Author: Kat Stevens
Kat Ainsworth Stevens loves nothing more than a day spent in the woods or on the water. She has hunted all over the country for everything from deer to ducks to alligators. Her fishing endeavors range from setting juglines for catfish to catching rainbow trout in mountain streams. And while she’s out hunting, fishing, hiking, and boating, she’s putting gear through its paces. Kat is a seasoned outdoorswoman with decades of experience in various activities. In addition to her outdoor activities, she is a certified firearms instructor with an extensive background in firearms, edged weapons, and use of force. Her written work has been published in dozens of print outdoor industry magazines and on sites. She has a book—Handgun Hunting—available and has ghost-written others.
As fall progresses and the holidays come closer, a few things happen concurrently: deer and duck season arrive and the calendar turns into the busiest shopping time of the year. These things might not seem connected at first glance, but they are. While you’re trying to strike a balance between time spent in the tree stand or duck blind and time gathering gifts for friends and family, things can get frustrating. Shopping for the holidays can seem more about taking than giving, whether you’re an outdoorsman or not. Here’s our suggestion: Find ways to give back during the holiday season.…
You’re probably wondering why there’s a holiday- dinner edition of this column. It’s because as hunters and avid outdoorsmen, we spend a fair bit of time around people who either don’t hunt or who hate hunting—and the holiday season can mean those people are relatives. Maybe it’s your Great Aunt Edna who thinks hunting is inhumane. Maybe it’s your niece or nephew who truly believes the meat at the grocery store grows in some sort of Styrofoam-tray farm. Regardless of who the objectors might be, it’s important that you understand the value and methodology of avoiding conflict. After all, conflict…
As gun owners focused on self-defense whether at home or in the great outdoors, you’ve probably found that there are a lot of issues to consider. When you add kids and schools to that mix, the elements you need to factor in and the details you need to take seriously tend to expand exponentially. We’re here to help you understand a few things about firearms and the back-to-school season. But before we get into it, remember: We’re not offering you legal advice. The following is meant only for informational purposes and what we’re mentioning here does not replace the advice…
Cartridges released in marketing campaigns as being purpose-driven for something that isn’t hunting related sometimes fall through the cracks, but that shouldn’t necessarily be the case. A great example is the 7mm PRC, a relatively new cartridge that was technically designed for precision rifle shooting, but that is also fantastic for hunting. And if you’re thinking that it’s probably only good for long-range hunters, you’d be wrong. The 7mm PRC is a solid cartridge to add to your gun collection this coming deer season, whether you hunt at closer distances or you need to nail that longer shot on a…
An industry focused on the design and manufacture of firearms might not be where someone expects to find impressive acts of selflessness and charity, but perhaps they should. Not only is there a dedicated spirit of family in the gun industry, there’s also one of a willingness to give others the shirt—or the gun—off one’s back. Henry Repeating Arms is among the forerunners of the charitable efforts of the firearms world. A big part of that is the company’s charitable arm, Guns for Great Causes. What is Guns for Great Causes? As mentioned above, this is the charitable arm of…
Some might say there’s a certain charm and pride to be taken in using tried-and-true deer cartridges for Whitetail. But then again, there’s more to life than the old 30-30 sitting in the closet. Similarly, there’s a lot to learn by using classic deer cartridges instead of always running the latest hotness, like 6.5 Creedmoor was at once. What’s the best rifle cartridge for hunting deer? While there’s really no such thing as a “best”—because the choices depend on the specific situation—there are many fantastic rounds out there to consider trying. Check out this “Top 10” list for ideas on…
What if there was a way to keep the local deer population fed, even adding supplements for better health, while learning their movements? There is a way, and it’s usually—but not always— called baiting. Some hunters see it as an unfair advantage while others consider it a part of fair chase. However, many people forget that there’s more than one kind of baiting. Here are a few tips, tricks and random asides regarding the practice of baiting deer. Is It Legal? Baiting deer is legal in a little under half the states in the country. The specifics of precisely what…
Whether you’re a longtime handgun hunter or new to the idea of chasing deer armed with a pistol rather than a long gun, there’s no denying that handgun hunting is experiencing a popularity spike. This might be due to the proliferation of larger-caliber handguns hitting the market, or because self-defense folks are realizing they can apply their shooting skills to hunting without giving up their handguns. Whatever the reason, we’re happy to see it. Here are five of our top picks for Whitetail success using a handgun in the coming season. Is It Legal? Before getting into details of the…
In 2016, Alaskan fishing guide Phil Shoemaker made two discoveries: 1) Yes, it’s possible to use a handgun chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum on an angry grizzly bear; and 2) No, that method isn’t preferable. On the day in question, Shoemaker was taking some fishing clients to a good spot for them to wet their hooks. He normally carried a Smith & Wesson 629 in 44 Magnum, but that day he decided to take his Smith & Wesson 3954 in 9x19mm Parabellum instead. After all, in more than three decades of guiding he’d never been faced with a charging bear. Of…
Deer hunting might be an endangered outdoor sport. According to the North Carolina State University College of Natural Resources, the hunting industry appears to have peaked in 1982. In the intervening decades, the participation of hunters has dropped by about 18 million. These statistics are tracked according to the hunting licenses being sold nationwide. If you read between the lines, the subtext is clear: there aren’t as many youth hunters today as there used to be. As older hunters pass away, fewer kids are getting involved. The quotient isn’t balancing out. If you don’t take your kids deer hunting, my…