Straight advice. Gear worth buying.

Hunting

Deer, turkey, and upland birds.

Hunting guides →

Getting ready for…

9 LISTS
All checklists

01Gear picks we explain
02No-fluff, plain-talk advice
03Updated every season
Four trails

Pick your trail

Checklists, top 10s, and tips for every kind of trip.

Blaze orange hunting vest and pack ready for a morning hunt 8 guides Hunting Deer, turkey, and upland birds. What to wear, carry, and pack out. Explore hunting → Fishing rods in holders at the stern of a boat on the water 6 guides Fishing Bass, trout, and ice fishing. Tackle box basics and gear that lasts. Explore fishing → Lit tent, campfire, and cooler at a ridge car-camping site 4 guides Camping Car camping, backpacking, and hunting camp. Sleep warm, eat well. Explore camping → Archer at full draw with a recurve bow on an outdoor practice range 3 guides Archery Bows, arrows, and targets. Setup tips for your first season. Explore archery →
Our picks

Top 10 lists

Ten practical tips for the next trip — not filler.

All top 10 lists →
Anglers casting from a bass boat on a lake in fall light Fishing · Top 10 Top 10 Fall Bass Fishing Tips Fall bass feed hard but move a lot. These ten tips help you find them, match the bait, and handle turnover and cold fronts. By the Sportsman's Crew
Tree standTop 10 Hunting Top 10 Tree Stand Safety Rules FishingTop 10 Fishing Top 10 Beginner Fishing Mistakes (and Easy Fixes) CampfireTop 10 Camping Top 10 Ways to Stay Warm at Night While Camping
How we recommend gear

Advice first. Picks we can explain.

01 Short and practical If a tip won’t help you on your next trip, we cut it.
02 Commissions don’t pick the gear Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.
03 Kept current We update older posts when gear, rules, or better advice comes along.

Gear picks

A pick we can explain

Commissions don’t pick the gear.

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more

Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp (AAA / dual-fuel) Our pick

Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp (AAA / dual-fuel)

400 lumens, red night vision, brightness memory, PowerTap, and IPX8—mixed proximity/distance beam on AAA or optional BD 1500 rechargeable pack. Hands-free light for dark stands, camp, and the walk out.

$30–$50

Check price on Amazon

See how we pick →

Fresh from the field

Latest advice

New checklists and tips you can use this season.

View all advice →
Guide
Camping Best headlamps for hunting, fishing, and camp Compare budget AAA, Spot 400, and Storm 500-R headlamps for stands, boats, and camp — criteria first, then picks.
Mule deer in a snowy field near waterGuide
Hunting How to Layer for a Cold Morning in the Tree Stand Stay warm through a long sit without sweating on the walk in. How to build your layers and keep your feet, hands, and head…
Archer drawing a recurve bow outdoorsTop 10
Archery Top 10 Backyard Archery Practice Tips Make backyard practice safer and more useful, from setting up a proper backstop to shooting broadheads before the season opens.
Packing lists

Before you head out

All checklists →
Printable
Archery Takedown Recurve Bow Beginner Guide A takedown recurve bow guide for beginners—limbs, string, brace height, and field points for practice.
Printable
Hunting Cold Weather Hunting Gear Checklist Cold weather hunting gear checklist: base layers, insulation, boots, gloves, and a pack. Print it before a cold…
Two whitetail bucks standing in tall dry grassPrintable
Hunting Whitetail Deer Hunting Gear Checklist Day-hunt packing list for whitetail season—licenses, layers, bow or rifle gear, optics, field dressing, and stand safety. Print…
Blaze orange hunting vest and pack ready for a morning huntPrintable
Hunting Turkey Hunting Gear Checklist Calls, decoys, camo, and a good seat. What to pack for spring gobblers or fall flocks, plus the…

If you’re not sure, don’t shoot. Letting a bad shot pass is part of hunting well.

From “Top 10 Mistakes New Deer Hunters Make”
Outdoor photo
Outdoor photo
Outdoor photo