Author: Larry Weishuhn

When you’re tracking the most dangerous animal to hunt, there’s a thin line between being the hunter and becoming the hunted. Dangerous game animals don’t play by your rules – they’ve survived for millennia by being stronger, faster, and sometimes smarter than their predators. Let’s examine the top 5 most dangerous animals you might encounter on a big game hunting expedition, why they’re so lethal, and how to handle an encounter when things go south. We give our recommendations for cartridge sections at the end of the article. 1. The African Elephant The African elephant tops our list not just…

It was the middle 1960s on a shooting range along the banks of Cummins Creek just north of Columbus, Texas. Hollis Sillivan, our local Texas Ranger, handed me a large framed single-action revolver and said with a smile, “Give this one a try!  Bit more powerful than what you’re shooting.” I took the revolver, noticed the hole in the muzzle was bigger than my .357 Magnum, and glanced at the stamp on the barrel: .44 Remington Magnum. I’d read about this round in the pages of “American Rifleman” and “Shooting Times” but never had the chance to shoot one. “Two…

“Still hunting is an art of patience, precision, and instinct, where every step taken is slow and deliberate. In this tale of slipping through rugged Texas terrain, I share my strategies for moving silently, reading the wind, and using shooting sticks to steady my aim—all essential skills for any hunter looking to master still hunting and succeed in challenging environments.” – Larry Weishuhn aka Mr. Whitetail The wind was near perfect, blowing gently into my face out of the north. A “Texas Blue Norther” cold front had passed through our area, dropping the temperature considerably and now hovering just above…

For the past hour, I had been meticulously still hunting from one side of the narrow mesa to the other, peering over the edge of the rimrock, hoping to spot a desert mule deer buck bedded below. The evening prior, just before dark, I had spotted five mature bucks in the immediate area, two of which were obvious “shooters.” As the minutes ticked away and my anticipation grew, I couldn’t help but recall the excitement and the inevitable moments of disappointment that come with hunting. Missing a shot can be a hunter’s greatest frustration and yet, an invaluable teacher. This…

“Move forward very slowly. Keep low and this cedar I’m next to between you and the aoudad. There are at least twenty and they’re all looking.” Warned Jackie Murphy.  At his side, Jackie peered through his spotting scope. “The biggest ram in the bunch is right at 30-inches, but I think he’s still relatively young.” He continued as he moved aside so I could look through the spotting scope. “He’s still a little light colored as far as I’m concerned.” I nodded in agreement after a quick look. “Yeah, he’s not dark enough to be really old!” Said I, knowing…

“You are absolutely nuts!  I cannot believe you passed up that buck!  He’s huge!  What in the world is the matter with you?” questioned almost demanded by friend and cameraman Jeff Parker.  “That was one of the biggest if not the biggest bucks I have ever seen!” I listened patiently as he continued to question my sanity. We were hunting in Frio County, Texas about half way between the iconic Brush Country deer hunting towns of Pearsall and Uvalde, just south of the Frio River. The ranch belonged to a dear friend, Gary Machen.  Gary, plus Murphy Ray who co-authored…

There is no doubt that I love to rattle in Whitetail bucks. And there is also no doubt that I continue to gain knowledge about Whitetails from hunting them. I freely admit that I have made mistakes during my past 70 years of hunting deer. Some of those mistakes have cost me opportunities at some truly impressive bucks. As a result, I have learned much about hunting and about animals, but also about myself. And I continue to learn every time I go to the field. Got to love it! Quite a few years ago, two yearling bucks, a spike…

Photos: Larry Weishuhn Outdoors “Did you really see seven buck fights going on at the same time?” That’s how David O’Keefe, my outfitter friend, questioned me. I had set up to hunt with him on a South Texas brush country ranch I managed at the time. He and I were doing some pre-season scouting. “Did!” I quipped. “Same fourteen bucks I saw in that food plot three days ago. But then, they were all buddies grooming each other! Amazing, the difference a couple of days can make every day they get closer to the rut,” I responded. Initially, I had…

A voice came from somewhere behind me, saying, “Hey old man, I bet I can guess what caliber you’re going to be hunting with this fall.” Initially, I looked around to see what “old man” the speaker was addressing. Not seeing anyone else, I realized it must be me. Before I could answer, the speaker said, “Yeah!  You with the white beard, wearing that big, brown western hat!” Me…Old?  Maybe I am in years, but I have never felt that way. I may be a bit closer to the century mark than to the mid-century mark, but I still think…

Every journey begins with a first step! “The Journey” is a new, fast-action, information- and fun-filled television series. It has been created by the show’s host, Brandon Houston, with input from veteran outdoorsman Larry Weishuhn, who serves as the show’s co-host. Together, Brandon and Larry have created a series that incorporates their backgrounds as professional wildlife biologists, along with their great wildlife management and hunting experience, and theira desire to inform in a highly entertaining manner. Their knowledge and experiences, coupled with the creative abilities of Stonehurst Production’s Chris Daniels, will have anyone who loves the outdoors critically and popularly…