Field & Stream February/March 2019

THIS PAST FALL, TOWARD the end of a day of still-hunting in New York’s Adirondack Park, I took a break to eat an apple and write some field notes. The day had begun with a cold, heavy rain—which was miserable—that transitioned to a quiet snowfall, making for perfect tracking conditions—which was wonderful. Even though I failed to cut a deer track, it was still a great day in the wilderness, so I wanted to jot down some details of the more memorable moments of the hunt while they were fresh. I retrieved my notebook, which I keep in a leather case, and that’s when I noticed something new. Let me step back for a second. The case was a gift from my brother Brian. A fishing guide he…

Photographer Lee Thomas Kjos captured this issue’s epic cover shot—his first ever for F&S. As the hunters packed out an elk near the south fork of the Shoshone River in Wyoming, Kjos got in position to shoot the scene. “It was breathtaking how gorgeous the light was,” Kjos says, “but I knew it would only last for moments. The heavy clouds were moving fast.” Kjos adds that in the moment of capturing the scene, he knew he had a “hammer” photo, but he’s hesitant to take much of the credit. “Honestly, it has very little to do with me,” he says. “All the grandeur, the weather, the horses, the perfect hunters, and that light—I have nothing to do with that. I like to say I’m just the conduit. If…

WALL-HANGER LETTER I have been meaning for some time to tell you folks what a great job you’re doing. You knock it out of the park every issue. As a taxidermist, I see a bunch of magazines, including some pretty highbrow ones, and F&S produces some of the best content. Keep it up. Rhonda K. Braithwaite, via email CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE After years of hearing from outdoor writers that crossbows were just a natural extension of archery equipment and that I should definitely not feel bad about buying one, you now publish an article (“Counter Effect,” Dec. 18–Jan. 19) saying that I’m killing deer hunting. Thanks. Terry Lepper, Quincy, Ill. WILL BRANTLEY REPLIES: I would ask that you read the story again. I said crossbows are phasing vertical…

WE HAVEN’T BEEN in the snow goose spread for 15 minutes before 50 birds materialize on the skyline. John Gordon grabs a small handheld e-caller and cranks up the volume. The birds cut a boomerang pattern in the sky back toward the sound. Dipping low, they make for the small opening in our fullbody dekes, 10 yards in front of us, feet out, fully committed. “Shoot ’em!” Gordon hollers. We pop up, and guns rip. Gordon triples while I flock-shoot my unplugged gun empty without hitting a bird. “Damn,” I say, demoralized. “That was… I don’t know what that was.” I’ve hunted snows across the river in Arkansas and throughout the Northeast, but never have I seen them turn on a dime and instantly commit like that. Twenty more…

Snow geese are hard to fool, so to improve your odds of bringing them in to your spread, invest in a few dozen ultrarealistic, full-body dekes. They add a realism to the spread that you just can’t get with socks and shells. The ones in the Pro-Grade Full Body Snow/Blue Harvester Pack ($250 per dozen; avery outdoors.com) are as good as full-bodies get, with adult and juvenile sizes, in two color phases and two body positions. What’s more, the stake system is easy to set and makes motion in the wind.…

Q: When I shoot, I can’t place the sights or crosshairs on the center of the target. I hold under and raise them up. If I am dryfiring, I have no problem. I am sure the problem is between my ears. Thoughts? —RICK ATWELL, VIA EMAIL A: I think you do need a checkup from the neck up; after all, why wouldn’t this happen during dry-firing? To cure it, get a .22 rimfire, get close to the target, and shoot up mass quantities of ammo, pulling the trigger the instant the sights are on the black. Forget about trigger squeeze. Go ahead and yank. You’d be surprised how accurate this technique can be. Q: My brother says the barrel of my Savage 99 .308 is on its last leg.…