Field Journal

Close-up of a laced leather hunting boot
Best Hunting Boots for Texas Hunters: Hill Country to Gulf Coast
Updated October 30, 2026: Added the 2026-27 Texas deer and duck season dates and links to our full Texas deer and duck clothing guides. Texas is not one hunting state.... Read more...
Fly box full of dry flies and nymph patterns for beginner fly fishing
Best Fly Fishing Flies for Beginners: The Essential Patterns Every Angler Needs to Know
The Fly Box Problem: Too Many Flies, Too Little Confidence Walk into any fly shop and the fly bins will overwhelm you. Hundreds of patterns, dozens of sizes, a dozen... Read more...
Deer hunter in a blaze orange vest, orange cap and camo jacket standing against a tree
What to Wear Deer Hunting: The Complete Camo Clothing System for 2026
Every deer season somebody climbs down at 9 a.m. soaked, shivering, and beat — not because it was cold, but because they dressed like it was cold the whole time.... Read more...
Fixed-blade hunting knife held over a campfire with a cast-iron kettle
Best Hunting Knives of 2026: A Field Dressing and Processing Guide for Every Hunter
The Right Knife Is the One That Matches the Job in Front of You Every hunting-knife guide wants to crown a single “best blade.” That is the wrong question. The... Read more...
Hunter wearing a camo hunting backpack with a meat bag, carrying a rifle through the woods
Best Hunting Backpacks of 2026: How to Choose the Right Pack for Any Hunt
Updated November 2026: this guide was rewritten around the packs Venator carries now. The pack is the one piece of gear that can end the hunt on the way out... Read more...
Vintage sepia photo of turkey hunters with gobblers hanging from a tree and their bird dogs
Turkey Hunting in the Afternoon: How to Kill Gobblers After the Morning Hunt
The morning hunt is over — now what? Learn how to kill gobblers in the afternoon with proven calling strategies, midday positioning, and an understanding of what toms do when... Read more...
Trail camera photo of a bull elk with a herd of cow elk in pine timber during fall scouting
When to Start Scouting for Fall: Why Now Might Be Too Early (and How Deer & Elk Patterns Shift Through the Year)
Is it too early to scout in summer? Yes and no. Here's how deer and elk patterns shift spring to summer to fall, what summer scouting actually tells you, and... Read more...
Two anglers fly fishing in the surf on a sandy saltwater beach
Saltwater Fly Fishing vs Freshwater: Why the Salt Will Change How You Cast Forever
Saltwater fly fishing isn't freshwater with bigger gear, it's a completely different sport. Here's exactly what changes (rods, reels, technique, conditions) and why every fly angler should make the jump. Read more...
Spinning reel and baitcasting reel side by side on a rock beside a river
Spinning vs. Casting Reels: Which One You Should Be Using (and When)
A spinning reel is the most forgiving piece of fishing tackle ever made. A baitcaster, used right, is the most powerful. Here's exactly when each one wins, and the rods,... Read more...
Angler leaning over the side of a boat to release a tarpon
Chasing Silver Kings: A No-Nonsense Guide to Tarpon Fishing (And Why Every Angler Should Try It Once)
Everything you need to know about tarpon fishing — tackle, technique, locations, and why every serious angler should chase silver kings at least once before they hang up the rod. Read more...
Angler on a Texas bay boat holding up a redfish caught on the coast
Lures vs. Live Bait on the Texas Coast: Topwater, Soft Plastics, Scented Baits, and the Mighty Popping Cork
When lures beat live bait on the Texas coast — topwater plugs, soft plastics, and the legendary popping cork system broken down for speckled trout and redfish in the bays... Read more...
Sportfishing boat running offshore at sunrise on a saltwater fishing charter
The Best Saltwater Fishing Charter Destinations of 2026 (And How to Book One That Doesn't Suck)
The best saltwater fishing charter destinations for 2026 — where to go, how to book a charter that actually delivers, and what separates the great operations from the tourist traps. Read more...