Author: Brad Fenson

We took off from Honolulu, and our aircraft headed for the Hawaiian island of Molokai. The catchy beat from the television series Hawaii 5-O drummed in my head: duntadundun-dun dun-duntatdundundun. The clear blue ocean was mesmerizing, and the coast of the small island we planned to visit came into view. The rocky outcrops and formidable cliffs were awe-inspiring, but the lack of human presence was noticeable. The diminutive land mass wasn’t your typical tourist island. It didn’t take long to settle in and plan for an afternoon hunt. My guide put his truck into four-wheel drive to maneuver the rugged…

Foggy Goose Hunt and Tense Bear Encounters creating a Benelli Double Header The truck headlights lit up a wall of dense fog as we started down the road. The field we had spotted geese was only eight miles away, but the trip was slow and steady, with a heavy blanket of moisture hanging in the air. Luckily, the farther we traveled, the more the fog lifted. The harvested barley field was huge, and after driving to find the perfect spot to set up blinds and decoys, we went to work like a colony of ants scurrying back and forth from…

A close up look at the new Eliminator 6 Scope from Burris Optics. In this article we will take a long look at the Burris Eliminator 6, first from the initial thoughts and then out into the field to hunt. Purchase here:  Optics Planet – $2499.99 First Glance The Eliminator 6 is built on a 34-millimeter tube, providing superior light transmission and incredible MOA adjustment for long-range shooting. The dope chart generated within the BurrisConnect app allows up to 16 bullet curves with environmental information. The bullet curve used in the app is extremely accurate, with 177 aiming points. The…

HMS Strasser RS 14 Evolution I used a Strasser RS 14 Evolution rifle in .270 caliber for the hunt. It was the first time I hunted with a straight-pull rifle, and its quality made me look deeper into the line. The rifle weighed under seven pounds and sported a 22-inch barrel with a boxlock action. The rifle features a grade one walnut stock, integrated Picatinny rail, black side plates with laser engraving, a straight stock shape with an ergonomic pistol grip, and an optional 45° bolt handle. It is available in 20 calibers and a left-hand version. The rifle was…

Big Bucks, Smart Riflescopes, and Straight-walled Cartridges. Hunting with the new Traditions Outfitter G3 chambered in 360 Buckhammer, topped with a Burris scope. Returning to Goose Creek Outfitters last fall, I had grand dreams of repeating success from a wonderful experience with a previous hunt, and finding another big, memorable buck. The Nebraska license allows for one mule or white-tailed buck to be harvested, and there were good opportunities for either. I learned many years ago not to set my sights on one or the other and let antlers dictate when to fly into action. I was using the new…

I carefully unloaded the hunting essentials from my ALPS backpack and strategically placed the items in my blind where they could be easily accessed. My guide had dropped me off, and I could still hear the whine of the ATV engine as it twisted through the boreal trails, leaving me alone for the day. A new moon was a few days earlier, and the waxing conditions provided little illumination. I used a small light to organize my gear, but I could hear something walking in the frost-covered leaves and litter on the forest floor before I finished. I froze and…

The rolling Sandhills of Nebraska are vast and desolate, especially when the north wind blows hard with a bone-chilling cold. I was hunting with Scott Fink of Goose Creek Outfitters and had parked on a rise to glass a creek bottom. The brisk wind we were experiencing was welcome. It would get the deer moving. Does on the go would bring the big bucks out of the hills. Scott grew up in the Sandhills and has an uncanny ability to spot deer at extreme ranges. We hadn’t been parked more than 30 seconds when he pointed to the far edge…

Alberta mountain goats have struggled to maintain populations that can sustain hunting. Fortunately, we have had a draw for many years, but obtaining a license was like winning the lottery. I knew the odds of drawing an Alberta license were slim to none. Looking into potential hunts in British Columbia, I found a late-season opportunity with Milligan Outfitting. Bob has been chasing goats for nearly four decades and has one of the best areas available for mature billies. A quick decision had me scrambling to find time to hit the gym and prepare my rifle for the adventure. In mid-February,…

The phone alarm woke me well before sunrise, and I was dressed and out the door within a minute. I was excited to get back into the field hunting. The Southwest Texas air was damp and the reflection of mountains in the water tank was inspiring. Recent rains brought the country to life, with the arid landscape storing its abundant beauty and being released with moisture. Birds sang, crickets chirped and the smell of wildflowers and cacti was a lovely welcome to a new day. I was hunting scimitar-horned oryx with Steve Jones and his outfit, Backcountry Hunts. We had…

The view from our blind was spectacular! It overlooked a large food plot with a spiderweb of trails leading out of the heavy brush. The blind was concealed in the brushy terrain and was downwind of the main travel corridors. The blind material allowed a full view of the field while being completely camouflaged from the outside. The chairs were comfortable and shooting sticks were strategically placed to shoot in most directions. We were hunting the Lowrance Ranch in West Texas and we knew there were some great bucks in the area. Colton Beam, my outfitter and guide, had shown…