Author: NA Deer Hunter Staff

The proposal to add a constitutional amendment recognizing hunting, fishing, and trapping as fundamental rights in Iowa is an important and potentially game-changing development for outdoor enthusiasts and hunters across the state. If passed, this amendment would give constitutional protection to these activities, solidifying them as rights that future generations of Iowans would be guaranteed. From a hunter’s standpoint, this is a moment of empowerment and a signal of the growing acknowledgment of the importance of these practices to the state’s culture, economy, and way of life. Recently, Florida became the 24th state to enshrine these rights in their constitution. …

Shopping for the hunter in your life doesn’t have to feel like taking a blind shot in the dark. Our Gifts for Hunters guide pulls together the best gifts for hunters that our staff actually uses in the field—boots that survive brutal late-season sits, optics that make the difference at last light, and accessories that keep hunters safer, warmer, and more effective. Every product in this list has been reviewed and/or tested by knowledgeable hunters, so you can buy with confidence instead of guessing what might work. To make choosing the best gifts for hunters easier, we’ve organized our favorite picks…

In the world of hunting deer, turkeys, or predators, there is often the need or the desire to hunt from the ground. When this situation occurs, there are few tools that are as essential as a reliable ground blind, and having the right blind can make all the difference between a successful hunt and a disappointing outing. Enter the Warrior Down and Out Ground Blind from Hawk, a revolutionary product designed to elevate your ground blind hunting experience to new heights. They tout themselves to the “World’s Most Permanent Portable Blind” for good reason. In this comprehensive review,…

Our first Rut Report of the year was published in early September. We reported observing the usual early season rubs and fresh scrapes sure signs of the upcoming rut. By now bucks were “hard horned” and light sparring and pushing matches were occurring. Bachelor groups were beginning to break up, but doe-fawn groups were still intact. The deer were for the most part in their summer feeding patterns, but slowly transitioning to Fall food sources dominated whitetail behavior patterns. Our whitetail hunting experts advised hunting late summer-early fall food sources and cautioned that most of the big bucks were for…

Whether you didn’t fill your tag the first go-around or just love to hunt the late season, one thing is for sure, December and early January gives you a great chance at shooting a trophy whitetail. Yes the conditions are harsher than the early seasons but whitetail bucks are still susceptible to harvest because one thing is on their mind: food. Another key point of hunting the month of December, that is not to be overlooked, is the onset of the secondary rut. Approximately one month after the peak dates of the primary rut, unbred and young does will again…

For whitetail hunters, the dreaded lockdown is one of the most unproductive times of deer season. For a few it can be one of the luckiest times, but unfortunately, far less than we hope. Lockdown is the phase when a doe becomes submissive to a buck and allows him to become her breeding partner. Although this description does little justice to the real science behind it, a simplistic view of this behavior will save many of us from ripping our hair out over hunting bucks during the lockdown phase.  This just happens to be the time when the majority of…

As more does start coming into heat this week, most bucks throw caution to the wind and abandon their limited movement patterns to search for and breed does—24/7. As a rule, the second week of the month is typically the most frantic by far. Within a short period of time, mature breeding bucks can lose a quarter of their body weight searching out and guarding does in heat—one after another. A prime-aged breeding buck will spend approximately two days with a receptive doe, after which the doe will no longer be in estrus. The buck will then leave her to…

By the last week of October, the whitetail woods will be bare of leaves, making it much easier for hunters to spot approaching deer. Sparring is a rare occurrence now, as most mature bucks are wound too tightly to even stand the sight of another male. And with dominance hierarchies in place, the buck that knows he’s the subordinate will quickly tuck tail and run from any threatening adversary. At this time, it’s not uncommon for the first batch of does to come into heat, sending local bucks into a frenzy. This is just a warm-up for what’s soon to…

Guest Editorial Written by: Representative Mark Green (R-TN) – US House of Representatives Hunting and fishing are more than just hobbies; they are a way of life. For generations, long before our nation was founded, hunters and fisherman have trapped and fished these lands. Genesis 1:28 states, “And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” This is the creation mandate, and it…

Looking for the Best Hunting Saddles without the guesswork? We gathered the top single- and double-panel slings and put them through real hunts, then scored each 0–5 for price, weight, durability, noise, and—yes, while subjective—comfort and ease of use. This roundup focuses strictly on saddle slings (no hybrids) and does not cover rigging, steps, or platforms, so you can compare apples to apples. After years watching this ultra-mobile style evolve, we cut through the crowded market to spotlight the standouts.  Dive in and find the saddle that fits your style, your body, and your hunting season. We have gathered top-shelf…