor and optics ready, with a user-adjustable trigger and oversized bolt handle. Most are available with either a 22-inch or a 24-inch barrel. While these barrel lengths are common for hunting rifles, the popularity of suppressors has many hunters seeking shorter-barreled options. If you’re one of them, Mossberg’s new Patriot Carbine may be just what you’ve been looking for. The line is available with 16…

I HAVE BEEN INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH BERGARA’S PREMIER SERIES RIFLES FOR THE BETTER PART OF A DECADE. IN FACT, TWO OF MY PERSONAL RIFLES ARE THE QUINTESSENTIAL ANTITHESIS TO THE “SAFE QUEEN” LABELING AND HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR MORE DOWNED ANIMALS THAN ANY OTHERS I OWN. This new breed of rifle from Bergara, however, would be a new undertaking for me. Half science project, half surgical exploration of sorts, pitting my set-in-my-ways ergonomic preferences against a growing market’s desire for portable, chassis-style hunting rifles. Since my metaphoric laboratory is the mountains, and down puffies are my lab coats, this rifle’s clinical trial took place at the range and in the field, yielding eye-opening results. I’m no Doogie Howser, but I paid attention in my high school science class and realized that…