It's that time of year when we start getting out our hunting gear, placing trail cams, practice shooting, and overall just start getting the fever of hunting season. We all have our favorite hunting season, whether it is deer, elk, bear or duck we are all hyped and getting our gear ready. Some preparation is less than others when it comes to the species and the area you will be hunting. When you take on a hunt that puts you at 10,000 feet above sea level the preparation can be extensive. I have been hunting Utah for seven years for elk and my base camp sits at the 10,000 foot mark. Over the past years I have seen and experienced many situations that can be avoided with proper preparation.

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. 

Made in the USA, Swagger Bipods incorporate high-performance with quality. The QD42 bipod is no different, combining the Quick Adapt Technology from the original Hunter Series and the Quick Detach design from the QD series, the QD42 offers the most versatile shooting system on the market.

This waterfowl season, I introduced a couple of new hunters to the sport: my roommate, Evan—who would see me come home with piles of birds and fresh breasts in the freezer and wanted in on the action— and my girlfriend, Hannah—who had voiced interest in learning to hunt, but I suspect really just wanted to be with me the three days a week I was gone for four months out of the year.

Hidden away in the quiet town of Lebanon, Kansas, lies one of the best-kept hunting secrets in North America: The Trouvaille Hunting Lodge. This remarkable little lodge is nestled in the middle of picturesque countryside, perfect for hunters and recreationists from across the country. Reconnect with the outdoors and rejuvenate your soul at this family friendly lodge that’s perfect for small, tight-knit groups.

Expos are one of the best ways to meet like-minded individuals and to explore the latest gear releases. Every hunter and fisherman should head out to an expo every now and then, you’ll be rewarded with a wonderful experience, and you might even find that new piece of equipment to help you succeed out in the field. Fortunately, the team here at iSportsman has rounded up some of the best hunting and fishing expos happening throughout the rest of May—check it out and see if you can make it to one of these many locations, you won’t regret it.

Grizzly bears are one of the most famous predators on the planet, and it’s many hunters’ dream to take their shot at one. While they could previously be found throughout much of North America, their numbers have rapidly dwindled in the last 50 years, due to habitat loss and other conflicts with humans, making it much more difficult to find them. They are listed as a threatened species in most of America, meaning they can now only be hunted in two areas: Alaska and Canada.

In the past I have hung up my hat after my big game season of choice, the whitetail, and subsequently retire to hiking and fishing through the spring and summer waiting for opening day to return; so beginning my offseason. But two years ago following a successful season of whitetail harvest, I had been unsuccessful in the sense of time spent in the woods. I felt the absolute need to get out and spend more time amongst wildlife. I had been busy working and completing school during deer season and the spring squirrel season presented a chance for me to get back on the chase.

Growing up with an Italian mom, from New York who worked a lot, you can say pasta was on the menu more than a couple times a week. We ate it so much that I stay away from the pasta as much as possible now. This definitely helps when we are hiking the hills, to skip those extra carbs 4 days a week. Of course there is always an exception to this rule, for me it comes in the delicious form of stuffed manicotti. It’s similar to lasagna, but what manicotti actually translates to is little muffs. They are large pasta tubes that you stuff with meats and/or cheeses and bake until the mozzarella is bubbling. It looks so good coming out of the oven that you can’t help but burn your mouth on that lava hot goodness!

Almost every seasoned spring turkey hunter knows the struggle of finding public land to call over a tom and fill your tag. For our Kansas-bound turkey fans, our guide has all the information to make this spring a success. From season dates and permits to regulations and location recommendations to help you find the perfect hunting spot, we’ve got you covered.