Born and raised in the North Carolina foothills, Andy was introduced to the outdoors at a very young age. Like most beginning hunters, he started out hunting small game like rabbits and squirrels, then graduated to larger species like Whitetail Deer. Although he’s an avid deer and turkey hunter, he still enjoys hunting small game as well.  Andy has worked in the hunting and fishing industry for nearly 25 years.
Dove Hunting with Over and Under Shotgun

Can I Go Dove Hunting with an Over and Under Shotgun?

We recently had someone send in the following question via email: “I’m new to dove hunting, but wanted to know if I can go dove hunting with an over and under shotgun? Any help would be appreciated.” After I responded to his email, I thought that question might be relevant to other hunters, so I…
Overcoming Buck Fever to Fill Your Tag

Some Thoughts for Anti-Hunters from a Hunter…

As I’ve mentioned in other posts on this site, I’ve had the opportunity to meet several people over my hunting career who were not fans of hunters. Some of those conversations were very respectful, while others were downright unpleasant. If you’re an anti-hunter or someone who doesn’t agree with the sport of hunting, I won’t…
Trash in the Woods Could Be Attributed to Hunters

5 Common Misconceptions About Hunters

As a lifelong hunter and someone who works in the hunting industry, I always find it interesting to meet and converse with non-hunters or anti-hunters, especially when they don’t know I’m a hunter. While most of the conversations and opinions shared during these discussions are courteous, some are simply eye-opening and others are genuinely disheartening….
Deer Hunting Day Pack

Deer Hunting Gear List for Any Hunt

Ask ten different deer hunters what they pack to deer hunt, and you’ll likely get ten different answers. Although there will probably be some overlapping answers between the group, you’ll also get some unique answers as well. At my full-time job in the retail outdoors market, the rest of our staff and I are frequently…
What is Thinsulate in Boots

What is Thinsulate in Hunting Boots?

Have you ever been shopping for hunting boots and noticed that they were labeled as featuring Thinsulate™ insulation? Most boot shoppers don’t really know all that much about this form of insulation so here’s a look at answering the following question: What is Thinsulate in hunting boots, and why is it so effective? Thinsulate™ is…
Black Bear Hunting

Introduction to Black Bear Hunting

Black bears, also called American Black Bears, are the most common bear species in North America.  They are found all throughout North America, from Canada, the United States, and as far south as Mexico.  Within the U.S., black bears are found in 41 of the 50 U.S. states and territories. Female black bears weigh between…
Male Turkey Strutting for Mates

What Makes the Perfect Pair of Turkey Hunting Boots?

For many years, there have been debates regarding the “perfect” pair of turkey hunting boots, both in-person and online. So, one of the first questions people ask is, “will my regular hunting boots work for Turkey hunting?” Well, they might work just fine, but then again, they may not. So the answer will really depend…

Snake Bite Protection for Hunters: Snake Boots vs Snake Gaiters vs Snake Chaps

If you spend enough time outdoors during the warmer months or happen to live in a warmer climate state, it’s only a matter of time before you encounter some species of snake. While most snakes found in the United States are harmless, a small percentage are known to be venomous, and those are the species…