Field Journal

Hunter kneeling behind a whitetail buck taken in brush country on an out-of-state OTC hunt
The Best Out-of-State OTC Hunts in the U.S. (And the Gear, Apps, and Outfitters That'll Get You There)
The best over-the-counter hunting states where you can buy a tag without a draw — and the gear, apps, and outfitters that'll help you close the deal on elk, mule... Read more...
Out-of-state hunt packing checklist laid out flat: backpack, sleeping bag, boots, arrows and camo gear
The Ultimate Out-of-State Hunt Packing Checklist (2026 Edition)
The complete out-of-state hunt packing checklist for 2026 — gear, licenses, tags, food, and camp equipment. Everything that has to go on the truck before you leave, organized by category. Read more...
Cartoon of hunting app icons fighting it out, titled Hunting App Brawl, for the best hunting apps of 2026
Best Hunting Apps of 2026: The Tools Every Serious Hunter Should Have on Their Phone
The best hunting apps for 2026 — OnX Hunt, BaseMap, and the tools serious hunters use for public land scouting, offline maps, weather, and state regulations. Don't go into the... Read more...
Bowhunter in camo holding a compound bow in tall grass on public land
5 Easiest States for Out-of-State Hunters to Get an OTC License and Hunt Public Land
If you learned the out-of-state game a decade ago, half of what you know is now wrong. Two of the classic 'just buy a tag and go' doors have swung... Read more...
Fly angler in waders casting on a river below snowy peaks, the kind of federal land Order 3447 opens to more hunting and fishing
Interior Pushes to Streamline Hunting Rules on Parks and Federal Sites: What Secretarial Order 3447 Means for Hunters
Secretarial Order 3447 directs the Interior Department to streamline and expand hunting and fishing access on national parks and federal lands. Here's what the order actually says, which lands it... Read more...
Bull elk grazing on a rocky, pine-covered hillside, the elk now spreading into eastern South Dakota
Elk Wander to Eastern South Dakota: State Responds With Unlimited Hunting Licenses
South Dakota just opened unlimited elk hunting licenses in several eastern counties as the herd expands into new territory. Here's where to hunt, how to apply, and what hunters need... Read more...
Roman venator with a spear fighting a lion and bears in a packed Colosseum arena
The Ultimate Arena: The Venators of Rome
Venator is a 2,000-year-old Latin word for hunter. The story of the Roman Venatores — beast hunters of the Colosseum — and why we named our brand after them. Read more...
Woman turkey hunter in camo sitting against a tree glassing with binoculars, a turkey in the background
Turkey Hunting: Tactics, Gear, and Everything You Need for Spring Season
Turkey Hunting: Tactics, Gear, and Everything You Need for Spring Season Spring gobbler hunting rewards the patient and punishes the loud. First season or fifteenth, this is the Venator Field... Read more...
Hunter loading gear onto an electric bike in a garage workshop
Hunting Gear Reviews: Optics, Knives, Packs and Boots
Hunting Gear Reviews: Optics, Knives, Packs and Boots Venator is hunter-owned, and the standard here is unglamorous: we tell you what we stock, what we do not, and why a... Read more...
Hunters hiking across a golden high-country meadow toward timbered mountains on public land
Out-of-State Hunting: OTC Tags, Draw Systems, and Public Land Strategy
Out-of-State Hunting: OTC Tags, Draw Systems, and Public Land Strategy Going west, or east, or anywhere past your home state line, is one of the most rewarding and most logistically... Read more...
Angler casting from rocks into the sea at sunrise
Texas Fishing Guide: Saltwater, Freshwater, and Everything In Between
Texas Fishing: The Complete Guide Texas hands you more water than one lifetime can fish. Roughly 367 miles of Gulf coastline, thousands of reservoirs and stock tanks, and Hill Country... Read more...
Close-up portrait of a whitetail buck in golden evening light, Texas deer hunting
Texas Deer Hunting: The Complete Guide to Seasons, Zones, Gear, and Public Land
Texas Deer Hunting: The Complete Guide Texas isn't one deer hunt — it's a dozen stacked into one state: brush-country bruisers in the South, pressured Hill Country whitetail, and public-land... Read more...