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Hot on the Trail
By Ken Piper
Tracking wounded deer is a skill you can improve with practice. I enjoy tracking deer. It's not as fun when a deer you've shot presents a difficult trail, but I've become a much better tracker by volunteering to help track others' bucks. With less anxiety involved in tracking for someone else, you're free to keep calm and learn more from the experi... READ MORE
Feelin' Squirrely
By Ken Piper
Annual event reminds us that shooting is a year-round activity. And, it's FUN! The 2022 Squirrel Master Classic is happening right now in Hayneville, Alabama, bringing to mind some of my earliest hunting memories. Although my squirrel hunting took place on mountainous public lands of Pennsylvania, the relaxed, social nature of squirrel hunting is a... READ MORE
Organization Pays
By Ken Piper
Packs are made to organize your gear, but they sometimes need a little help. We all have different ways to doing things, as well as our own set of preferences when it comes to how we hunt and the gear we use. One thing that seems universal is the more organized you are, the better you can handle the curveballs the hunting gods inevitably throw your... READ MORE
It's Never Over
By Ken Piper
The end of the hunting season doesn't mean an end to hunting preparation. Deer season just ended here in Alabama yesterday, and while that's later than most of the rest of the country, it brings to mind a few considerations. First, hunting season might be over, but the weeks immediately following its closure are at least as important as the weeks l... READ MORE
Flying with Guns
By Ken Piper
Traveling with a firearm can be challenging, and it’s all about following the rules. Following up on last week’s tip regarding how to protect your hunting gear in traveling cases, this week we’ll talk about flying on a commercial airline with a firearm. Some of the following information is actual requirement, and some is my recomm... READ MORE
Case Logic
By Ken Piper
Pack well to ensure your gun's zero when traveling to hunt. Traveling with a bow or gun is stressful. No matter how carefully you pack, you can't help wondering whether you'll still be sighted in when you get to your destination. And if you're traveling by plane, that feeling is compounded exponentially. I've traveled long distances to several hunt... READ MORE
Thank Your Mentor
By Ken Piper
Show your appreciation to the people who introduced you to the outdoors. Forgive me for getting personal this week, but I just lost my father and am feeling rather sentimental. My father had a hard time understanding his son's interest in things like Star Trek, sports and reading books. Truth be told, I should have paid more attention during the ti... READ MORE
The Eyes Have It
By Ken Piper
Scent control is critical, but don’t forget deer can see pretty well, too. If you can see a deer’s eye(s), it can see you ... or at least catch your movement. The side-of-head location of a whitetail’s eyes gives them a field of view of about 310 degrees, so they don’t miss much! As good as today’s camouflage patterns ... READ MORE
Just Chillin'
By Ken Piper
Cold weather considerations for late-season die-hards. Many of us have hung up our hunting gear, but there are still some late-season opportunities to fill a tag throughout much of the country. A majority of the late seasons require primitive weapons, and cold weather can have more of an impact on bows and muzzleloaders than on other firearms. If y... READ MORE
On the Down Low
By Ken Piper
There is no foolproof way to beat a whitetail's nose. I used to avoid eating meat for the week or so leading up to hunting season to keep deer from identifying my scent as that of a predator. I like to think I have more common sense today. Don't get me wrong, scent precautions are important. The fewer smelly molecules we release into the environmen... READ MORE