Author: Brad Fenson

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 Veracity PH 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…

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…

Having hunted cougars or mountain lions several times, I longed to chase a big tom. Most of the excursions were in British Columbia, and most ended with poor results. Big cats are challenging to find and they are even more difficult to catch up with and tree. Many years ago, a landowner granted me permission to hunt a cat while on private ground, but only if we harvested any cat we treed. After an all-day chase, I did take a nice cat, but it wasn’t the monster tom I had dreamed of chasing. My desire to hunt a big cat…

Visiting Mexico for a Coues deer hunt, I looked forward to warming temperatures compared to the frigid, sub-zero deep freeze at home. The elevation of the Sierra Madre mountains in northern Mexico, combined with the winter months and the sun being low on the horizon, generated warm days and cold nights. Leaving camp in the moist, predawn air, a heavy layer of frost forced me to pull on an extra jacket to pre- pare for our drive to the hunting area. Hunting Coues deer means using the early-morning darkness to reach a vantage point. From there, you can spend the…

Hunter-and-Gatherer Challenge Several years ago, there was a television show that challenged participants to live for a year sourcing all food and beverage within 100 miles of their home. The concept seemed easy enough, but watching the show revealed just how challenging it must have been for our forefathers to fill a plate throughout the year. As a hunter, the challenge, fun and reward come from procuring enough wild game to feed my family for an entire year. Adding the diversity of game meat is a blessing many early settlers did not often encounter. Although I have lived most of…