Joint Base Lewis-McChord recently partnered with iSportsman to upgrade their outdoor recreational offerings. The iSportsman service launched for members of the base on June 1, and is currently active in streamlining the outdoor experience on JBLM for both outdoor recreationists and management. It’s now easier than ever to enjoy all the outdoor activities available with iSportsman JBLM while adhering to regulations and ensuring proper conservation practices are safely being followed.

Darin Hardy knew growing up he loved the outdoors, having gone hunting for the first time at age 12 he knew then that it would be a passion that would continue for the rest of his life. Growing up, he moved up from animal to animal, before finally finding his true calling: archery and elk hunting. However, just two years later, Darin joined the military wanting to do his duty; unfortunately, this made hunting a bit difficult.  

In January this year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that conservation efforts with the U.S. Navy made some successful strides on San Clemente Island.

San Clemente Island is nestled in the Pacific Ocean off the southern coast of California and its isolation has nurtured a variety of endemic species. This makes it a haven for rare plants and animals found nowhere else: From the vibrant hues of wildflowers to the melodious calls of rare birds, San Clemente Island's charm continues to captivate all who experience its wonders. Now, thanks to the Navy’s efforts, the San Clemente Island paintbrush, lotus, larkspur and bush-mallow plants, as well as the San Clemente Bell’s sparrow — five species in total — are fully recovered and off the endangered species list.

Earlier this year, the West Virginia (WV) branch of the Army National Guard (ARNG) received the prestigious Environmental Stewardship Award. This is the highest conservational recognition the Army National Guard can give, and it signifies that the WV branch is performing exemplarily in its duty of environmental stewardship and sustainability. iSportsman understands the importance of conservation in maintaining a sustainable future and ensuring our natural world is preserved for the military, outdoor recreation and more, and we wanted to highlight the great efforts displayed by the WVARNG in helping achieve this goal.

I never thought that at 29 I would be a full blown huntress chasing deer, exotic trophies, and huge hogs across the countryside. I crave the meat from an Axis buck like you would crave water in the morning after a long night of fireball whiskey and crappy beer. I get anxious when I can't get out to the ranch and feel the excitement and rush from a hunt. Thanks to my dad, those feelings were instilled in me at a very young age.

At 8 years old, people were calling me the “Hog Slayer”. I was stacking wild hogs like pancakes in South Texas, and even as a kid I loved it every minute. It felt so amazing, at a young age, to gather around the campfire with your cousins and watch a pig, that I shot, roast over the flames. This accomplishment would feed my family and friends. Looking back, I think I truly found my sole purpose for hunting in those fireside moments. I knew then that I would I would hunt forever.

With hunting season practically around the corner, it’s important to recognize that hunting goes together with good land management and conservational effort. Beyond hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation iSportsman strives to aid those who use their services to preserve the natural landscapes we all enjoy. Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst (JBMDL) was recently recognized for such efforts, being awarded the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 19th Annual Military Conservation Partner Award for significant natural resource management achievements.

The New Jersey base was recognized for their aggressive conservation of the unique habitats associated with the Pinelands National Reserve that is supporting globally rare plants and wildlife. JBMDL’s dedicated team of conservation, environmental, and wildlife experts are also making strides to expand and protect grasslands on base and provide important breeding habitats for a wide range of grassland birds, many of which are rare and imperiled.

We broke down some of our favorite rare, imperiled, threatened, and endangered species found at JBMDL to provide additional insight into the fantastic works they are achieving in preserving the outdoors for the future. 

Summer fishing season is in full swing, and that means it's time to break some records! Before you go out trying for the catch of your dreams, take a moment to admire some amazing fish that you have to see to believe. Hopefully, this roundup will inspire you on your next angling adventure.

It’s that time of year when just about everyone’s wild game reserves are running low. If you’re lucky enough to still have some shanks left over, give this delicious recipe a try!

Looking for a unique, practical, and possibly last-minute Father’s Day gift this year? A yearly subscription to iSportsmanARX is the perfect gift for the dad who has it all. iSportsmanARX allows any landowner to streamline their land management experience, giving them more time to spend outdoors. But that’s not all, we broke down the top seven reason iSportsmanARX is your 2023 Father’s Day gift solution: 

These days, YouTube has become a treasure trove of information and entertainment for every topic under the sun. It’s easy to lose a few hours here and there to a YouTube rabbit hole, exploring all that the platform has to offer. Even Tom Hanks is prone to going on YouTube binges, having recently rediscovered the commercials of his childhood through the platform.

Outdoor recreational hobbies like hunting have also exploded on the platform, leading to a wonderfully diverse range of content options for every outdoor enthusiast. There’s never been a better time to explore hunting on YouTube than right now, from do-it-yourself solo creators to multimedia production companies, you can find almost anything you could think of about hunting; however, just like with all modern media, the field is oversaturated and some of the content just isn’t worth people’s investment. It’s important to separate the wheat from the chaff to ensure you’re getting the most out of your time with the platform. To that end, iSportsman has rounded up some of the best hunting YouTube channels out there for your viewing pleasure.