Changing Tactics for Post-Rut Deer Hunting with The WON

The early winter doldrums can be a frustrating time for whitetail hunters, as the bustling rut activity tapers off into the silence of vacant woods and unfired guns. It is often turns off like a light switch: Deer seem to be running everywhere at the height of the rut, and then it’s over as quickly as it began. The peak breeding period may have passed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a successful hunt in the post-rut weeks of deer season. Deer are creatures of habit, after all, so a few simple adjustments to your hunting strategies can help you bag a mature buck when you least expect it.

As the days get shorter, a good scope (like my Leupold VX5-HD) will help maximize the length of your hunt.

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Texas Hunts with Remington Outdoor: Gators, Ducks, Hogs, & Fish

Back in September, I had the amazing opportunity to represent Women’s Outdoor News on an epic hunting trip, traveling to Texas with Remington Outdoor Company. The trip was the result of a contest last Christmas — The WON’s 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway  — the prize being a 2 to 3 day alligator hunt in Seadrift, Texas, with Castaway Lodge. Our giveaway winner was Melissa, a rising veterinarian from Washington State, and she would meet Remington rep Jessica and me in Texas to begin our adventure.

Upon arrival, we planned to start our search for alligators the following morning. Thanks to Hurricane Harvey’s copious amounts of flooding, our guides had no way of knowing just where those gators would be. We fully anticipated needing the full 3 days for each of us to tag out.

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WON: Blood Trail Tips and the Leupold LTO-Tracker

For a hunter, few things can be more frustrating than pursuing a downed animal across rugged terrain or in deep woods, thick with underbrush. The feeling of excitement after taking a shot at that trophy buck can quickly be replaced by one of hopeless failure once hours of searching have left you empty-handed. It’s a situation all hunters do their best to avoid. We’d love for every shot to be perfectly placed, dropping game in its tracks—but that’s just not how hunting works. Deer are incredibly strong creatures, and the adrenaline surging through their bodies often gives them the strength to run an astonishing distance, even with a mortal wound. We owe it to our game to give our best efforts for recovery. Following these simple steps can lead you straight to success.

The Bright Side of the Road for The WON is sponsored by Leupold.

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gear review: XTRATUF Riptide Water Shoe

I recently had the opportunity to review the Riptide performance water shoe by XTRATUF through Women’s Outdoor News, and I was really excited to put them to the test on my paddle board fishing adventures. XTRATUF specializes in waterproof, slip-proof footwear for all conditions, and the Riptide shoe [MSRP $79.99] is designed specifically for activities such as paddle board and kayak fishing. They are made from a breathable airmesh fabric with drainage holes on the sides and a slip-resistant bottom, and a bungee system replaces the laces so you don’t have to worry about them coming untied.

The Women’s Riptide comes in light blue, seen here, and in brown with pink detailing.

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weekend recap: turkey hunting with Patriot Hunts

Hi friends! If you follow along on Instagram or Facebook, you might have seen that I recently had the opportunity and privilege to turkey hunt with the amazing folks at Patriot Hunts this year, and write about our weekend over at Women’s Outdoor News. Ken Barnard, the founder of Patriot Hunts, decided that this year’s hunt would be an all-women’s weekend, with our 2 hunters being Lizzie, a Gold Star Survivor, and Rory, a Purple Heart Recipient. I would guide 1 group, with Rory as my hunter, and Chris Wilson with NWTF would guide the other, with Lizzie behind the barrel. Lizzie is a successful bowhunter, and was familiar with what turkey hunting entails. Rory, on the other hand, had never been turkey hunting before. She would be my hunter, and I was super excited to be a part of her first experience.

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