Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i Petersen's Hunting

HUNTERS and anglers in North America are the beneficiaries of an incredible wildlife recovery over the last 100 years, fueled in large part by species-specific advocates such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Wild Sheep Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation and many others. On April 21, 2025 a new species advocate was born when the North American Pronghorn Foundation (NAPF) opened its doors. Dedicated to the mission of “enhancing pronghorn populations and habitats through advocacy, stewardship, stakeholder partnerships, and our hunting heritage,” the straightforward way of looking at it is that they are here to “future-proof pronghorn.” Due to a combination of factors like sagebrush landscape loss, migration corridor fragmentation, and unusual winter kills across much of their range, pronghorn populations are on the decline across the United States and…

PROOF ELEVATION MTR 2.0 There are dozens of guns that line my safes but, in terms of accuracy, there is one that rises above the rest. That being my Proof Research Elevation MTR 2.0 chambered in .22 ARC. It consistently shoots sub .5 MOA 10-shot groups and has been the demise of countless coyotes, rock chucks, prairie dogs and other vermin. It is on the expensive side to be considered a “truck gun” but given its fur-stacking track record, it has become a permanent, “essential” fixture underneath the back seat of my truck for nearly all my hunting adventures.…

THE RINGNECK pheasant was my first game bird, a gaudy rooster miraculously hit on the wing with a load of No. 5s from a single-shot, hammer-fired .410 carried by my 11-year-old self. In the 40 years since that November day, I’ve hunted pheasants in several states, in all weather, behind pointers and setters, flushed at my feet or winging high overhead in the style of Europe’s driven shoots. I even killed one from a duck blind, a lucky snapshot as the rooster passed by on his way from cover to feed. I consider myself quite experienced in all things ringneck, but admit to being a bit taken back when I got an invite to hunt roosters in Rhode Island (of all places), with a well-knotted necktie listed as non-negotiable. I…

In 1965, my dad presented me with my first hunting rifle, a Marlin 336 chambered in .44 Winchester Magnum. The craftmanship was excellent [with] a fine walnut stock and forearm nicely fitted to high gloss blued steel. It was beautiful then and remains so today. I killed my first deer with it - the only deer ever killed with this rifle. The Marlin occasionally gets a round or two put through it – a cleaning patch now and then and a light amount of oil on the blued surfaces. Otherwise, it rests in my gun cabinet. My dad died in 1970, yet 55 years later the memories that resulted from his gift remain rich and vivid. The gift of my first hunting rifle, and the greater gift of the memories…

Sometimes you need specialized boots. I have a pair of rigid mountaineering boots for hunting alpine critters and packing meat through treacherous terrain, and a warm pair of neoprene knee boots for setting goose decoys in muddy cornfields. But my favorite style of boot, and the style that I wear the most, could be described as the “lace-up, all-purpose $*!t-kicker.” This is a boot that’s waterproof enough for spring turkey hunting, cool enough for summer food plot work, and yet up for a chilly treestand sit if you’re wearing good socks. It’s a boot that’s built to last, but not so expensive you lose sleep over replacing them, because boots that get used as much as these need to be replaced pretty often. To me, few are any better in…

The adrenaline-filled flush of a wild rooster erupting from the brush below, echoed with its unmistakable cackle, dancing long tail and vibrant colors, initiates an unquenchable dopamine hit that spurs legions of eager hunters to flood the wild uplands each fall. Add in the pure enjoyment that comes from watching a well-trained bird dog hunt and fetch one of these special imports and its near impossible to not fall in love with the mighty ringneck. For some, upland hunting simply fills the gap between big-game adventures while for others, it is a way of life. Regardless of where your passions lie, one thing is for certain. The sights and sounds of the hunt, along with the camaraderie shared in the wild uplands will always keep hunters coming back for more.…

BULLET BASICS One of the best all-lead hunting projectiles for muzzleloaders, Hornady’s Great Plains bullet features several characteristics that provide optimal performance where modern composite bullets aren’t legal. A hollow point ensures reliable mushrooming. A broad, hollow base and thin skirt makes the bullet easy to load and provides a reliable seal in the bore. Multiple driving bands and serrated grooves filled with lube enhance accuracy and help keep fouling soft. At 385 grains, weight is more than double that of a traditional patched round ball, ensuring plenty of on-impact wallop and sufficient mass to drive penetration. TESTING GROUND An acquaintance used the bullet shown to take a Montana bull elk from 160 yards. That’s a reach for a traditional muzzleloader bullet, and bull elk are notoriously tough to kill…

Kuiu’s new Upland Field Vest applies the same premium materials and innovation mindset that serious hunters have come to rely on in the company’s big-game gear. The result is a lightweight and functional vest with a host of useful features, including a load-bearing frame, fully adjustable yoke, deployable game bag and well-thought-out storage for water bottles, shells, food, dog accessories and everything else your upland pursuits may require. $299; kuiu.com Pyke has become a staple in the upland community, producing premium products for dedicated upland hunters. Their Tongass Hybrid Upland Pant is no exception, providing mid-weight comfort built from durable 4-way stretch material that breathes well, sheds water and provides protection from unwanted briars and thorns. Whether busting through the grouse thickets of the Northeast or traversing the chukar hills…

THE WHITEOUT was intense, as bad as any I had ever seen. I was driving along an Interstate in Montana, returning from an unsuccessful elk hunt. Suddenly an apparition appeared in the raging storm. A man was standing along the highway, his thumb out. I normally don’t stop for hitchhikers, but he looked like he was half frozen. His clothes were covered in snow and ice, as was the full backpack he carried. I slowed and pulled onto the shoulder of the highway. There was no traffic. The Interstate was deserted. “Where you headed,” I asked. “Sunny California,” he responded. “I can take you part way,” I said. “Jump in.” He put his backpack in my SUV. I had taken the rear seat out to accommodate an elk. Unfortunately, there…