“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” When historian George Santayana penned those words, he probably wasn't referring to elk hunting mistakes. Yet, after 20 years of DIY, OTC, out-of-state hunts, I have a long list of errors that still haunt me. Let me share a few of the most painful ones in hopes of sparing you from repeating them.

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need a guide to hunt moose in Alaska. You only need a licensed […]

Success isn’t made during hunting season; it’s made during the offseason. Preparation is key to success. I have written many […]

Intro/Synopsis Most people won’t attempt a 47.5-mile hike with almost 11,000 feet of elevation gain in one shot, and honestly, […]

When it comes to hunting the West, the first skill set a hunter should master is the art of glassing from a tripod. Second, he should master utilizing the tripod as a shooting support.

You can have all the best gear, the right optics, the tag of a lifetime, the best hunt plan, or […]

"For the most part, hunters look at fall bears as an opportunity type of species. We all have a bear tag in our pocket during the Fall, but only fill it by happenstance if one presents itself while out elk or deer hunting. Not many solely focus on bear hunting in the fall, especially in the southwest when compared to its trophy elk and mule deer opportunities..."

The hunting horseman can accomplish a “run and gun” technique while traversing a lot of country in search of game. The logistics of horse feed and water are essentially the only limiting factors. 

E-scouting can help you understand a unit’s terrain, road access, habitat, pressured areas, animal behavior, and develop backup plans that will ultimately lead to more success.

When I show up to a new area, I already know many of the best vantage points in the unit before I ever set foot there. This starts at home, well prior to the hunt. Here are the steps I take in order to locate what I would deem as the “best spots”.

DIY western big game hunting is a lot of work. The planning, preparation, travel, and hunt all require time and dedication to put all the moving pieces together.

Adrienne & Hans Olufs, owners of West Coast Archery Shop review the equipment and shooting habit issues they see daily at their shop.