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Here, you’ll find coverage of hunting, fishing, adventure sports and military competitions. Outdoor columnist Ken Perrotte, an avid hunter and fisherman, handles our field coverage, profiling the best new gear and hottest hunting spots from southern Georgia to South America and beyond.
  • ‘Flipping lieutenant’ tumbles to world record
    One of the newest officers at Fort Bliss, Texas, is already known as "that flipping lieutenant."
    Posted Thursday Dec 20, 2012 12:33:16 EST
  • ‘Top Shot’ guardsman joins Glock pistol team
    A specialist in the Arizona Army National Guard has turned her notoriety as a "Top Shot" contestant into a competitive shooting career as the newest member of Glock USA's practical pistol shooting...
    Posted Thursday Oct 25, 2012 16:19:22 EDT
  • Guardsman may make MMA finale all-Army affair
    If the military MMA gods smile, it will be National Guard mechanic vs. active-duty grunt on the "TUF" House fight card.
    Posted Thursday Oct 11, 2012 16:57:00 EDT
  • Soldier, airman finish strong for Team USA
    The Olympics may be over, but two more service members suited up in red, white and blue this month to represent Team USA.
    Posted Thursday Sep 20, 2012 15:20:58 EDT
  • Meet your military Paralympians
    Without all the glitz and fanfare, without all the media and prime-time coverage, the "other" London Games — the Paralympics — are set to begin Aug. 29.
    Posted Tuesday Sep 4, 2012 16:22:38 EDT
  • Outgearing the fish
    Leading makers of fishing gear like to launch new product lines in midsummer. The buzzwords are always "lighter, faster, stronger" — sometimes even "cheaper." Of course, enhancing your ability...
    Posted Thursday Aug 23, 2012 19:50:06 EDT
  • All in the family
    An Army wife and two Air Force daughters have managed to outscore an entire contingent of military athletes in the medal count at the Summer Games in London.
    Posted Thursday Aug 16, 2012 18:43:46 EDT
  • The Socialympics: Military athletes’ Twitter feeds, Instagram pics offer unique view into 2012 games
    Marine Sgt. Jamel Herring finishes a sweaty round of hammering away at the speed bag and grabs his iPhone. Ringside as two U.S. boxing teammates spar, he's working angles and taking shots of an...
    Posted Wednesday Aug 1, 2012 12:08:14 EDT
  • Gold-medal PT
    You don't have to be an Olympic athlete to train like one. And just because you have no plans to make a go at elite-level wrestling, boxing, fencing or track doesn't mean you can't learn valuable...
    Posted Wednesday Aug 1, 2012 12:07:59 EDT
  • Warrior Olympians: 16 military athletes vie for glory in London
    Two centuries ago, British troops fought their way into the U.S. and burned the Capitol in the War of 1812. Now, a contingent of U.S. troops is bound for Britain looking to set a few fires of its own.
    Posted Wednesday Jul 25, 2012 14:40:51 EDT
  • Meet the athletes: Fencing
    The only Air Force athlete bound for the Olympics this year is also the only officer in the U.S. military contingent.
    Posted Wednesday Jul 25, 2012 14:15:18 EDT
  • Meet the athletes: Track & Field
    On the day Spc. Dennis Bowsher graduated from basic training six years ago, he was probably the only soldier in formation worried about how out of shape he'd become.
    Posted Wednesday Jul 25, 2012 14:10:36 EDT
  • Meet the athletes: Boxing
    Sgt. Jamel Herring almost gave up boxing. He joined the Marine Corps right out of high school in 2003, hoping to go to war. He got his wish.
    Posted Wednesday Jul 25, 2012 14:08:38 EDT
  • Meet the athletes: Shooting
    Known as a wild man among his fellow marksmen, Sgt. Glenn Eller shrugs off a suggestion that he's the Shaun White of the U.S. shooting team.
    Posted Wednesday Jul 25, 2012 14:07:12 EDT
  • Meet the athletes: Greco-Roman wrestling
    Sgt. 1st Class Dremiel Byers is a man who likes to keep his promises.
    Posted Wednesday Jul 25, 2012 14:05:08 EDT
  • From the Ranks: Blind Navy swimmer headed to London
    Navy Lt. Brad Snyder was in charge of an explosive ordnance disposal platoon supplementing SEAL Team 10 in Afghanistan last September when he triggered an improvised explosive device. The blast left...
    Posted Thursday Jul 12, 2012 19:50:34 EDT
  • Navy vet, 101, seeks gold at VA games
    Navy veteran Jack Faust has won nine gold medals and two silvers the past five times he's competed at the National Veterans Golden Age Games.
    Posted Thursday May 3, 2012 15:53:42 EDT
  • Rowing for the record
    Former Army Sgt. Bryan Fuller picked up an oar for the first time less than a year ago, and now he's part of an elite squad of international rowers pulling their way across the Atlantic one stroke at...
    Posted Thursday Mar 15, 2012 18:51:39 EDT
  • Plank pro: Former Marine George Hood sets record
    The Tough Guy of the Week Award goes to former Marine George Hood after surviving his recent grueling pain-a-thon to break the world record for longest plank.
    Posted Thursday Jan 19, 2012 15:59:06 EST
  • Army (brat) strong: Heisman winner Robert Griffin III learned ethic of hard work from soldier parents
    It was a miserably cold fall Friday night in central Texas when Staff Sgt. Robert Griffin Jr. looked down into the eyes of his 11-year-old son and knew something special was going on.
    Posted Monday Dec 19, 2011 11:25:43 EST
  • Sailor-created ‘zombie runs’ to help Red Cross
    Nothing puts the "fun" into a 5K fundraiser quite like the end of the world.
    Posted Thursday Oct 20, 2011 16:07:27 EDT
  • Couple nears finish in 50-state marathon goal
    Army Col. John Teyhen and his wife, Lt. Col. Deydre Teyhen, are on the verge of accomplishing their joint goal of running a marathon in all 50 states at the ING Hartford Marathon in Connecticut on...
    Posted Thursday Oct 13, 2011 13:58:07 EDT
  • Reservist boxer donates winnings to spinal injury research
    Army Reserve Capt. Boyd Melson is fighting for a cause.
    Posted Thursday Oct 13, 2011 13:55:36 EDT
  • Bike buyer’s guide: How to get the best on a budget
    If you're in the market for a new bike, the best thing to do after reading this primer is to head to a bike shop. You need to be fit for the frame, and a reputable shop will have the tools and...
    Posted Thursday Sep 22, 2011 13:23:21 EDT
  • Bike buyer’s guide: Cranks, chainrings and bottom bracket; pedals; derailleurs; chain; brakes
    These come as a package, and spending money here buys lightweight, long-lasting, maintenance-free cranking.
    Posted Thursday Sep 22, 2011 12:51:48 EDT
  • Bike buyer’s guide: Seat, stem, handlebars, headset, controls
    The seat is an intimate decision, dictated by the shape of your butt. You'll want to try a few out, but thinner, sleeker seats generally weigh less and cost more. Gender-specific seats take...
    Posted Thursday Sep 22, 2011 12:51:35 EDT
  • Bike buyer’s guide: Wheels, forks, frame
    Rims: Carbon fiber is the lightest rim material and stiffest, but the most expensive. Most rims are made from different alloys of aluminum, and the differences between them come down...
    Posted Thursday Sep 22, 2011 12:51:24 EDT
  • Bike buyer’s guide: Good values
    Three good values.
    Posted Thursday Sep 22, 2011 12:49:03 EDT
  • Lieutenant named lacrosse league’s top rookie
    Talk about your first-assignment dream job.
    Posted Thursday Sep 8, 2011 14:03:50 EDT
  • National Guard ninja: O-2’s obstacle course obsession puts him in game show’s finals
    "American Ninja Warrior" finalist 1st Lt. Ryan Stratis didn't even make the show on his first try.
    Posted Thursday Aug 25, 2011 11:51:17 EDT
  • Female skydivers score lone gold — and silver — for U.S. at World Military Games
    While the U.S. military may be considered unrivaled in most respects, it was handed a humbling scorecard at the World Military Games in Rio de Janeiro, held July 16-24.
    Posted Thursday Aug 4, 2011 15:53:24 EDT
  • That’s how they roll: Derby women play it fast and physical
    The ladies of the two competing roller derby teams whizzed around the track at the National Guard Armory in Washington, D.C.
    Posted Thursday Jun 9, 2011 14:14:03 EDT
  • ‘All American’ knockout: Former Marine Brian Stann rises up the UFC ranks
    To chants of "U-S-A! U-S-A!" a former Marine and Iraq war hero crushed a leading mixed martial arts contender at an Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-view event May 28 in Las Vegas.
    Posted Thursday Jun 9, 2011 14:04:32 EDT
  • MMA as competition
    MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Marine Corps leaders are preparing to launch tournament-style mixed martial arts competitions within a year.
    Posted Wednesday May 25, 2011 11:46:21 EDT
  • These cadets pack some punch
    Don't tell West Point coach Bobbi Scroggin that women don't know how to take a punch — or land one.
    Posted Thursday Apr 14, 2011 15:04:59 EDT
  • Marine Master Gunnery Sgt. Charles Padilla honored for run across U.S.
    Marine Master Gunnery Sgt. Charles Padilla was recently honored for running 3,530 miles across country in 64 days to raise money for fellow wounded Marines.
    Posted Thursday Mar 10, 2011 17:02:37 EST
  • Soldiers win big at AUSA golf tourney
    FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The true spirit of the Association of the United States Army's winter golf tournament was reflected not on the links or in the clubhouse, but rather in the generosity of...
    Posted Sunday Mar 6, 2011 17:40:59 EST
  • Navy amputee wins long-jump bronze at Paralympics
    Navy Chief Cryptologic Technician Officer Casey Tibbs recently added another medal to Team USA's wins during the 2011 International Paralympic Committee's Athletic World Championships in New Zealand.
    Posted Thursday Feb 3, 2011 14:54:01 EST
  • Escape the winter blues: Hit the greens at affordable hot spots worldwide
    It's more than just the long, dark night of winter that has you feeling pale and faded, right? The only cure for your colorless melancholy is the smell of fresh-cut grass, the snap of a crimson pin...
    Posted Thursday Jan 27, 2011 15:58:49 EST
  • Great golf getaways on the cheap
    With 90 holes spread across six courses, all within an hour's drive, you'd be hard-pressed to find more military golf courses packed in a smaller area. And we're talking world-class locations.
    Posted Thursday Jan 27, 2011 15:53:07 EST
  • Runnin’ on love at the marathon: Marine proposes at finish line
    For Marine Lt. Col. Sean Patak, preparing for the 2010 Marine Corps Marathon involved a lot more than running. He orchestrated a marriage proposal to his girlfriend at the finish line like a precise...
    Posted Thursday Nov 18, 2010 17:58:07 EST
  • From the Ranks: Ex-sailor climbs world’s tallest peaks for a cause
    Former Navy rescue swimmer Brian Dickinson is on a quest to climb to the highest peak on each of the world's seven continents, raising money for AIDS research along the way.
    Posted Thursday Sep 23, 2010 14:14:47 EDT
  • More than semi-tough: Troops take warrior mentality to gridiron
    Editor's note: The Fayetteville Enforcers and Camp Lejeune Bulldogs both advanced to the second round of the Alliance Football League playoffs, scheduled to continue Saturday, Sept. 26. If both...
    Posted Monday Sep 20, 2010 17:35:01 EDT
  • Army captain races to $100,000 for wounded warriors
    Most runners compete in the GORE-TEX TransRockies Run for the challenge, but Army Capt. Matt Cavanaugh and retired Ranger Capt. Paul Terranova ran to raise money and awareness for the Wounded Warrior...
    Posted Thursday Sep 16, 2010 15:56:37 EDT
  • Title shot: Special Forces soldier preps for chance at MMA middleweight belt
    The sheet music on Army Staff Sgt. Tim Kennedy's piano right now is Rachmaninoff's second concerto. A hard-hitting masterpiece with an emotionally exhausting punch, it's a long, tough piece to...
    Posted Friday Aug 20, 2010 4:57:23 EDT
  • Hook some new gear: From high-tech rods to knot-tying time-savers, it’s time to fill your tackle box
    Some hunting and fishing companies may be playing it safe this year, simply offering proven products in new sizes or colors. But others are incorporating new technology, finding ways to make...
    Posted Thursday Aug 19, 2010 14:02:05 EDT
  • Warrior workout: Wield a sword as you test your martial-arts mettle
    Forget the rear naked chokes, arm bars or flying knees of mixed martial arts. If you're looking for a new warrior-infused workout to jumpstart your fitness plan, it's time to unleash your inner...
    Posted Thursday Jul 29, 2010 15:00:19 EDT
  • Like kendo? Here are some more martial arts to try
    Like kendo, there are other lesser-known martial arts that enjoy a faithful following. Check out these five options and learn how you can get started:
    Posted Thursday Jul 29, 2010 14:53:44 EDT
  • Restore fluids without wrecking your body
    Summer scorchers should have you constantly topping off with liquid coolants, but be careful: The drinks you grab could pack more punch than you want, adding pounds, sapping energy and doing all...
    Posted Wednesday Jul 21, 2010 19:40:37 EDT
  • Wild rides: Top whitewater destinations within striking distance
    Harold Kropaczewski fell in love with the Wenatchee River the first time he fought his way through its massive boat-slamming, body-tossing, bone-chilling rapids.
    Posted Friday Jun 11, 2010 11:45:55 EDT
  • Young guns
    Learning to safely and confidently fire a gun was once a rite of passage for most American youngsters. Whether gaining proficiency to help put meat in the cooking pot or defend family and home, the...
    Posted Friday May 28, 2010 20:07:29 EDT
  • Golden grapplers
    For the second year in a row, a team of Army wrestlers smoked the other services at the Armed Forces Wrestling Championship hosted by the Marines at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 18-22.
    Posted Tuesday May 18, 2010 8:42:33 EDT
  • Crash-busters
    Nothing kills a good workout like running out of gas — crashing — when you're mentally still in the game. Ultramarathoner Posted Tuesday May 18, 2010 8:40:49 EDT
  • Barefoot running gains traction
    Maj. Victor Palma lives to run. Barely a day goes by when he's not racking up miles either on his home treadmill or on the Colorado roads snaking around Peterson Air Force Base.
    Posted Sunday Mar 21, 2010 14:33:02 EDT
  • Getting started with barefoot running
    Ready to rip off your running shoes and give barefoot a try?
    Posted Sunday Mar 21, 2010 14:30:35 EDT
  • Biathlete, bobsledders compete at Vancouver
    American military biathlete Jeremy Teela had already made U.S. Olympic history prior to the men's 20-kilometer individual biathlon in Whistler, British Columbia, on Feb. 18.
    Posted Monday Feb 22, 2010 16:42:57 EST
  • About Whistler
    All of the Winter Olympics' Nordic sports — including biathlon and bobsled — are taking place in the winter wonderland of Whistler, British Columbia, a world-class but unpretentious...
    Posted Tuesday Feb 9, 2010 15:09:30 EST
  • Meet the military Olympians

    Posted Tuesday Feb 9, 2010 15:05:36 EST
  • When to watch service members in the Olympics
    NBC is televising the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Races for biathlon and bobsled are scheduled, in Eastern Standard Time, as follows:
    Posted Tuesday Feb 9, 2010 14:59:35 EST
  • Speed in winter
    Look for them sliding down an icy track at speeds approaching 90 mph, or target shooting with a pulse rate of 180 beats per minute. They are four bobsledders and one biathlete who will represent both...
    Posted Tuesday Feb 9, 2010 14:43:35 EST
  • Tough loss ends season for resurgent Army squad
    PHILADELPHIA — Army senior wide receiver Alejandro Vilanueva stands 10 inches taller than his freshman quarterback. The senior is training to lead an infantry unit after he graduates this...
    Posted Wednesday Dec 16, 2009 12:23:36 EST
  • Air Force officers nominated for ‘Most Inspiring Person’
    Air Force Maj. Tobin Griffeth and Capt. Katie Illingworth were among the 10 nominees for Beliefnet.com's Most Inspiring Person of 2009.
    Posted Wednesday Dec 16, 2009 10:39:54 EST
  • Scenarios tailored for fun, tactical training
    TACOMA, Wash. — I was "dead" in 15 seconds. The Ranger got me with a clean shot to the gut. The next time, I did better, taking a couple of gunrunners down before taking a burst to the knee and...
    Posted Thursday Oct 22, 2009 21:15:27 EDT
  • Shooting for realism
    Call them dead ringers. Originally imported from Japan, Airsoft guns and gear have found growing popularity in the U.S. over the past decade.
    Posted Thursday Oct 22, 2009 21:11:01 EDT
  • Longboards: Not your kid’s skateboard
    You've seen them around base. As you drove past what you thought was your neighbor's kid, you realized it was actually your neighbor buzzing down a street on a longboard, soulfully unwinding life's...
    Posted Friday Sep 25, 2009 17:40:31 EDT
  • From the Corps to the college football field
    Wrapped around Ricardo Cannon's neck, wherever he goes, is the memory of two dead Marines. Two heroes. Two ghosts.
    Posted Friday Sep 11, 2009 10:33:43 EDT
  • Military Times exclusive discount
    The sweat dripping into your eyes might make it hard to think about cold-weather gear this time of year, but it won't be summer forever. So plan ahead — and take advantage of a special discount...
    Posted Friday Sep 4, 2009 11:32:24 EDT
  • Military charity launches fantasy football fundraiser
    Football season is upon us, and with it, its increasingly popular alter ego, fantasy football. More than 25 million Americans will scrutinize, analyze and obsess over players and stats for a fantasy...
    Posted Friday Sep 4, 2009 11:27:30 EDT
  • Thrilling therapy
    FORT LEWIS, Wash. — Army Sgt. Sylvia Portillo went first. Secured with elastic cords to a railroad bridge more than 200 feet over a gorge south of Mount St. Helens, Portillo's mission was to...
    Posted Wednesday Aug 12, 2009 12:37:39 EDT
  • Troops get priority at Tiger’s D.C. area tourney
    Tiger Woods is having a party this week and 30,000 troops are invited.
    Posted Wednesday Jul 1, 2009 13:53:11 EDT
  • Airman swims, rides, runs to title
    On any given day, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Bergquist runs more miles than some people drive. Then he changes his clothes, gets on his bike and rides more miles than some people drive in a week....
    Posted Friday Jun 26, 2009 12:55:46 EDT
  • Having a blast
    After I missed the third of three targets, shotgun shooting expert and coach Geoff Leighton got right in my grill and put his sport into pithy perspective.
    Posted Thursday Apr 30, 2009 15:55:44 EDT
  • Weather any storm
    Life in the great outdoors can be a muddy, wet mess. (That goes double if you plan to take your kids along.) But thanks to a handful of new products, you can keep your electronics and valuables from...
    Posted Thursday Apr 16, 2009 16:11:36 EDT
  • By the troops, for the troops
    Startup T-shirt companies are a dime a dozen, but the ones that succeed are able to speak to unique audiences. That explains the success of Ranger Up, a clothing line developed for the troops, by the...
    Posted Saturday Mar 7, 2009 12:07:46 EST
  • Tube time
    If you're looking for some ski slope excitement without the alpine risks, expenses or equipment — then strap on a snow tube and get your thrills on.       
    Posted Friday Feb 6, 2009 15:50:18 EST
  • Military Paralympians crush the odds and become world-class athletes
    TEMPE, Ariz. — It's barely 8 a.m. and already the sun has begun to broil this sprawling college town on the east side of Phoenix. Gabriel Diaz de Leon, his forehead dotted with sweat, retreats...
    Posted Friday Jun 27, 2008 10:28:06 EDT
  • A shot at the Olympics
    FORT BENNING, Ga. — When Day 2 of the Olympic shooting trials ended for Petty Officer 2nd Class Sandra Uptagrafft, she set down her pistol, stepped back from the firing line and quietly put her...
    Posted Wednesday May 28, 2008 14:45:25 EDT
  • Get the details on tunnel flying
    Wanna try tunnel flying? Here's your preflight briefing:
    Posted Sunday Feb 24, 2008 17:32:52 EST
  • Free fallin’
    RAEFORD, N.C. — For folks like Tim D'Annunzio a former jumper with the Army's Golden Knights parachute team, the desire to fly has matured into a lifelong fixation. Free fall isn't some...
    Posted Sunday Feb 24, 2008 17:29:55 EST
  • Hard Corps marathon runners
    A list of active, Reserve and retired Marines who competed in the Marine Corps Marathon:
    Posted Wednesday Oct 31, 2007 17:18:39 EDT
  • Thousands put the military in the Marine Corps Marathon
    More than 8,000 current, former and retired members of the armed services participated in the 2007 Marine Corps Marathon, run on Oct. 28 in and around Washington D.C.
    Posted Wednesday Oct 31, 2007 13:27:31 EDT
  • Marine chefs beat out rival teams in cookoff
    WASHINGTON — Military cooks from across the world gathered on a street outside the Marine Barracks Sept. 28 to determine which branch would hold bragging rights for the next year for the best...
    Posted Friday Oct 5, 2007 11:55:44 EDT
  • Record shot put throw earns former soldier spot in Paralympics
    With a record-breaking shot put throw, a former Army specialist is the first severely injured veteran of the Iraq war to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.
    Posted Thursday Jul 19, 2007 19:33:17 EDT
  • Marine completes 250K Gobi Desert adventure race
    Over one week in June, Marine Cpl. Paul Johnston lost nearly 10 percent of his body weight as he trekked across China's desolate Gobi Desert in a 250-kilometer endurance race, according to a Posted Monday Jul 9, 2007 11:42:22 EDT
  • Disabled Iraq veterans stay in the race
    Andy Hatcher ran his first marathon seven months before being deployed to Iraq in September 2004. Losing his right leg in combat three months later could have ended his running career, but Hatcher is...
    Posted Thursday May 31, 2007 17:48:30 EDT
  • In this race, you’re lucky if you finish
    FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — The road to glory begins at a scuffed-out starting line on a hard-packed dirt road high above the roar of the rushing Gauley River, so far back in the woods you almost...
    Posted Friday Apr 27, 2007 13:14:16 EDT
  • Brit-Marine boxing battle ends in 4-4 draw
    CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — If it was supposed to be an exhibition fight, no one told James Ronan.
    Posted Friday Apr 20, 2007 11:35:06 EDT
  • Guide to military sports
    If you're into sports — and we're guessing that you are, considering how the military attracts avid athletes —there's a place for you to compete, or at least get a fix from the sidelines...
    Posted Tuesday Dec 5, 2006 14:26:31 EST
  • Army dominates in sniper contest
    FORT BENNING, Ga. — Army teams dominated the sixth annual International Sniper Competition, which ended Nov. 2, by sweeping the top five spots at the end of the intense six-day...
    Posted Friday Nov 3, 2006 16:21:18 EST
  • Rangers win sniper competition
    FORT BENNING, Ga. – Staff Sgts. Joe Lynch and Michael Rach, of 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Fort Benning have shot their way to the top of the sixth annual International Sniper...
    Posted Thursday Nov 2, 2006 11:11:23 EST
  • Nordic walking is not very hip — but easy on the hips
    Save the snotty comments. The Nordic walkers have heard them all.
    Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST
  • A fitting tribute
    If you're looking for a meaningful gift this holiday season that commemorates the service of a fallen hero, Image316.com can help.
    Posted Wednesday Dec 31, 1969 19:00:00 EST

Sports headlines from USAToday.com


Hunting and fishing


  • Is that an assault rifle?
    You may have heard them called "black rifles" or "modern sporting rifles."
  • Taking aim: Olympic shooters share tips on performing under pressure
    The U.S. military is dispatching an elite squad of supershooters to London this summer, each member gunning for Olympic gold. Indeed, more than half of the 22-strong U.S. shooting team claim...
  • Something new in the sights: Shotgun makers roll out retooled, downsized favorites
    New shotgun rollouts have been cautious this past year — mainly line extensions, retooling of favorite guns and downsizing to the increasingly popular 28-gauge bore size. One notable exception...
  • Hog wild: Taking down feral pigs in Texas
    HONDO, Texas — Mike Bodenchuk's diverse hit squad of skilled shooters, trappers and chopper pilots is trying to assert some measure of control over a seemingly uncontrollable situation...
  • 2012 rifle rundown: Sporting weapons in every price range
    While the economy continued to struggle last year, sales of firearms and ammunition surged at year's end, with a record number of people seeking background checks after initiating purchases through...
  • Net the latest fishing gear
    For many recreational anglers, an old fishing rod, a reel partially attached with duct tape, a bobber and a can of worms is all the gear they need. But for others, gear innovations evoke the allure...
  • Turkeys elude hunters in Black Hills chase
    Michael Turbeyfill and Van Mauney surveyed the expanse of thinned ponderosa pine below them as first light began creeping over the Black Hills of South Dakota.
  • Killer camo: Today’s patterns make you blend in – or stand out
    If you saw an armed man creeping around the woods in surplus Vietnam-era military fatigues, the first word that came to mind wouldn't be "sportsman."
  • Paddlin’ old school
    If a kayak isn't for you, there's always a canoe. Here's what novices and infrequent paddlers should be thinking about before investing in a basic canoe suited for fishing and touring:
  • Wander any water
    No fish is safe. Today's fishing kayaks turn secluded lagoons and previously inaccessible, shallow backwaters into prime hunting grounds for anglers wanting to boldly go where no one has fished...
  • Foreign-made shotguns are among the best – and most affordable – of 2011
    Turkish walnut has been shaped, polished and finished to create work-of-art shotgun and rifle stocks for generations. But when it came to crafting the whole enchilada — the full scattergun or...
  • Happy 25th, Glock U.S.
    Glock U.S. opened its doors 25 years ago with three desks, an IBM PC and a water cooler — and then grew to dominate the U.S. pistol market with 250 employees selling 450,000 pistols a year.
  • Sporting gunmakers roll out tactical updates — and one slick new six-shooter
    The firearms industry largely escaped the recent recession, especially in terms of sales of personal defense weapons.
  • Your best shot: Winchester casts ‘Hex’ with new waterfowl load
    I hear talk about the hottest new thing in shotgun shells, the saying, "I'm from Missouri — show me" tends to drive my behavior.
  • Bargain hunting: From trash-bag decoys to homemade bird calls, low-cost solutions can save big bucks
    Open any outdoors magazine and reports of the hottest new gear often dominate the coverage.
  • Packing light & right
    Settling on a gear list for a remote hunt is an exercise in thinking light, practical and necessary.
  • Mooseless — again
    Great preparation and gear coming together in an outstanding hunting territory known for record-book Canada moose and big grizzly bears could not overcome what the temperature was registering by noon...
  • Best blasts of 2010
    So you don't have $100,000 to drop for a fabulously engraved Perazzi, let alone $400,000 for the four-gun series the Italian manufacturer displayed at this year's SHOT Show in Las Vegas?
  • Warm up to winter kayaking
    Temperatures are plunging. There's a nip in the air. Time to get out there and play in the white stuff. But I'm not talking about snow. I'm talking about that other white stuff — white water.
  • Making sense of scents
    In late August, freshly collected and bottled urine loaded with hormonal markers from a whitetail doe in heat was selling for a little less than $14 per ounce, about the cost of an equivalent amount...
  • Navy swimmer eyes 2012 Olympics
    Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Lisa Broadfield knows exactly when the Olympics came into focus as a goal after more than 20 years of competitive swimming.
  • Casting off the pain
    CASPER, Wyo. — The morning smells of last night's rain, shrouded by a quiet you have to leave town to hear. Here at Bessemer Bend on the North Platte River, it's a good morning to concentrate....
  • A cool way to say thanks
    A combat veteran and avid boater has organized a nationwide effort to honor troops and veterans with a day on the water.
  • Gone fishin’
    SMALLWOOD STATE PARK, Md. — The springtime waters of Maryland's Mattawoman Creek summoned memories of the creeks and lakes of Army Spc. Josh Schichtl's hometown of Conway, Ark. — a...
  • Uncharted waters?
    Where do you start on a new lake that you've never fished before? At home in front of a good map. Before heading to the lake, do some planning. Check the following water factors, online or at a local...
  • Having a blast
    After I missed the third of three targets, shotgun shooting expert and coach Geoff Leighton got right in my grill and put his sport into pithy perspective.
  • Take your best shot
    Innovations for deer and bird hunters keep coming in the shotgun world. Pairing improved barrels and new slugs give deer or black bear hunters increased range and accuracy. Guns designed for...
  • On the cutting edge
    Looking for a sharper, better, more tactical blade? These 10 will get the job done.
  • On target: There’s a rifle for your needs
    This year is shaping up to be an interesting one in the firearms industry. Consumer concerns over potential new or resurrected restrictions on handguns and semiautomatic variations of military-styled...
  • Call of the wild
    On your next fishing trip, aim high and heavy — use what the champ uses (opposite page). Alton Jones won the 2008 Bassmaster Classic with Ardent's XS1000 free spool casting reel. The XS1000 can...
  • Prepare for the worst
    Most people don't head out on hunting, fishing or camping trips thinking something bad will happen — at least, not to them. But Mother Nature is a tough taskmistress: quick to punish...
  • Tastes like chicken
    Hunters can process their own alligators or take them to a processor (usually state-registered). The meat, often from the tail and cheeks, is very good (its texture is a cross between pork and fish....
  • Not ‘plain crazy,’ Marine insists
    Lt. Col. Mark Mackey says some of his more domesticated friends and co-workers call him "plain crazy" for even hunting alligators. "Others say I take too many chances out there, and some have even...
  • Where to get your gator
    Looking for a new outdoor challenge? Here's where to go get your own gator.
  • Fast cast
    FAYETTE, W.Va. — Ready for a real fishing challenge? Then forgo a paddling excursion on a whitewater river and climb aboard a fishing raft with a spinning rod.
  • Angler’s dream
    An ESPN survey of pro bass anglers a couple of years ago asked them to rate the finest lake in the country for fishing.
  • Have a blast
    Reduced weight, reduced recoil and precision actions that increase cycling speed are among the high points in this year's lineup of new shotguns.
  • Have guns, will travel
    In some respects, flying with sporting firearms has been easier since Sept. 11, 2001. Tighter controls of checked firearms by the airlines and Transportation Security Administration lessen the chance...
  • Gunning for rays
    PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — High-performance military aircraft aren't the only winged beasts with great destructive potential around Maryland's Patuxent River Naval Air Station and the Chesapeake Bay.
  • Land a rod-breaking bas in northern Alabama’s lakes
    LAKE GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — Are you looking for a lake where the term "hawg bass" comes to life? If so, you should settle your crosshairs on northern Alabama, where some of the country's most...
  • How to choose a tree stand
    For white-tailed deer hunting, one of the most useful tools is the one safely and comfortably supporting your backside: the tree stand.
  • Argentina offers the wing hunt of a lifetime
    "Tranquilo. Tranquilo, amigo."
  • Vintage weapons find new life with hunters
    When our patriot forefathers answered the first calls to arms for militias and the fledgling Continental Army, the muskets they toted were often the ones kept in their homes for hunting and defense.
  • What to look for in a vintage weapon
    Just cradling a 100-year-old military rifle in your hands -- staring down the cool blued barrel and feeling the warmth of the aged wood -- has its own rewards for the shooting and hunting fan.
  • Virginia's Potomac region a duck hunter's dream
    The thin sheet of ice crackled beneath the aluminum johnboat carrying three heavily clothed hunters, one eager young Labrador retriever and dozens of duck decoys from the sandy launch point to the...
  • Great guns for female shooters
    Anyone who still thinks big-game hunting is exclusively an outdoors gentlemen's club needs to think again. Women make up one of the fastest-growing segments of the community of hunting and...

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