Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2025 i Petersen's Hunting

A BIGHORN sheep graced the cover of the first issue of Petersen’s HUNTING, which hit the newsstands back in 1973, but one only has to read the rest of the cover to see the stories inside covered all the bases of our favorite pastime. Readers of those early issues were likely to find a story about rabbit hunting or waterfowling right next to a tale of adventures in Africa or a pack trip into the wilderness for elk or moose. As the title of the magazine suggested, we were dedicated to all things hunting. Over the years, that focus has evolved as HUNTING covered more big-game pursuits, casting a wide net over that side of our tradition. I doubt there’s a big-game species we haven’t covered in the last five…

HOWL FOR WILDLIFE’S mission is bigger than any single species or hunting method. At its heart, the organization is a community-driven platform working proactively to protect all forms of hunting and ensure they remain a cornerstone of science-based wildlife management. Here’s what sets them apart: Some organizations focus on a single species or style of hunting—waterfowl, big game, trapping, predator hunting and so on. HOWL for Wildlife recognizes each puzzle piece contributes to the broader landscape of conservation. Rather than segment efforts, they unite hunters from every discipline to speak with one voice. Rapid Response and Action They specialize in quick mobilization—providing tools, alerts, and streamlined action steps that enable hunters to respond effectively and efficiently. Whether it’s a harmful legislative proposal or a ballot initiative, HOWL helps hunters stay…

CCI Target MiniMag .22 Ammo There is no better way to achieve maximum accuracy than with a lot of practice, and there’s no better way to practice a lot than with a .22. The CCI Target MiniMag is my go-to choice when shooting both rimfire rifles and handguns on the range in the off-season, hunting small game in the fall and controlling varmints all year long. The 40-grain copper roundnose bullets are accurate out of most rimfires and hit hard on rabbits and squirrels. Plus, the 100-round bricks are affordable, giving me one less excuse for not spending the summer practicing and, hopefully, ensuring my shot is true with my deer rifle this season.…

I’ve reached a point where I cringe every time I read about a new cartridge. Most of them are under the selling point of being “more efficient.” I fail to believe the hunters/shooters foaming at the mouth over these new cartridges make up the majority of the American hunters. Yet, that appears to be the trend the arms and ammunition companies are following. I have no experience with these new rounds, but I have noticed that they appear to be very efficient in depleting your wallet when buying ammunition, providing you can find any. Lord forgive me, but I used a 170-grain Remington Core-Lokt from a box that has been on the shelf for about 20 years. It wasn’t a 600-yard shot. The stock isn’t made of plastic. It doesn’t…

After four excruciating hours of baking in the hot August sun, the velvet-clad mule deer stood from his bed, unaware of my presence tucked behind a sage brush 43 yards above him. The countless hours of summer prep came down to this singular moment. I was confident in my shooting abilities at that distance, and I knew the broadhead fastened on the end of my arrow was lethal. With a deep exhale I settled my pin and sent an arrow down range, zipping through the buck and burying into the dirt behind. At the shot, the buck jumped into the bottom of the grassy draw, stopped, and intently looked back trying to figure out what had startled him, eyes and ears on full alert. Within seconds, his legs wobbled and…

Sometimes animals that are hit perfectly through the lungs can still scramble into cover and out of sight. Whitetails and hogs in particular are notorious for bailing off into hellish thickets. Sometimes hunters make the search more difficult than it needs to be. I’ve been guilty myself of doing too much walking in the direction of where I thought a critter should’ve gone instead of slowing down and finding blood first. But blood trails don’t lie, and locating them is the single-most important step in recovering your animal. Almost every wounded animal leaves some blood sign behind, but it’s not always easy to see. When your heart’s pounding and light’s fading, it’s possible to overlook even a profuse trail. But if you force yourself to follow this checklist after pulling…

IT WOULD be the mother of all black bear hunts and I was seriously excited. I’d hunted bears with this outfitter a couple years prior. If there’s a black bear mecca anywhere in North America, this place would be right at the top of the list. The hunt area was a remote ocean bay that reached far into the innards of the British Columbia coast. My guide and I slowly cruised the bay in a 16-foot boat and glassed for bears feeding on tidal grass along the shore. Bears were everywhere; at times we’d see a half-dozen feeding along a quarter-mile stretch of shore. Bob, the outfitter had flown me and my guide in on a Beaver float plane. After landing we dug out the tent, boat and outboard motor…

The blistering August heat marks the beginning of another season for many big-game hunters, especially those keen on carrying bowhunting gear into the mountains and across the prairies of the West in search of velvet-clad mule deer and the abundant, yet cagey, pronghorn antelope. For others, the month of August provides an ideal opportunity to finalize gear selections, hone your shooting skills and put plans in motion that will swing the pendulum of success in your favor come opening day. If you are sitting idly by, let this be your wakeup call. Shoot your gun, go scouting, get to the gym — anything is better than nothing. Pre-season preparation is what often divides success from failure. Keep the sun at your back and the wind in your face. Happy hunting.…

BULLET BASICS This bullet is a long, sleek, super-aerodynamic hunting projectile designed for newer fast-twist .270-caliber cartridges such as the .27 Nosler and 6.8 Western. It’s got an impressive G1 BC of .662. Construction is much like Berger’s proven Hybrid Target bullet, which has a hybrid secant/tangent ogive that’s forgiving about seating depth. However, the Elite Hunter has Berger’s thinner J4 Precision jacket that allows more consistent expansion on game. It’s got a large hollow cavity inside the hollow point. On impact the nose of the bullet collapses rearward, applying pressure to the front sides of the bullet until the jacket ruptures and expands massively. TESTING GROUND A friend used the bullet shown to take a 180-class mule deer buck across a Colorado canyon. Fired from his 6.8 Western Browning…

The XLite 32 is Xpedition’s newest, fastest (342 fps) and smoothest offering yet. With a cam system optimized for long- and short-draw archers, the Dual Cam System promises top-tier performance for your draw length and module swaps are simple. The Magnite riser is 30 percent lighter than aluminum and, according to Xpedition engineers, more robust than carbon, giving bowhunters a bulletproof platform that provides stability and maneuverability. It also sports a flashy and practical weather-resistant Cerakote finish. Available in peak draw weights between 50 and 80 pounds. $1,899; xpeditionarchery.com Deeply rooted in the archery business, Easton’s FMJ line is a bowhunting staple. Enter the new-for-2025 FMJ Max. With a GPI (grains per inch) rating lighter than the original FMJ, bowhunters still get increased FOC, incredible penetration and maximum accuracy in…