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Early fall dove shoots are a tradition throughout much of the country. In many ways, dove shoots herald the start of the hunting season. Volleys of shots reverberate around farm country as shotgunners face the humbling experience that often accompanies taking a crack at the fast-flying birds.

Ken Perrotte
Read more about Winchester Adds TSS to Star-Studded Waterfowl Lineup
Winchester Ammunition

Already known for its all-star team of waterfowl loads, Winchester added an exciting newcomer for this fall. Last Call is a TSS load that offers unbelievable performance  where success is a requirement, not a hope. “We launched Last Call in early September and are really excited about this new choice for waterfowlers,” said Jimmy Wilson, Product Manager for Winchester Ammunition. “It’s the perfect complement to the other loads that serious hunters have embraced for years.”

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Read more about Please Welcome the .21 Sharp

No doubt, the 22 LR is the undisputed king of cartridges. 

A mid-power offering in the evolutionary chain of the French sportsman/inventor Louis-Nicolas Flobert’s .22 BB Cap of 1845, the .22 Long Rifle walked a perfect line between power, recoil, noise and cost that outshined all other rimfires and is still going strong today.  Indeed, it’s estimated that roughly 2.5 billion rounds of .22 LR are manufactured each year!

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Read more about Strategies for Greater Deer Hunting Success
Melissa Bachman
Looking toward fall, one of my all-time favorites is and always will be deer hunting. It’s the one hunt I’ve done since I was a little girl in central Minnesota and it's something many hunters can relate to.
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Read more about How to Best Plan Year Round for Deer Hunting
Melissa Bachman
Deer hunting may officially start in the fall, but much of the hard work happens beforehand. While some might consider this preparation hard work, it’s a fun year-round activity that enhances the overall hunting experience and boosts chances of success.
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Read more about Prep for Dove Season with Winchester
Ken Perrotte

Early fall dove shoots are a tradition throughout much of the country. In many ways, dove shoots herald the start of the hunting season. Volleys of shots reverberate around farm country as shotgunners face the humbling experience that often accompanies taking a crack at the fast-flying birds.

Read more
Read more about Tips on Casual Competition for Proficiency as a Newer Shooter
Becky Yackley
Serious competition shooters have a different focus than the casual shooter. They usually have specific events and goals they are training for. However, there are skill benefits for the casual shooter that can be found in competition. It’s a place not to be overlooked when a new gun owner is trying to improve their proficiency!
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Read more about How to Best Select Ammunition for the Range
Becky Yackley

For all of the current firearm owners and recreational shooters out there, there are many others who have thought about going to the range or owning a firearm but don’t know where to start. Let’s talk about some of the simple things you should know that can help you get to the range!

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Read more about Welcome to the Inaugural Winchester Shooting Sports eNewsletter

Within each eNewsletter, we’ll share engaging information in the shooting sports world including upcoming events, tips from Team Winchester and how to get more involved shooting sports world. In addition, we’ll showcase products that will help you prepare for time spent on the range with family and friends, or, for your next competition. Once again, welcome to the Winchester Shooting Sports eNewsletter!

Desi Edmunds

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Read more about Power-Point Ammo Delivers Big-Time Results in 400 Legend
Melissa Bachman

As an avid hunter, it’s incredibly important to have confidence in my gear, especially when it comes to ammunition. For decades, Winchester has gone above and beyond, introducing ammunition products that deliver consistent results on the range and in the field. No better example comes to mind than Power-Point centerfire rifle ammo. This legacy round remains one of the most popular among big-game hunters still today … and I know firsthand why.

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Read more about It’s Time to Hunt Roooooosters!
Benny Spies

South Dakota is best known for some exceptional things; Mount Rushmore, my mother’s incredible cooking and pheasant hunting. And when it comes to hunting pheasants, we can coin South Dakota as the pheasant hunting capital of the world, given its rich pheasant resources.

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Read more about How To Make This Your Best Clay Shooting Season Yet
Foster Bartholow

Hundreds of fellow shooters came to congratulate Matthew Bartholow after notching another incredible accomplishment. He just stepped off the line after winning the 2022 World Doubles Championship at the Grand American World Trapshooting Championships put on by the American Trapshooting Association in Sparta, IL. This shoot is the largest event of its kind. It attracts shooters from all over the world, spanning several days with more than 20 events to compete in. To say Matthew was brimming with emotion was an understatement.

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Read more about Winchester: Committed to Conservation
Winchester Ammunition

The conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage. It is the mission of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), a modern day, model organization that has demonstrated a commitment to conservation at the highest level for 50 years. It’s an achievement to celebrate. It’s a half century of leadership, headquarters staff, regional directors and dedicated volunteers all working for the wild turkey, habitat improvement and positive promotion of hunting and the shooting sports.

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Read more about The Great Fanizzi
Winchester Ammunition
To see the face of the future of competitive sporting-clays shooting, you have to look no farther than young, Florida-born Joseph Fanizzi.  And Winchester is justly proud to announce that Fanizzi is now officially affiliated with Winchester Ammunition.
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Read more about Meet Joe Fanizzi - Sporting Clay Champion and New Team Winchester Member
Winchester Ammunition
To see the face of the future of competitive sporting-clays shooting, you have to look no farther than young, Florida-born Joseph Fanizzi.  And Winchester is justly proud to announce that Fanizzi is now officially affiliated with Winchester Ammunition.
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Read more about What Ammo do I Buy for My Firearm?
Becky Yackley
If you are one of the mentors helping millions of first-time firearm owners learn about firearms and ammunition, or one of those new to gun ownership, here are some facts every gun owner should know when making choices in ammunition.
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Read more about Things you Should Know When Purchasing Your First Pistol
Becky Yackley
Don’t feel overwhelmed! Let's break down some of the basic details to have in mind before you make a purchase.
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Read more about How to Best Load Magazines - What to Know Before Heading to the Range
Becky Yackley
For me, loading magazines is a part of prep for the range that I find exciting. It means I’m going to spend time doing something I love. In this blog, I’m going to share how to load magazines in ways that will help a new firearm owner or someone who is new to the range, and maybe give people who think they know it all something to ponder. Let’s see…
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Read more about Alaskan Black Bear with Winchester's Super-X
Winchester Ammunition
A black bear ambles silently towards us through neck-high ferns interlaced in the twisted grove of alder trees. Thick vegetation doesn't describe the Alaskan jungle before us; the greenery resembles a garden salad with one flaxseed hidden in the middle.
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Read more about Bison in Alaska - An Adventure of a Lifetime
Winchester Ammunition
The lethality of Winchester Expedition Big Game Long Range continues to amaze me. I hoped to add bison to the list of Alaskan animals downed by my ammunition of choice.
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Read more about Blacktail Deer on Kodiak Island with Winchester Deer Season XP

WHOP! The report of a well-placed shot is a beautiful sound. Music to my ears on Kodiak Island, Land of the Giants.

The Emerald Island has an abundant population of brown bears, mountain goats, blacktail deer, and fox. The hunting history of “The Rock” is rich, filled with big tales from big adventures.   When gearing up for this journey, many thoughts run through my mind regarding safety and performance. I don’t want to be under-gunned (or should not be!) when coming face to face with a 10-foot tall hungry brown bear. A near perfect medium with calibers such as 338 Win Mag, 300 Win Mag, and 300 WSM are all great choices to consider for such an outing. The real key is finding the ammunition combo which will perform as intended.

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Read more about How To Load And Unload A Semi-Automatic Shotgun
Becky Yackley
What you should know about loading and unloading a semi auto is very similar to what you should know about a pump shotgun.
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Read more about How To Load And Unload A Pump-Action Shotgun
Becky Yackley
This is the Winchester SXP, and it’s an entry-level shotgun with very simple steps required to use it.
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Read more about 2021 NSCA Tour Championship Tour, Powered by Winchester
Winchester Ammunition
A Fall Classic once more gathered the greats of the shooting sports at the state-of-the-art National Shooting Complex, October 22-31.
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Read more about National Sporting Clays Association Championship Winchester Ladies Cup
Winchester Ammunition
A woman’s place is–on the trap field.  Or the skeet, sporting clays, or 5-stand, and especially at San Antonio’s National Shooting Complex where through the 31st, the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) Championship–powered by Winchester®–is wrapping up the year’s-long tour of the five major regional championships, the US Open, and now the finale.
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Read more about Why Shoot Or Hunt With A Suppressor
Melissa Bachman
A common question I get asked when someone sees a suppressor on the end of my gun or in a photo is why? It’s a very reasonable question and answers may surprise you
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Read more about Basic Principles For Range Etiquette
Becky Yackley
When headed to the shooting range, here are some things you need to know and to adhere to each and every time you go.
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Read more about 100 Years of Winchester's Super-X!
Melissa Bachman
It officially reaches its 100thAnniversary! This has been a staple not just for myself, and family, but also for so many others over the years.
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Read more about Range Etiquette 101  What Every New Gun Owner Should Know
Becky Yackley
It’s a good idea to look around and take in who else is there and make sure that you are on the same page and have a plan. We’re going to look at a few key items to keep in mind when you show up to the range which will help you to be safe, and get a warm welcome from anyone on the range.
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Read more about Step by Step Instructions to Sight in Your Rifle
Melissa Bachman
Maybe someone has always done it for you but now you want to learn. Or, maybe you’re a brand new shooter and have no clue. Regardless of why, the good news is you’ll be all set up in no time with a little instruction.
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Read more about Pistol and Rifle Magazine Loading 101
Becky Yackley
Once you understand how a magazine works, paying attention to a few tips on technique will make loading mags simple.
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Read more about So You want to Start Hunting, Whats Next?
Melissa Bachman

There is nothing that makes me happier than hearing someone wants to begin hunting. This is my sentiment as well as a vast majority of the hunting community.

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Read more about How to Identify the Caliber/Gauge of a Firearm
Becky Yackley
Whatever your background with guns, you CAN learn how to identify the caliber of a firearm!
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Read more about Team Winchester at the NSCA Championship Tour - North Central Regional
Winchester Ammunition
The North Central Regional Championship, August 10-15, 2021, followed the US Open–combining the 2020 and 2021 opens–held at Claythorne Lodge in Columbus, Kansas, June 7-13, and is ahead of the NSCA Championship scheduled for October 22-31 at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio.
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Read more about Matt Bartholow ATA World Doubles Champion
Winchester Ammunition

The Amateur Trapshooting Association’s World Doubles Championship, held at the Grand in August, 2021, at the World Shooting & Recreational Complex in Sparta, IL, was particularly memorable, and a point of pride for Winchester.



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Read more about Team Winchester - 122nd Grand American World Trapshooting Championships
Winchester Ammunition
The first Grand American took place in Queens, NY, in 1899 for all of 74 shooters.  For the next quarter century, the Grand moved among assorted cities.  During that time, John Philip Sousa, “The March King” composer of “Stars and Stripes Forever,” was president of the American Trapshooting Association, predecessor of today’s Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA).  In 1924, the Grand put down stakes in Vandalia, OH, calling it home until the move to Sparta.  One of the more notable shooters there in 1925, the year before her death, was Phoebe Ann Mosey, better known as Annie Oakley.  Her score was 97 out of 100 targets thrown.  Roy Rogers, “King of the Cowboys,” was another repeat Vandalia competitor.
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Read more about Winchester Adds to Medal Count With Bernau Win in Tokyo
Winchester Ammunition
Shooting was one of the nine events in the original games Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin, brought to Athens in 1896, and some of the first Olympiads included live-pigeon shooting, running deer, and dueling.
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Read more about Maddy Bernau Heads to the 2020 Olympics with Winchester Ammunition
Winchester Ammunition
As she heads for the pandemic-delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she is following on the record career of Olympian Kim Rhode, also of Team Winchester, the most decorated shooter in the history of the games and a competitor—and medalist—in six consecutive Olympiads through 2016, from Atlanta to Rio.  Maddy, though, is prepared for the challenge, her firearm loaded with Winchester AA shotgun shells.
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Read more about Safe Storage Options While Home and Away
Winchester Ammunition
Most gun-owning families with children simply desire a storage solution that keeps kids' grubby mitts off the gun but one that's also quick to access in an emergency.
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Read more about Defensive Drills for Intermediate Shooters
Winchester Ammunition
During the following intermediate drills, we’ll introduce moving while simultaneously firing and reloading, all while under a stopwatch to add mental pressure. Practice these drills until they become second nature, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a proficient defensive hand-gunner.
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Read more about What Are Bonded Bullets And Why Do You Need Them?
Winchester Ammunition
One of the most popular premium bullets is known as a “bonded” bullet, due to the technique by which it’s manufactured. Here we will discuss what is meant by the term “bonded bullet,” how these bullets are made and why they are highly recommended for self-defense.
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Read more about 2020 National Sporting Clays Association Tour - Powered by Winchester
Winchester Ammunition
More than a century old, sporting clays evolved as a discipline to let shooters experience the nearest thing to actual field conditions during the off season, squaring up against six different-sized targets and always variable distances, speeds, and angles, simulating everything from duck to pheasant to rabbit hunting.  And since 1989, registered shoots and the official records of scores have been governed by the National Sporting Clays Association.  In 2020, for the second year in a row, the association’s nationwide series of events has been the National Sporting Clays Association Championship Tour (Powered by Winchester®)
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Read more about Winchester Expedition Big Game - A Heavy Hitter For Big Game
Winchester Ammunition

Moose Season is what I look forward to every year. For our family, a full freezer of red meat is depended upon. During the September season, hunters in Alaska who are on a 10-day hunt will get one great opportunity at a legal bull. Sometimes, however, not at all.

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Read more about Differences Between 3” and 3.5” For Duck Hunters
Melissa Bachman
First, figure out if your gun can handle 3.5” inch shells.  Once this has been determined, the next decision comes with cost and recoil.  With a 3.5” inch load, you will spend slightly more and also have increased recoil.  For me, I usually base it off the quantity of shooting I foresee on the hunt.  If there will be lots of shooting, I almost always go with the 3”option.  This is both for the cost and the amount of kick I can handle in one day.
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Read more about Choosing the Best Caliber for New Shooters
Melissa Bachman
There are several factors to take into account, but some great options regardless.
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Read more about Shotgun Home Defense Tactics
Winchester Ammunition
If you forget everything else in a time of true emergency, remember the following tips. (Note: in a personal defense situation, it is always best to avoid confrontation and escape arms way if at all possible)
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Read more about The Lows & Highs of an Ohio Youth Season Deer Hunt
Winchester Ammunition
When I get down to it, it’s life events here that make Ohio special. Stories of success at our skinning shed, an old converted corn crib, chased with cold beers, make for the central location after a successful hunt. It’s our version of a Michigan buck pole.
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Read more about Defensive Ammo Choices for Shotgun
Winchester Ammunition
Many years ago, there was one prevailing thought process when it came to the best shotshell load for home defense: Small shot sizes were thought to be only for birds, and 00 Buckshot was for large game animals like deer. As a result, shotgunners used 00 Buckshot for home defense because, after all, a human adversary is much closer in size to a buck than a bird, right?
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Read more about Winchester's Expedition Big Game - A Hefty Load for Hefty Big Game Animals
Winchester Ammunition
Many calibers and loads have proven effective on Yukon moose, but there are factors to examine when deciding which combo to bring Northwest. It all begins if and when you knock down a brute with a well-placed shot from a .270 Win 150gr Super X bullet. You begin to break down the animal, on average taking about 7-9 trips from the kill site back to mode of transportation or base camp.  Upon returning to the carcass, you find yourself face to face with an interior grizzly who’s claimed your prize.  Shouldering your rifle at the charging bear, you take aim and place the 150grain bullet perfectly and directly into the bear’s chest inches below his chin.  The only problem, grizzly bears are tough customers. Even more so when they are hungry or have cubs to protect.
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Read more about The Buffalo Bill Center of the West Museum in Cody WY
Winchester Ammunition

Like a boss, this buckskin wearing bad boy was a showmen, a soldier, and last but not least a mighty hunter.  What’s more impressive than him earning the Congressional Medal of Honor during the American Civil War, or taking 4,000 plus bison in a year in a half to feed Kansas Pacific Railroad workers, is that his legacy and memories live on and are enshrined in Cody Wyoming as if the man never died.  As the saying goes, “Hero’s get remembered, but Legends never die.” - The Sandlot

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Read more about What’s on a Box of Shells?

You bought a new shotgun, and now you need shells for it. So you run down to the local gun shop to buy some. But then you see all the mumbo jumbo on the box--Dram Equivalent? Ounces? Shot Size?--and uh, you’re confused! Well, don’t be. Instead, read this!

 

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Read more about Should You Refresh the Ammo in Your Concealed Carry Gun?
Winchester Ammunition
There are some reasons to swap it out for fresh ammo routinely. Here’s why:
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Read more about The Importance of Training with Personal Defense Ammo (Occasionally)
Winchester Ammunition
Handguns can be finicky feeders. Don’t assume that because you paid a mint for your new custom 1911 that it will reliably cycle every load you put through it. Indeed, oftentimes the more custom and “tight fitting” a firearm is, the less reliable it can be.
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Read more about Shotgun Familiarization
Winchester Ammunition
The fact is, a shotgun is a long gun with considerable recoil that requires proper technique to master. If you don’t have great technique, then the shotgun will be less effective, less accurate and likely result in uncomfortable recoil. But fortunately, there are a few simple practices that will have you loading, unloading and shooting the shotgun proficiently in no time.
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Read more about The 38 Special Vs. the .357 Mag
Winchester Ammunition
When shopping for a revolver, which one should you choose?
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Read more about Ideas for Setting a Shooting Range Near Your Home
Becky Yackley
If your local range is often closed, or travel is cumbersome, there are options. Building a home range is a viable alternative! We’re going to look at home range ideas and concepts to help you get you more time on the range.
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Read more about Maynard Reece and a King Named Buck
If you don’t know the name, you’ve seen the work.  Probably no other artist did so much to capture that breath-holding moment when a waterfowler experiences ducks or geese “cupped and webbed,” setting into the decoys spread in front of him.  From out of the canvases you can almost hear the beating of wings.
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Read more about Don’t Forget the Mighty 10mm
Winchester Ammunition

If you’re searching for a more capable round in terms of terminal performance, and don’t mind larger-framed guns and added recoil, then don’t neglect the 10mm Auto.

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Read more about Why You Should Use Hollow Points in Your Defensive Handgun
Winchester Ammunition
Although most people are familiar with the term “hollow point,” new gun owners may not know what hollow points actually do, or why they are strongly recommended for personal defense.
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Read more about Sight Alignment and Sight Picture
Winchester Ammunition

When shooting a handgun, it’s very tempting to point the gun where you are looking and expect to hit your intended target. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen like that.

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Read more about Handgun Familiarization
Winchester Ammunition
Becoming an expert with your handgun is no different! You should become so familiar with your handgun, that you can load, fire, manipulate and unload it in any situation. For this, you’ll need plenty of practice on the range with Winchester ammunition.
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Read more about Ammunition Options for Personal Defense
Winchester Ammunition
It’s no wonder why you want the best you can get. Keep in mind that the ammo you keep in your personal defense gun will hopefully never need to be used, so purchasing the highest-quality defensive ammunition may be the least expensive investment you ever make. From handguns to rifles and shotguns, here are some favorite Winchester loads for common personal defense firearms:
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Read more about Three Keys to Great Handgun Shooting
Winchester Ammunition
Once the fundamentals of shooting are learned, becoming great with your handgun boils down to three core aspects.
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Read more about Defensive Handgun Drills for Beginners
Winchester Ammunition

If you bought a handgun for concealed carry purposes—great job! Bear in mind that learning to use a firearm for self-defense involves much more than simply shooting bullseyes on a range, where everything is easy. After the fundamentals—proper stance, grip, sight alignment and trigger squeeze—are mastered, try these two defensive drills.

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Read more about Enough Ammunition - Round & Round
Winchester Ammunition
The correct answer, while not “all,” is still, “a lot.”  Becoming a defensive shooter takes three things:  handgun-reliability testing, shooting-skill development, and most essential, practice.  And  all require a lot of rounds.  That doesn’t have to be open ended, though; and it’s possible to give reasonable estimates of how many rounds may be involved.
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Read more about A gun buyer has definite options for home defense pistol rifle or shotgun
Winchester Ammunition
If faced with a threat in your home, you could absolutely use any functioning firearm to combat it. You could also pick up a baseball bat, golf club, or fire poker; but simply having a means of fighting back does not ensure survival. 
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Read more about Best Defense - The 9MM
Winchester Ammunition
If Harry Callahan had been a real law-enforcement officer, though, instead of a movie one, you wonder how often that 44 Magnum might have hung up under his jacket when he tried to draw it, or what he could actually hit with it in a fire fight.  Or how long he could have stayed alive, carrying it.
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Read more about Getting a Grip - Proper Handgun Fit
Winchester Ammunition
Proper handgun fit will make it easier for you to hold, aim, and fire, control recoil, reload, and clear malfunctions.  If your gun doesn’t fit your hand as well as possible, it will compromise your performance in one or more of those areas.
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Read more about The Winchester Model 70 Alaska's State Rifle
Winchester Ammunition
The checkered grip gives my hand a familiar feeling; a feeling of confidence. That’s what you want when hunting the great state of Alaska. Big moments can and do occur in the “Last Frontier.” Tailor-made for big bruins, moose and bears. The Model 70 is an ideal rifle choice for Alaska.
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Read more about Enthusiasm Versus Motivation - Finding Proficiency With Your Firearm
Winchester Ammunition
Shooting is, and ought to be, fun.  If you are serious, though, about owning and carrying a firearm for protection of your family, friends, and yourself, you need more.  You need a concrete motivation.
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Read more about A Winchester Model 94 Throwback Bear Hunt
Winchester Ammunition
Grandpa handed me down his Model 94 .30-30 on his deathbed. He couldn't make the season opener for Pennsylvania deer season, so I took out his old doom stick in honor of him. I scored my first whitetail buck that year, a hunt I will tell my son when I hand him down the rifle.
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Read more about Range Etiquette and Having Fun While Shooting
Winchester Ammunition
However, the vast majority of American gun owners go to public or private gun ranges to practice their marksmanship. While these ranges are overwhelmingly safe, fun and friendly, there are several unspoken rules, i.e., range etiquette tips, everyone should know to ensure a great range experience.
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Read more about Shooting Tips from Kim Rhode
Winchester Ammunition
That’s six different Olympic games where she has taken on the world’s best shooting sports athletes and won. Rhode has three gold medals (Skeet and Double Trap), while taking home three more medals, making her achievements unlike anything in the history of the Olympic games.
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Read more about Summertime Plinking Fun!
Becky Yackley
Another pastime at those gatherings was plinking. We would often take out BB guns and shoot soda cans with our cousins, dads, and friends. I want to share some ideas on ways to enjoy your holidays and the outdoors, and have fun learning (and teaching) in the process!
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Read more about Drive to the Target - Shooting Tips from Frank Thompson
Winchester Ammunition
Thirty-one-year-old Frank is a two-time Olympian who has also participated in the Pan Am Games and World Championships in skeet.  Having begun shooting with his father at age 10, Frank’s connection to the sport goes back to his birth when he was delivered by the former team doctor of USA Shooting.  Other athletes in his extended family include second-cousin Patty Durkin, a multiple medalist in Paralympic wheelchair track and field.  With more than 20 years of skeet experience, Frank has learned a number of tips and techniques that any clay target shooter can use.
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Read more about  So I Purchased a Handgun. Now What?
Winchester Ammunition
But merely owning a firearm and being responsible doesn’t magically make you safe. You must develop the necessary attitude, knowledge and skills to be confident and competent if you must use it. But before you can do so, you’ll need a few more things to begin your training.
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Read more about Shotgun Shooting Tips From a Pro - Dania Vizzi
Winchester Ammunition
Shooting literally hundreds of days a year, and going through tens of thousands of Winchester AA cartridges in a season, Vizzi has committed not just to memory, but to instinct, the small, vital techniques that add up to better, and sometimes to your best, clays shooting.
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Read more about Getting Used to Firearm Platforms for the First-Time Gun Owner
Becky Yackley
I’m going to share a few tips for each platform: rifle, pistol and shotgun. The goal is for you to use this information to safely start enjoying your range days!
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Read more about First-Time Gun Owner? Follow the Four Rules of Firearms Safety.
Becky Yackley
I’m going to share a few tips on range rules for new gun owners so you can safely start enjoying your range days!
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Read more about A Major Part of Hunting - Mental Toughness
Winchester Ammunition
This is easier said than done, but eventually you will hit a threshold that either makes you numb to these experiences or you swear you’ll never be in those situations again.
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Read more about A Great Ram for a Great Man
Winchester Ammunition
The lure of hunting sheep has an intoxication all its own…really unlike anything I hunt. Hunters will travel great distances to pursue sheep; some from all corners of the world.  As the late, great Jack O’Connor said, “Sheep sickness. There is no half way. After his first exposure, a man is either a sheep hunter or he isn't. He either falls under the spell of sheep hunting and sheep country or he won't be caught dead on another sheep mountain.”
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Read more about In Home Dry Fire Training Tips
Becky Yackley
One simple way that people are able to practice when they cannot get to a range is by utilizing the concept of dry fire.
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Read more about Epic Turkey Hunts with Kids
Winchester Ammunition
We far exceeded the weight limit in hauling gear. Our vests were overloaded with calls, binoculars, decoys, ammunition and groceries, lots of ‘em. It was all necessary of course.
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Read more about Turkey Prep #101 - Pattern Your Shotgun
Winchester Ammunition
 Turkey may represent the one kind of shotgun hunting in which an entire season comes down to a single shot.  And to make that shot count demands particular attention to detail.
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Read more about Find Some Fun Plinking in the Spring
Nikki Boxler
It's super-cheap, super-fun and gets me primed once again for hunting seasons to come!
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Read more about Winchester AA Diamond Grade, NEW for 2020
But essential to the sport is the shotshell and its components.  So Winchester® looked at one of the things it excels at, the manufacture of shotshells, and thought about how to make the best better.


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Read more about Winchester Legend Award: Marion McCollum
Winchester Ammunition
Many stories of success include right place-right time.  In the case of Mack’s and the McCollum family, it was virtually a matter of being there at the time of the creation of the time and the place.  You can begin with the vast grassland of Grand Prairie in the Mississippi Delta in eastern Arkansas.  This was a waterfowl paradise from before the time of Columbus, and became only more so as the area grew into a major world producer of rice.  And the story of Mack’s is found in the heart of the Grand Prairie on Main Street in Stuttgart in the McCollum Hardware store.
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Read more about How to Keep Range Time Fresh and Exciting
Becky Yackley
Our ability to enjoy work depends mostly on our mindset, but there are other ways to make work more enjoyable. Whether you put in time on the range to train for competition or just to better your skills, enjoying that time can be a challenge. Finding enjoyment can be difficult if we get stuck in a repetitive pattern. I’m going to share a few ways to keep range time fresh!
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Read more about A New Lethal Deer Load - The 350 Legend
Melissa Bachman
Their long-standing tradition of innovation has done it again. They are continuously innovating and using the latest technology to give hunters the best ammunition to make quick clean kills in the field. Last season I was lucky enough to be one of the first hunters to hit the field with the all new 350 Legend. The gun was a Winchester XPR with a Silent Legion .375 H&H suppressor. The first location I put this caliber to the test was in the Nebraska Sandhills hunting mule deer.
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Read more about Three Deer Hunting Mistakes to Avoid
Nikki Boxler

So far, this season has been a tough one for me. I had my target buck come in after dark during bow season. The last time I saw him was a month ago… that is until the other night when he showed up on someone else trail camera six miles away!

Although no one can control what animals do, we can control how we prepare and how we react in the moment. If you can avoid making these three common hunting mistakes you will be well on your way to enjoying a successful hunting season.

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Read more about One of the Most Challenging Hunts to be Found – Alaskan Mountain Goat
Winchester Ammunition
I prefer a 180 grain (or more) solid bullet that retains weight upon impact. This helps if I happen come face to face with an eminent threat. Coastal black bears share similar habitat to goats in the late season. They focus on berries up high prior to hibernation. Goats just love nasty terrain and focus on wind swept slopes for late season forage.  Mountain goats are also known for their ability to absorb bullets and keep on trucking. They have that “You’ll never take me alive!” attitude. If you don’t anchor them with your first shot, the goats have a tendency to do a death plunge into potentially, well, un-retrievable terrain. That’s why I chose the Winchester 350 Legend XPR with Super X 180gr Power Points as my ammunition. One absolutely devastating shot kept my 2019 billy in his bed permanently.
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Read more about Venison - It's What's for Dinner...and Here's How
Scott Leysath
We all know people who make a sour face when you ask them about eating wild game. They’ll say, “I’ve tasted deer meat. It’s nasty.” How is it possible that the same venison that we hold in such high regard can be considered unfit for human consumption by others?
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Read more about Reasons Why I Hunt
Nikki Boxler
There are nearly unlimited places we get food from. However, people can rarely say exactly where their food has come from. This makes me think most of us do not put as much thought into knowing where our food comes from as we probably should.

Don’t get me wrong, I eat what I harvest and I love getting more meat for the freezer. But I believe that hunting is not just “getting meat for the freezer”, it is about so much more than that - so why do I hunt?

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Read more about Zach Kienbaum (Team Winchester) Wins Back-to-Back NSCA National Championship Titles
Winchester Ammunition
The “American Legend “ adds to its long-standing commitment to the shooting sports with the title sponsorship of the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA Championship Tour) with the National Championship held at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas, bringing together 4,000 of the most dedicated and expert clays shooters to be found.
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Read more about Range-Ready with Winchester's USA Ready
Becky Yackley
We might replace small parts or springs, maybe a barrel replacement as needed, but a firearm lasts a long time. The big repeat cost for anyone who enjoys shooting is ammunition. Many people try to lower that cost by reloading. We do a bit of that for matches that require our ammunition to make a specific power factor (power factor is the velocity of the cartridge measured by a chronograph - then multiply by the weight of the projectile and then divide by 1000). But for many sporting shooters, the time, tools, and know-how for reloading are resources they don’t have. Maybe travel restricts access to ammunition...whatever hurdles you have, there are answers! One of the new products we have found very valuable to our “gear” is USA Ready ammunition. I’m going to dive into some of the reasons we like it, and some of the results we have seen with it.
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Read more about A Waterfowler's Dream - Blind Side Ammunition
Melissa Bachman
Finding the correct balance between getting enough pellets on target and ensuring they have enough energy for a clean kill is key.  The smaller the shot size, the larger the pattern. However, if you’re dealing with windy conditions or long range birds they may lack the energy for deep penetration and quick kills.  So how do you choose?
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Read more about An Alaskan Adventure - Kodiak Island Blacktail Deer
Winchester Ammunition
Couldn’t believe he trusted me with a rifle at 8 years old…and to hold it on my own.  Respect was given at an early age.   He looked me in the face and told me, “Shoot the biggest one you see.”  I nodded, put the crosshairs on the buck and let it rip!
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Read more about Easy Ways to Cook Waterfowl
Scott Leysath
Oh sure, the other ducks would still be around for us to enjoy. We just wouldn’t shoot at them. The ducks we do cook would never be overcooked, freezer-burned or “gamy” tasting. As a matter of fact, no one would ever compare the taste of cooked waterfowl to anything other than the finest cuisine imaginable. In a perfect world.
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Read more about Finding New Friends Through Local Wildlife Activities
Nikki Boxler
This reminds me that hunting season is just about here and also that backyard barbecues and bonfires will soon be coming to an end. Don’t get me wrong I love hunting season, but there’s just something about getting together to cookout and shoot with friends that I absolutely LOVE - it might just be the food talking,but it is hands down one of my favorite summertime activities.
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Read more about Three Tips For A Successful Deer Hunting Season
Nikki Boxler
Unquestionably the most important factor that will determine success is how prepared you are. There are many ways to prepare for deer season, but there are a few fundamental tips that are necessary no matter where you live.
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Read more about Winchester Blind Side - a Most Lethal Waterfowl Load
Melissa Bachman
They figure it worked then and it will continue to work now.  That said, there seems to always be room for improvement. 
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Read more about Here Comes Winchester's New 350 Legend
Winchester Ammunition
Natural resources departments have been looking for ways to increase participation in licensed hunting, especially for white-tailed deer where populations continue at unprecedented levels while hunter numbers have overall declined. Which is why several prime Midwestern deer states have established regulations that permit the use of nominal handgun cartridges where all centerfire rifle cartridges may not be ideally suited.
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Read more about Add Some Attitude to Meatloaf
Scott Leysath
Meatloaf combines all the elements of burgers, meatballs and, in this case, tacos into a tasty dish that is as good the next day as it is when first served. I actually prefer leftover meatloaf that I can load into a sandwich with lettuce, tomato and spicy mayo. It’s also great stuffed into a large flour tortilla and folded wrap-style.
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Read more about Moose Hunting - a Family Tradition
Winchester Ammunition
We make the endeavor special with a big camp, good food, and a warm fire.  The gist of how we do a family-hunt is to have a single shooter which is usually the person who hasn’t ever scored a moose or the person who hasn’t got one in a while. This isn’t free-for-all…we stick together and hunt in a pack, with the goal of harvesting one special moose to feed our family for the year. Good vibes only.
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Read more about Winchester's New 350 Legend
Melissa Bachman
Obviously this is a very personal question, but I’ve often struggled with what the best answer is, until now. Last season I shot the 350 Legend and this seems to be the perfect combination of knockdown power, yet delivers very light recoil.  Most of my shots on whitetails are 200-yards and in, and this is the perfect caliber for shots at this distance and in.
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Read more about Concealed Carry for Women
Becky Yackley
The 2018 census reported 11 million single parent families in the US. 80% of those families had a woman at the helm. While men are often viewed as the protector of the family, women are the primary parent, lead provider and caregiver in millions of families in this country. Looking at family safety in light of that information tells us that some of the trends we see in firearms ownership on the rise among women are simply due to numbers. Women lead families, and they want to be safe. But just owning a firearm doesn’t make one safer. Safety is a mindset. But in addition to the right mindset, you need a plan, and that plan must involve a ton of practice. Below are a few thoughts on each of these ideas.
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Read more about How is Your Ground Game? And We're Not Talking Football
Scott Leysath
The statement above is heard all too often by processors across the country. I supposed that many of us who drag home antlered-game just don’t know what to do with the “other parts”. From the processors we get annoying packs of butterflied backstrap “steaks,” two little tenderloins and a boatload of ground meat and sausage. Neck and shoulder roasts? Negatory. Shanks? No thanks.
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Read more about Winchester Shooters Achieve New World Record
Winchester Ammunition
In the many thousands of years that the bow has existed, archers have vied to see who could strike a target at the longest distance, with the official record now, set only a few years ago, stretching to almost 300 yards.  More recently, a rifleman claimed a hit at three miles on a steel target with a scoped rifle–interestingly, the Guinness World Records does not accept shots made with scoped rifles, stated they want to maintain a level playing field. What we don’t often think about, though, is what the maximum range may be for breaking a clay bird with a shotgun.
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Read more about National Shooting Sports Month!
Becky Yackley
Well, for most American’s summer is precious time. It’s time to bond with our children, relax and connect. Time to just get a breather from the rushed pace that life often takes on. But the end of summer also marks the time that many shooting sports are in full swing, or ramping up!
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Read more about Tips for Bagging an Alaskan Moose
Winchester Ammunition
Here are eight tips and tactics to help bring home that monster Alaska Bull moose you’ve always dreamed of.
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Read more about Welcome to Sporting Classics TV
Winchester Ammunition
One of the most widely traveled and extensively experienced hunters of his generation, Dorsey has ventured onto five continents with rod and reel and has successfully hunted all 29 of North America’s big-game species, the Dangerous Seven and all the spiral horns of Africa, and the prized World Slam of Wild Turkeys.
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Read more about Third Annual NSSF Shooting Sports Month
Winchester Ammunition
Thirty-one days of celebrating what is probably America’s most traditional and longest lasting passion and pastime–target shooting.  From turkey shoots in the backwoods frontier to sporting clays at virtual country-club facilities, the shooting sports have always had something for everyone.
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Read more about How Much Ammo is Enough?
Rob Pincus
The fact is that defensive shooting skill development, reliability testing with defensive ammunition and practice all require a lot of ammunition. But just how much is, well, enough? What should you consider a bare minimum in each endeavor?
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Read more about Choosing a Sensible Pistol for Self Defense Situations
Rob Pincus
Smaller guns are harder to shoot, less fun to shoot and more work to run… but, that’s no excuse not to spend time working with and thinking about the gun that you are actually relying on when carrying in the public space. In this blog, I’m going to cover three topics related to Compact Single Stack Pistols (CSSPs): why they are a great choice for Personal Defense, why you really do need to practice with them and what special considerations you might make in regard to ammunition & accessories for smaller guns.
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Read more about 2019 North Central Regional N.S.C.A. Championship Tour
Winchester Ammunition
At the level of friends and pastime, it is among the most sociable sports there is, with tens of millions participating.  Raise it to a prize competition, though, and it whipsaws to among the most heartless.
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Read more about How Clay Shooting Will Make You a Better Wing-Shooter
Melissa Bachman
We shot clay pigeons in the back yard and had lots of family fun together. As I got older I continued to participate in shooting sports and quickly realized how much it helps on improving my wing-shooting skills
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Read more about Shooting Fundamentals
Becky Yackley
One of the recent classes I was at really drove home for me how helpful it can be to take smaller slices or fractions of a skill and work that small piece until it can be sequenced into the larger whole. Slowing down to focus on that small slice also gives us time to focus on the fundamentals of shooting. You hear people refer to that phrase so often, but what does it mean?
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Read more about Fun For New Shooters At Your Local Range
Becky Yackley
Friday night means different things to different people. Most people look forward to a Friday night of  relaxing on their couch with Netflix, a night out with their significant other, or catching up with friends and family. But those social gatherings don’t need to fall on a Friday - it can be whatever day of the week your social circle gets together to relax and do something they enjoy.  If you're looking for a social circle that actively enjoys time together, look no further than competitive shooting.
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Read more about How to Make Moist & Juicy Wild Turkey
Scott Leysath
Oh sure, you can chunk it up and throw it in a Crock Pot with a can of creamed soup and, by the time you get home from work, you’ve got a moist pot of wild turkey breast that tastes just like the creamed soup. Maybe you added some carrots, celery and onions to make it something special. To me, that’s a waste of a beautiful bird.
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Read more about How to Make Hot & Sour Wild Turkey Soup:
Scott Leysath
But it is an all-too-common practice to remove the breast fillets from upland birds and waterfowl and discard the rest. I assume that there are hunters who just don’t know what to do with the other parts. Others are just plain lazy.

 

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Read more about "The Last Frontier" Big Game Hunting
Winchester Ammunition
From Brown bear to blacktail deer and everything in between, Alaska puts the “Big Game” in the Expedition Big Game Long Range line up.
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Read more about Boxler's Tips & Tactics for a Successful Turkey Hunt:

First off, if you know anything about me or have followed me on social media for a while you know that turkey hunting is hands-down my favorite type of hunting - there’s just something about a beard that I dig! Just kidding, but I do love how interactive it is and the fact that it is a great way to introduce new hunters to the sport is icing on the cake! 

 

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Read more about How to Select the Best Turkey Hunting Equipment
Melissa Bachman
The real question is, which one do you fall into?
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Read more about Expedition Big Game Long Range Put to the Test in Alaska
Winchester Ammunition

From brown bears to blacktail deer and everything in between, Alaska puts the “Big Game” in the Winchester Expedition Big Game Long Range lineup.  


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Read more about Top Turkey Hunting Priorities: From Patterns to Preparing Turkey Dinner

Turkey season has finally arrived in New York state which makes me EXTREMELY happy and a little bit sleep deprived — I apologize in advance if I happen to nod off in conversation!


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Read more about Winchester and Indy Honor Flight Pay Tribute to WWII Veterans

On Saturday, April 27, during the 148th NRA Annual Meetings, Winchester Ammunition and the Indy Honor Flight paid tribute five distinguished veterans who courageously served the United States in World War II.

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Read more about Passing Down the Passion
Ducks Unlimited has released the latest film in its online series. In “Paul’s Pond”, Paul and Suzanne Sullivan of Washington State share their commitment to Ducks Unlimited and waterfowl conservation.
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Read more about Perfecting Your Turkey Hunting Equipment Selection
When it comes to turkey hunting, there are usually two kinds of people out there: those who are blown away by the results of their turkey gun and those who know there is some room for improvement. Which are you?
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Read more about The Rabbit Hunter
Rabbit hunting truly is the lost style of hunting. In the mid-1970s, many states had rabbit hunters that numbered in the 200,000-400,000 range.
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Read more about The Importance of Predator Management
“Monster grizzly bear running full speed, moving from right to left,” I said to my friend as we scanned a mountain side for spring bears. With the animal moving that fast, it was hard to put him in the scope. I finally located the bear by estimating his path along the alder-infested mountain and waited for him to enter my view. In trots a half-grown bull moose with Louisville Slugger brown bats growing out of his head. We assess the situation and decide that the moose being chased by the bear would be long gone before we could catch up.
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Read more about 7 Spring Bear Hunting Secrets
Ever wonder how some people manage to consistently notch bear tags? Here are a few tried-and-true tactics that will put bears in your crosshairs year after year.
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Read more about Spring Bear Hunting in Alaska: The Thrill of the First Bear

“He's going to come right underneath us. Can you see him?” I ask.
“No, I can't,” she says.
"Shoot him! Shoot him!" I say as a 500-pound interior grizzly bear walks directly under our tree stand.

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Read more about Uncharted Waters: Interview with Cara Harper
No stranger to the camera, Harper has been the host of Ducks Unlimited TV as well as an ambassador for some of the industry’s top brands. Be Alive got the scoop from Harper on her life as a waterfowl hunter and what it’s like to… gasp… duck hunt without a beard.
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Read more about Behind the Scenes: The Lethal Design of Winchester Ammunition

What goes up, must come down. It’s the main mission when you’re a waterfowl hunter. As ducks and geese soar overhead, perfect aim isn’t the only priority for a hunter…it’s just the start. The finish is all about having the perfect ammunition, designed to penetrate the birds with precision and power.

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Read more about Easy to Make Holiday Wild Game Side Dishes
Scott Leysath
Here are a couple of my favorites that are a hit with hunters and non-hunters alike. For some of the less adventurous, it might be best to wait to tell them that it’s wild game until after they’ve told you how great they taste. 
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Read more about My Top 10 Tips for Rattling Success
Melissa Bachman
This is an area where people seem to have the most questions when I visit with them as short shows.  The most important aspect is to stay at it and do not give up. Nothing works all the time, but there are things that will help your success.  Below are 10 key points to remember and implement in your setup.

 

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Read more about A Quick and Easy In Home Gym for the Hunter
Nikki Boxler
This was Mike’s idea and after a little negotiating and some sweet-talking, he sold me on the idea of a building our own garage gym. I mean why not spend our lifesavings all in a month’s time haha! (nervous laughter).
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Read more about The Importance of the Hunt
Winchester Ammunition

Winchester ambassador and Alaskan native, Austin Manelick, reflects on his wife Jordan’s first mountain goat harvest. In his latest short film, Importance, Austin and Jordan navigate the harsh Alaskan landscape in search of the elusive mountain goat. Join this husband and wife duo on this epic adventure.

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Read more about How to Easily Cook for a Holiday Crowd
Scott Leysath
The guests will arrive soon and you still have to whip the potatoes, chop the vegetables, toss the salad, finish that sweet potato-marshmallow casserole and put the green bean and cream of mushroom soup classic under the broiler to brown. For some, it’s the semi-annual panic that sets in when you try and figure out how to get eight different dishes ready at exactly the same time. But whether you’re cooking a holiday feast or just having some folks over any time of the year, there’s just no need to get yourself all worked up.  
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Read more about How to Successfully Rattle in Big Bucks
Melissa Bachman
However, you also have to hunt smart. Aggressive hunting is sometimes what is needed to get a big buck out of his bed and into range.  One of the keys to rattling and creating a realistic scene is to use real rattling horns.  Any set of sheds can be used, but I have a set that I’ve used for years, and they’re big. I like the sounds of them. But, here are a few steps to making your very own set.

 

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Read more about Hit the Hogs Hard with Winchester
Chris Keefer, Casey Keefer, Nikki Boxler, Paul Sawyer

Hunters often flock to the Lone Star state to dial in on whitetail deer and mule deer. When the Winchester crew visited Texas in January, they had their sights set on antlers. But the hunters got a firsthand look at the wild pig problem in Texas…and got the chance to take a shot at swine.

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Read more about How to Exercise Outdoors Safely
Nikki Boxler

I’ve run on and off for all my life and wanted to list some must-haves and some leave-at-home-suggestions for those of us who like to run outside. Too, today more than ever before, safety is a huge concern for runners and really anyone who enjoys the outdoors.

Some of these are no-brainers while others are little hacks I have picked up on when I lived in the city. Please feel free to leave any of your suggestions in the comments below as it’s always good to share safety ideas with one another. 

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Read more about How to Get Newbies to Try Wild Game
Scott Leysath
Perhaps they had a bite of a poorly handled, untrimmed, overcooked deer steak in the past. Just mention the words “game” or “venison” and they make a face, and not a good one. Same goes with kids. Most of them just aren’t all that adventurous. The problem is that many kids spend too much time eating processed crap and fast food, developing a craving for overly salted, carb-heavy, fatty foods. When it comes to getting people to give wild game a fair shake, it’s sometimes best to disguise it as something else.
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Read more about A Favorite Load for Late-Season Ducks
Melissa Bachman
Although the weather may be a bit frigid and the birds a bit more educated, the hunting can be truly amazing. I did a hunt in Missouri in mid-December - the hunting was excellent.  The most challenging aspect was dressing to stay warm, but even with the cold it was absolutely worth the effort!
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Read more about Christmas Gifts for the Hunter in Your Life
Nikki Boxler
This also means that the season of gift giving is upon us. And if you are anything like me you haven’t even begun to shop for gifts! Arghhhh…

If you’re like me and always struggle with gift ideas, I put together some of my FAVORITE items that have changed hunting for me…and they may do the same for you.

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Read more about Makin' K Bobs the Easy Away
Scott Leysath
You can eat it while standing around a campfire or just lounging in the backyard with friends. Skewered foods are best grilled. Smoky heat and charred meats and vegetables make skewers a crowd pleaser.
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Read more about Surefire Strategies for Big Buck Success
Melissa Bachman
How many people have you heard say they missed the buck of a lifetime or something went wrong that could have been prevented?  Don’t let this happen to you…don't be “that person.”Try to do everything possible to stack the odds in your favor.  I’m a firm believer in shooting my gun every time I get to my hunting location or after bumpy rides on an ATV.  If anything happens that could have caused things to be off, shoot again.  It’s not only good for your confidence, but addressing problems before hitting the field is key!
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Read more about Humorous Hunting Differences Between the Sexes
Nikki Boxler
Base camp memories involve laughing until we cry, sharing stories, eating plenty of food, dancing, being sleep deprived and of course, hunting our a%$#@s off!
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Read more about Easy and Delicious Pheasant
Scott Leysath
Considering that they have very little fat, you just can’t cook them like flabbier chicken breasts. For some, the answer to dry, chewy upland birds is to sink them into a slow-cooker with a can of salty canned creamed soup. After several hours, they’re tender and juicy with unmistakable flavor of super-salty canned soup.
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Read more about Whitetail Tips - Part 1
Melissa Bachman

Many lessons are learned from our own mistakes, but you don’t always have to make a mistake to learn.  For example, so many issues can be avoided by simply being prepared.  This means putting in the time before the season to ensure you have given yourself the best possible chance at success. 

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Read more about Why Deer Season XP Copper Impact Has Total Knockdown Power
Winchester Ammunition, Chris Keefer

It’s heartbreaking for a hunter to land the shot, but not locate the buck. We know the scene: The blood trail stops. The search slows. You finally have to admit to yourself that maybe that bruiser is gone……and steals some of your pride and ego right along with it. The trek back to the truck empty-handed can feel like a walk of shame. But there’s no real shame in it, because it happens to the best of us.

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Read more about Easy-to-Make Hunter's Boot Rack
Nikki Boxler
Well, if you have an hour to spare and are looking for a fun project, this boot rack is for you! 

 

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Read more about Goose Stew, Anyone?
Scott Leysath
“Here comes gin and tonic…two limes.” Long since removed from running food and beverage joints, I still spend a fair amount of time talking to people about their food preferences. Once it’s in your blood, it’s pretty much with you forever.  
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Read more about An American Favorite - Pheasant Hunting
Melissa Bachman
People from all across the country pour in throughout the fall to hunt.  One of the reasons pheasant hunting is so popular is because it’s such a social hunt. Let’s face it, you don't have to get up at sunrise, the hunting is usually pretty amazing, you get to watch dogs work and it can be done alongside friends. And do not forget, they’re delicious to eat!
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Read more about Easy-to-Make and Super-Delicious: Duck Poppers
Nikki Boxler
I learned how to make these this fall when I traveled to Saskatchewan for a women’s waterfowl hunt. If there is one thing that I always look forward to besides the hunt itself, it’s the food! And let me tell you, these did not disappoint.
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Read more about Five Common Mistakes to Avoid This Hunting Season
Melissa Bachman
1.) Avoid spending too much time on your phone. When it is time to hunt, hunt!! This is what you’ve been waiting for so sit back and enjoy it!  Not only can your phone wait, there’s a good chance you’ll miss the opportunity you came out looking for.  Things happen in a split-second so keep your head on a swivel and pay attention.  Most importantly enjoy the moment.
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Read more about What Triggers the Rut?
Winchester Ammunition

The time has come. 

When the rut is on, it’s on. A flip is switched. The big bucks move, while you stay still in the stand…hoping all of your hard work will pay off. If you’re shooting Winchester, reliability and power will be delivered every single time. But you need to make sure you’re in the stand when those bucks are on the move.

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Read more about How to Easily Sight-In a Gun With a Scope
Nikki Boxler
Whether you have a new gun, are changing the scope or have an old gun that hasn’t been shot in a while, it is important to head to the range before heading to the field so you can be sure to hit where you are aiming.
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Read more about  It's Just Parts - How Best to Cook Venison
Scott Leysath
My approach is simple. I’ll take a trimmed piece of deer meat from the loin or better part of the hindquarter, season it with salt and pepper and flash cook it in a hot skillet with a little olive oil for maybe 30 seconds on each side. After a bit of coaxing, I can get most people, even those who had decided long ago that they don’t like wild game, to at least give it a try. The reaction from the overwhelming majority of samplers is something like, “Wow, what did you do to make it not taste like deer?”
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Read more about Easy to Make - Stuffed and Grilled Quail
Scott Leysath
The birds were wild, often plentiful and, since we didn’t have enough money to join a high-dollar hunt club, it worked out well. We’d find the landowners the day before and assure them that all gates would be closed, no livestock would be liberated and, if needed, we were available to help with any heavy lifting or grunt work as repayment.
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Read more about Whitetail Hunting in Texas vs. Midwest
Chris Keefer, Casey Keefer, Nikki Boxler
Chasing a monster buck requires a certain level of strategy and skill that gets the blood pumping and the adrenaline flowing. It’s a feeling like no other…especially when you’ve got a warmed up Winchester firearm in hand. 
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Read more about The Only Ammo Choice for Big, Thick-Skinned Animals
Melissa Bachman
With so many ammunition options out there, it can get downright confusing. However, Expedition Big Game was designed with one thing in mind.  To get deep penetration through thick hide and deliver amazing performance on the toughest animals in the world. 
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Read more about Get Kids Involved in the Outdoors - Here is a Perfect Way
Nikki Boxler
Many people take advantage of public lands for hunting, fishing, skiing, hiking, birdwatching, kayaking and the list goes on. It is a place for us to go to clear our minds, relax and just enjoy being alive. There is even research providing evidence that spending time in natural environments positively affects us and our well-being. We are found to be happier, calmer and more focused when we spend time outdoors.
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Read more about Every Hunter Should Have Some - Cast Iron Cookware
Scott Leysath
And while most of us think of a Dutch oven as a heavy stew pot, anything that can be prepared in a conventional oven can be done in a Dutch oven. I’m talking breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. If you’ve ever been to a Dutch oven cook-off, you’ve seen everything from frittatas to cheesecakes beautifully prepared in this versatile Cast iron cookware. 

 

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Read more about Sure-Fire Accessories That Save the Day When Hunting
Melissa Bachman
Most of these have been discovered through trial and error, out of pure necessity or because I had limited supplies and made due with what was there. Without further adieu, here are some goodies I have come across through the years:
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Read more about Easy-to-Make Maple Venison Jerky
Nikki Boxler
This jerky was made out of a doe I shot in Texas while out filming for Winchester Life. To start I pulled the meat out of the freezer and let it thaw to a point where it was slightly frozen, but no longer a brick of ice!
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Read more about Slow and Comforting Stew
Scott Leysath
Besides, sitting in a duck blind on a blue-sky day still beats the snot out of staring at my computer. If pheasant breeding is down and the chances of finding roosters aren’t so good, I’d still rather be following my setters, Mac and Floyd, through thick cover than just about anything else I could be doing. Fortunately, my wife doesn’t read my blogs.

 

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Read more about A Deer Hunter's Best Friend - the Winchester Ballistic Calculator
Melissa Bachman
If you’re one of these people, Winchester is making it easy to determine the best ammunition decision for your setup and upcoming adventures.
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Read more about How to Build Your Own Target for $30.00
Nikki Boxler
If you have about $30 and an hour of time you can easily build a target that is lightweight and easy to transport.
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Read more about Sausage Made Easy
Scott Leysath
Once ground, there could be anything in there. Next time you’re at the market, check out what goes into a chunk of chorizo, a spicy ground pork sausage that often contains choice ingredients like salivary glands and lymph nodes.
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Read more about How to Best Draw Big Game Tags
Melissa Bachman
I’ll be the first to admit that for the past 10 years I relied on trying to remember when draws would take place and then put in for tags as I thought of them or decided that’s a hunt I would be interested in. 
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Read more about Range Bag Essentials
Nikki Boxler
However, there are a few essentials that I have in my bag so I can be prepared for when the opportunity for fun arrises!
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Read more about Easy to Make Pheasant Soup
Scott Leysath
I understand. You’ve tried cooking a whole pheasant only to discover that, if the breast meat is moist and tender, the rest of the bird is tough and sinewy.
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Read more about How the Winchester Ballistics Calculator Will Help You This Fall
Melissa Bachman
There are gun nuts out there that could tell you everything imaginable about the loads they’re shooting, but an average hunter usually doesn’t have this in-depth knowledge.  For some, it’s that they don’t think there is a need to know or understand.  For others, it really comes down to being taught or knowing where to look.  Luckily, Winchester has made it extremely easy for everyone to get this information and compare rounds in an easy to understand, user-friendly format with their Ballistic app.
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Read more about Tips for Long Range Shooting
Nikki Boxler
Becoming a great shot is not something that happens overnight. It takes practice and repeating the same exact actions shot after shot (muscle memory). When you first start shooting with proper form, chances are you will have a checklist in your head that you will want to run down before EVERY shot. I know I do! Eventually, you will become comfortable with each step and will be doing them without having to think about it.
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Read more about How to Turn Snow Geese Into Something Special
Scott Leysath
Of course, you know that it’s best to cook the older birds from the freezer before you start munching on this year’s harvest. Maybe you’ve overlooked a wad of frozen honker breasts. You certainly don’t want to be over your possession limit so why not turn it into some tasty jerky?
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Read more about Critical Questions to Ask When Booking a Hunt
Melissa Bachman

I can’t count the number of times people ask for advice on this topic so I decided to write a blog about it addressing what I do and have learned to ask over time. 

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Read more about  A "Must-Try" Venison BBQ Burger Recipe
Nikki Boxler
Running short on time, I tossed a few ingredients together and fed them to my family for lunch. It turned out so good that the first words out of my dad’s mouth were “You need to make a recipe for this!” Not knowing the exact measurements I used, I made them a few days later so I could share this quick, delicious burger with you!
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Read more about To Share or Not to Share - A Recipe That is
Scott Leysath
Just imagine what would happen if your friends learned how to prepare your elk chili. Now, we both know that you don’t follow the recipe exactly. You’re going to tweak it at the end. After giving your recipe a try, your friends might say something like, “I followed your recipe and it just doesn’t taste the same.” Of course it doesn’t. You probably left out a few details…accidentally.

 

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Read more about Plant Fruit Trees to Attract Deer
Melissa Bachman
Most of your decisions come down to what kind of equipment you have at your disposal, what’s the soil like and the amount of sunshine/precipitation. Finally, when do you want it to be most productive. I’ve helped put in a wide variety of food plots, but this year I decided to try something a little longer term.  Fruit trees.
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Read more about Ways to Customize Your Own Firearm
Becky Yackley
Whether it’s the grip on their pistol or length of pull on their shotgun, making sure the gun fits is an important step. Let’s look at a few ways you can personalize your gun!
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Read more about Getting Ready to Hunt With Your Family
Becky Yackley
Wisconsin has a youth season, and a regular deer season. So we are preparing with a fun project. Our youngest son and I set out targets at known distances from our deer stand and did some work with a rangefinder, painting distance markers. The goal is to help the youngest hunters that will be with us this year know their holds.
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Read more about Top Photo-Editing Applications for Your Hunting Pictures
Nikki Boxler
Today you simply have to pull out your phone and click a button. With smart phones having vastly improved cameras, everyone has a way to snap quality photographs with a device that fits in their front pocket! Nowadays, it seems that almost any newer phone comes with an 8+ megapixel camera capable of taking photos that used to require expensive camera gear. With the booming use of social media use, this is a huge advantage.
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Read more about All Dove, No Bacon
Scott Leysath
They do taste great, don’t they? For some folks, the victory is that they don’t taste like doves. Perhaps it’s not the dove, but how they’re prepared that makes them taste a little funky.
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Read more about Trail Cameras - An Essential Tool for Scouting and Deer Success
Melissa Bachman
Like with your days, there is never enough time.  This is something pretty common with everyone and we can literally only do so much.  Family, work and life often get in the way of our planned hunting and scouting schedule. So, what can possibly be done to try and combat this issue?  Scouting cameras.
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Read more about National Shooting Sports Month - Share Your Passion!
Becky Yackley
The NSSF or National Shooting Sports Foundation has named August as THE month to take a friend shooting.  Whether you grab your grandpa's shotgun and take your kids shooting and share your family’s heritage, or go to your local range with friends, shooting is an American pastime that families have shared for generations.  

 

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Read more about Find Your Range at LETSGOSHOOTING.ORG
Winchester Ammunition

The skills involved in safe shooting, whether at paper or steel targets or flying clay ones, are the same as those prized in many other athletic disciplines:  concentration, hand-eye coordination, breath control.  Those, along with the wish to acquire the knowledge to handle and shoot firearms proficiently, are what make the thought of shooting so attractive to so many who have yet to give it a try.

 

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Read more about The Bartholow Brothers Victorious at The Grand American - Again
Winchester Ammunition
The South Dakota brothers, Foster, 30, and Matt, 28, seem to amass an increasing number of titles at every year’s championships, and this 119th edition was no exception. Last year they took home 25 trophies. This year, it was 28.  Out of 24 individual and pairs events, the brothers Bartholow were champions in 12, along with being runners-up in seven, and taking third places in four others.  And every one of the of shells they fired were Winchester competitive-shooting ammunition.
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Read more about A Day in the Life on the Road
Becky Yackley
Adventure is waiting for us, not just outside our door, but at our fingertips! We don’t have to go to the library to check out great vacation destinations, we can follow the blog of someone who has traveled there. We can find the Instagram accounts of people living adventures in their daily lives and sharing minute-by-minute. Some of life’s adventures are made up of what we do each day, and are born from embracing the beauty in the world around us. For my family, embracing adventure is a key part of what we do. And being able to make things work, even when they don’t work, is the secret to moving forward, even when everything tells you that you can’t.

 

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Read more about Get Prepared at the Gun Range
Chris Keefer, Casey Keefer
Every day brings us all one step closer to fall…so we’ve got one question for you:

Are you ready for hunting season?
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Read more about Is Competitive Shooting Good for Youth?
Becky Yackley
From ancient Greece and the birth of the modern Olympics, to sports youth can participate in at school and through local clubs, we see opportunities to develop everything from skills of strength to skills of dexterity, grace, and agility. Competitions where the athlete uses an object like shotput, pole vaulting, javelin throw, as well as modern biathlon and pentathlon are all Olympic sports that develop a person’s skill with a tool vs. just raw strength or speed, like weight lifting or running. We see volleyball and soccer as team sports that develop interpersonal skills alongside physical speed, strength, and agility. Competition shooting is a sport that develops such a wide range of skills that it’s potential to build young athletes can often be overlooked. I’m going to share a few ways competition shooting can help build your youngster into an athlete.
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Read more about August is NSSF National Shooting Sports Month
Winchester Ammunition
For those of us who shoot already, we know what we like about taking aim at targets, whether metal silhouettes, paper bullsyeyes, or those challenging little discs that appear suddenly on the trap and skeet field when we say the magic word, “Pull!”  We also know that we want our sport to expand and to be better understood by the world around us; and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association of the firearms industry, has named this August the second annual National Shooting Sports Month, making this the perfect opportunity to put our best foot forward as shooters.
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Read more about Family Fun on the Range
Becky Yackley
We bring new guns, old guns and guns we love to our family gatherings. It’s always a way for younger kids to get outside and pull them away from screens they’re watching. For some of them, it’s a chance to shoot new guns. But in the summer, it usually involves a clay thrower and every shotgun we can find, a box or two of clays and a lot of laughs. It’s a low-key way to introduce safe firearms handling and a fun way to learn to swing a shotgun at a moving target. Most importantly, it’s a way for families to bond over stories shared and lessons learned, and is totally fun!
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Read more about A Double Take at Trap
Winchester Ammunition

Now there is Foster and Matt Bartholow, the Hardy Boys of the Amateur Trapshooting Association.

If you compare the Bartholows to the Hardy Boys as they shoot their way to singles-, doubles-,*handicap-*, and team-championship fame, then the event where they have had the most spectacular impact, the Grand American World Trapshooting Championship in Sparta, Illinois, a summertime institution for more than a century, could be thought of as the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally of trap–an appropriate analogy for two brothers from Rapid City, South Dakota, only 30 miles from Sturgis.

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Read more about How to Best Travel With Firearms
Becky Yackley
...what sort of gun case is best, how to lock them, and some of the big items you need to know. This post is about the small things and ways to make it easier to travel with firearms.
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Read more about A Grand American Tradition
Winchester Ammunition
Inaugurated in 1900, the Grand American World Traphooting Championships is older than them all.  Probably among the largest sporting tournaments in the world, the “Grand” spans 11 August days of shooting and 24 separate events.  By the time it is done, over 4 million targets will be thrown, a better than fair percentage of them reduced to dust.
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Read more about The Gould Brothers
Winchester Ammunition

Exhibition shooting has a strong history in America. The sport continues to evolve and grow. Legendary exhibition shooters have helped paved the way for professionals nowadays, including brothers Steve and Aaron Gould.

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Read more about Women & Family in the Firearms Industry
Becky Yackley
While I am fortunate to write, blog, and photograph our family’s life with firearms, one of the unique perspectives I’ve had is growing up with a gunsmith father and family ties to the firearms industry.  True life experiences have shaped my relationship with guns. I’ve seen who it is that makes things happen behind the scenes. Often the movers and shakers are the women and families that we don’t see. Nurturing the roles women play in relation to firearms is important; not only for the growth of industry, but for the very fact that passing down American heritage is something families do. What are ways to share firearms with YOUR family?  Read on!
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Read more about Growing a Family of Competitors
Becky Yackley
On our way to and from competition, our family has seen a good part of the country by car. We’ve hiked to glacial lakes and slept under the stars in the Badlands (beautiful, but hot in August!). We’ve toughed-out torrential rain and hydrated in extreme heat. From Virginia to Utah and Russia to France, we’ve experienced things most people might not want to pay the price for. I’m going to share a little of how we make it work, because the cost isn’t as much monetary as it is personal investment.
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Read more about The Gould Brothers
Winchester Ammunition

Passion is packaged in all different ways. The Gould Brothers’ passion comes in the art form of precision: shooting exactly when and where they want, and doing it in style. Their impeccable, show-stopping shooting skills have earned them the reputation as the “World’s Best Exhibition Shooting Team.”

If you’re going to be the best, you need to use the best…which is why the Gould Brothers use Winchester.

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Read more about Dancing with Clays Team USAs Dania Vizzi
Winchester Ammunition
Dania, who calls Florida home, was on her way to studying with the renowned Julliard dance school and becoming a professional ballerina when, at 16, she was handed a .410 by her father and started breaking birds on the trap field.  Then came skeet, and it was love at first sight.
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Read more about Gun Safety Always Starts at Home
Becky Yackley
From their first steps to learning about the tools available to us in the world, education starts with parents. Firearm safety should be no different. 

You don’t need experts to teach your children about everything. Parents teach safety when it comes to everyday situations, like the swimming pool or crossing the street.  Parents start their children down the correct path in life in these areas and many others.

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Read more about How to Best Travel Domestically & Internationally with Firearm
Becky Yackley
We have the freedom to travel and hunt, compete, or just enjoy activities with firearms. When we travel to other countries, or even around the USA, there are some things to be aware of that work to keep you and your firearms safe. I’m going to share some of the things my family does to keep our guns safe when we travel.
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Read more about Lifestyle of a Law Enforcement Officer Family
Becky Yackley
The big give-away to what that is...a squad car parked in our driveway. Yes, my husband is a police officer. That means we know and do some things that other families won’t ever think about. Here’s a few that are serious, as well as funny.  

We know where the squad car keys are, we know how to start it. We keep it free from snow when Mark is gone in case another trooper needs it. In Wisconsin, this is funny because sometimes in winter, it seems futile.

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Read more about Are There Jobs to be Had in the Firearms Industry?
Becky Yackley
But I’m going to share why employment in a job that involves firearms in some capacity is a positive for young people.  

This year, my eldest son Tim who is 19 has worked instructing in pistol and carbine courses in Utah with Tactical Performance Center. Not only has he taught competition shooters, but also brand new shooters, law enforcement and military. While some kids get a job at their local Dairy Queen, there are jobs out there that can help a youth grow not just his or her bank account, but skills with people and situations that most young people won’t ever have to tackle.

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Read more about Born to Shoot: Team USA's Frank Thompson
Winchester Ammunition
Out on the high plains at the western edge of the Sand Hills, Alliance, Nebraska, is shooting country if there ever was.  And hometown boy, USA Shooting Team member, and Winchester shooter Frank Thompson was competing, with a bow, by the age of five.  Bows fit him better than guns at that age; but as he grew, his father was measuring him for firearms.  When Frank was nine his father brought out the shotgun, knowing that his son would ask when he could shoot it.  And shoot it he did, dad working him up to different guns and larger gauges, until at the start of his teen years, Frank was ready to shoot competitively.
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Read more about Way Back When: How Winchester Got the Word Out
Winchester Ammunition
Winchester values communicating with consumers through a variety of marketing and advertising efforts. Before today’s television commercials, digital videos and social media posts, print ads in magazines were the main (sometimes only) way to announce innovative, new Winchester products.
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Read more about Drury Tips & Tactics
Winchester Ammunition
Summer is here, and the livin’ is easy….unless you’re a dedicated whitetail hunter. While summer is a fun season to soak up the sun with activities like family reunions, trips to the lake, vacations, BBQs and more, summer is also the ideal time to get situated for whitetail season.
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Read more about Meet Team USA's Dania Vizzi
Winchester Ammunition

Winchester Ammunition has been recognized as the choice of champion shooters for generations.  Shotgun competitors have depended on the quality of Winchester AA shotgun shells since 1965, while Winchester has been proud to see the heights to which those shooters can ascend with the brand’s’s ammunition in their guns.

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Read more about Meet Team USA's Frank Thompson
Winchester Ammunition

Frank was born in the “Cornhusker” state of Nebraska in 1988, and he was nine when he began shooting with his dad.  When Frank’s passion for shotgun shooting began, Frank was particularly attracted to sporting clays.

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Read more about Why Shooting Sports are Growing
Shooting sports hold a respected place within America’s history. So how did the pastime first begin in our country?
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Read more about The One Thing Every Hunter Needs
Chris Keefer, Casey Keefer
There are buzzwords that twirl around the turkey hunting orbit. Hunters fixate on them like stars in the sky. Words like accuracy. Reliability. Power.
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Read more about Shooting a Handgun - Movement Drill
Becky Yackley
If we are able to safely move with a firearm in a competition - under stress, on the clock, as fast as we can, etc., we will be better prepared for other occasions we might handle a firearm while moving - like on our way to the deer stand or duck blind. We’re going to cover a few simple concepts on movement with a firearm that you can practice to help you move safely and keep your mind in the shooting match.
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Read more about Why You Should Partner Up for Your Turkey Hunt
Chris Keefer
The solo hunt for toms is rewarding…but it's even better when you have a friend to share in the pursuit. For one, it’s just fun to head out together and go through the preparation and hunt as a pair or group. Real memories that last a lifetime are made in the process…and you often get a beautiful bird as an end result. Win-win.
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Read more about Dry Fire Live Fire Exercises for Movement
Becky Yackley
Transitions start as you take a shot and begin to move to the next target. But what moves first? To build skills with transitions, we can practice with a simple draw and transition exercise.   
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Read more about Best Ways to Grip a Pistol
Becky Yackley
We've talked about having as much of our hand in contact with our pistol as possible.  In this blog, I’m going to show you a few ways to personalize your grip to help you have as much of your hand in contact with the grip as possible.These are things competition shooters do, but for someone who wants to enjoy shooting, these can be helpful and a lot of fun for kids to practice.
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Read more about Understanding "Sight Picture" When Shooting a Pistol
Becky Yackley

This is the basic principle, but while using this formula, we realize there are different types of sight picture. Each has a place, depending on the target and style of shooting. From close paper targets we see in some competitions, to refined shots requiring accuracy and finesse, there are different ways we use sights. There is a need to understand what YOU need to see to make those shots.

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Read more about Dry Fire Exercise to Help You See the Target Faster
Becky Yackley

The question then becomes, home much are you willing to spend in effort? Dry fire can help even the newest shooter because they will learn safe gun handling habits, how to move with a firearm, how to change magazines, transition, “see faster” - all without the need for ammo or travelling to and from the range. So grab your empty gun, mags, holster and mag holders and let’s check out some simple dry fire exercises to help you improve your handgun shooting.

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Read more about How to Best Clean a Magazine
Becky Yackley
It is said, cleanliness is next to godliness. When it comes to guns, this adage is TRUTH!  What makes you a god among mankind when it comes to using a pistol? Well, one that runs reliably to start! And to ensure that, we need to put in superhuman effort...sort of. A big part of it comes down to doing small things. One of those small things is cleaning magazines. It’s important not to let the little things slide. For competition, this means we might have a poor time or malfunction. For hunting or self-defense, there are much bigger implications!  
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Read more about Practice Drills 101 for Control When Shooting a Handgun
Becky Yackley
One of the things that new shooters need to understand about competition shooting is that a good stage or fast time is about so much more than just pulling the trigger. It is several sets of skills, artfully combined to produce the performance we want. 
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Read more about Practice Drills 101 for Speed
Becky Yackley
To do that, you need experience in shooting different ranges. In this video, I invite you to shoot a drill two ways in order to decide which you prefer.
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Read more about Exercises for Shooting Plates
Becky Yackley
A common set up for steel plates is a row of 6 plates, or a plate rack. This style of target is part of an event in NRA Action Pistol.  My family regularly competes in NRA Action Pistol at the Bianchi Cup.   We have been shooting Bianchi Cup for several years, and as we get ready for this year’s events, we are preparing for a world shoot AND the nationals. My eldest son is on the US Team for the Bianchi World Shoot and he has been the Junior National Champion for 3 years straight. So, we have a little experience shooting plate racks with a pistol. 
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Read more about Paul Sawyer Feeds the Long Beard XR to Giant Gobblers
Paul Sawyer

Paul Sawyer snagged a 2-for-1 deal when he hit a duo of gobblers across Kansas state lines. He fed the long beards’ a dose of Long Beard XR. The takedown was one for Paul’s history books.

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Read more about Melissa Bachman Dials in on Massive Midwest Turkeys
Melissa Bachman

When it comes to turkey hunting, every step counts. One forgotten move could be the difference between bringing home a fan of feathers or letting that gobbler live to see another day.

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Read more about Paul Sawyer Tags Two Huge Gobblers in Midwest
Gabe Adair, Paul Sawyer

As outdoorsmen, we like to take control of the factors that impact the hunt.

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Read more about The Keefer Brothers Talk Turkey and Winchester's Pattern Board App
Chris Keefer, Casey Keefer

The Keefers use the innovative Winchester Pattern Board App to get a clear picture of their shot pattern.

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Read more about Paul Sawyer Lands Rio Grandes in Oklahoma
Paul Sawyer

Birds of a feather flock together….until one steps out of the pecking order. During Paul Sawyer’s wild turkey hunt in Oklahoma, he witnessed what happens when the bird’s natural instincts come into play.

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Read more about Nikki Boxler Slams Turkey in New York
Nikki Boxler

The signs are there: The snow has melted. The mercury is slowly—but surely—rising. The days are longer, the monthly calendar has flipped to April, and the faded brown grass is brightening back to green.

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Read more about Determining Your Dominant Eye
Becky Yackley
Or, understanding why it’s important to know which it is. In this blog, Ill explain and show you a simple way to determine your dominant eye. Then, Ill speak to other things to help the dominant eye do its job. Ill also share some info for shooting a pistol with your non-dominant eye and when it’s acceptable.
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Read more about Five Best Turkey Tips for Spring Success
Melissa Bachman

Sure I love all hunting, but after a long winter there is nothing better than getting back outside, seeing the signs of spring and hearing those gobbles! Over the years I’ve spent a lot of spring days chasing turkeys across the country and came up with a few tips that work anywhere and practically anytime to help increase odds of success.

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Read more about The ABC's of Turkey Hunting
Nikki Boxler

If you haven’t hunted for turkeys yet or are a beginner, you have come to the right place. However, I must warn you…once you hunt for turkeys you will be hooked! Hunting wild turkey may look easy on TV shows but it is no easy feat to get an gobbler to follow your plan. From gobblers running to your setup right off the roost, or struggling to get that big gobbler to commit to coming into gun range…each hunt is different and comes with its own set of excitement and challenges. 

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Read more about How to Improve Stance and Grip as a New Pistol Shooter
Becky Yackley

Two of the biggest areas where you can make the most improvement are in the stance and grip. How you stand and how you hold the gun will have a much bigger impact on how you shoot the gun than almost anything. Start at the ground, build up & lean into it. 

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Read more about Picking a Handgun for Competition
Becky Yackley

I’m going to talk about them each in relation to competition to help you figure out if the gun YOU have at home is one you could take out and compete with.

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Read more about Tips That Will Improve Your Hunting Experience
Nikki Boxler

One of the reasons I love hunting new places and with new people is because it allows me to experience different styles of hunting and learn new tactics. Being able to connect with people and approach conversations not only with an open mind and a willingness to learn, but also an eagerness to learn is what makes my hunting experiences fun!

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Read more about Corned Waterfowl or Game Meat – it’s not Just for St. Paddy’s Day Anymore
Scott Leysath

…drinking behavior until Memorial Day weekend. I don’t think that the majority of us really know what is involved with “corning” a hunk of meat.

You may not know that “corning”, or more accurately called “pickling” can be done with any antlered game meat or waterfowl. Actual corn plays no part in the process.

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Read more about Prepping for Fall – Three Common Treestand Types
Nikki Boxler

Below I am going to walk you through three of the most popular treestand styles and some of the advantages and disadvantages of each.

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Read more about How to Not Run out of Space for Taxidermy
Melissa Bachman

Every single mount has a backstory, an adventure, a memory that I will cherish forever. But when space becomes limited, I decided to start looking for alternative methods to hang mounts. Lowering the number of animals I mount would be one option, but I was still hoping for an alternative- and I found it.

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Read more about Edible Snow Geese – Here’s How?
Scott Leysath

I serve people snow geese often, but I don’t tell them it’s snow goose until after they’re just about done eating it. I did have one guy tell me that snow goose was, by far, the best tasting goose out there. He told me about how he cut the breast fillets into little strips and then marinated them in teriyaki sauce for 2 days. After that he wrapped the marinated goose in jalapeno, cream cheese and bacon. I’m fairly certain that you could do the same thing with a piece of your shoe and it would taste about the same.

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Read more about A Necessary Exercise for the Hunter – Barbell Squat
Nikki Boxler

Why put so much effort into practicing an exercise that appears as easy as putting a barbell on your shoulders and squatting down? 

Two simple reasons: 1.) safety and 2.) effectiveness. The barbell squat is a powerful compound exercise that can pack on muscle in the legs, glutes, core, and even upper back. It can also be utilized as a conditioning movement to help burn off those holiday calories. It is also one of those exercises that if done improperly, can lead to injury (but this can be said about pretty much anything we do in the gym!).

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Read more about A Most Lethal Load for Predators – Winchester Varmint X
Melissa Bachman

He and his friends would harvest tons of coyotes each season with my brother and I being pulled through fields in a sled with dad on snowshoe. This was what we loved and this is what I still love it to this day. Even though the tradition of coyote hunting in our family hasn’t changed, the ammunition and technology sure has.

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Read more about High Time for Hogs
Scott Leysath

What’s a sounder? It’s a large group of hogs. I was going to go with a “pack,” but I knew that wasn’t correct. They are sexually mature at 6 months of age and they have between 1 and 2 litters of 5 to 6 little piggies each year. They have no real natural predators and they reproduce faster than we can kill them. They also cause billions of damage every year in the United States. So, what’s the solution to the wild hog population explosion? I think the answer is obvious.

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Read more about Winchester’s NEW Xtended Range Bismuth – Quite the Turkey Load
Nikki Boxler

Winchester has employed their shot-lok technology enabling you to get the most out of your ammunition. I was lucky enough to test it out at this year’s SHOT Show Media Day in Las Vegas. Needless to say, I was very impressed.  What is your favorite gun/ammo combination for tom turkey? Want to see how it works…click on the video!

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Read more about Valentine’s Day – Dine In, Not Out
Scott Leysath

It’s just not my thing. Go there the day before or after and choose from their normal menu and there’s probably no waiting. A few years ago, we started our own holiday tradition of inviting another couple or two to our house for Valentine’s Day. The steak and lobster is at least as good as any restaurant and the wine is considerably better.

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Read more about Valentine’s Day Gifts for the Hunter in Your Life
Nikki Boxler

The reason I often procrastinate is because I want to buy the perfect gift that I know they will love but often come up short of what that gift should be. This year I decided to get ahead of the game and thought I’d share with you some of the best tools I use in the field that can serve as a perfect gift for the hunter in your life…male or female!

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Read more about It is that “Tine” of Year Again – Shed Hunting Season
Melissa Bachman

Two questions I often get asked are why do some people seem to find all the sheds and how can one be more effective? This comes down to a few important aspects in my book.

First, shed hunt where the animals are.

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Read more about Tales from the Dark Side – How to Cook Lesser Ducks
Scott Leysath

Fortunately, the darker-fleshed ducks can still make great table fare with just a few extra steps and some additional time to tame the more “pronounced” flavored game meat.

Lean, dark-fleshed ducks and geese have a deeper, earthier flavor as compared to an otherwise fat and lighter-fleshed mallard or pintail. It should come as no surprise that ducks and geese are what they eat.

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Read more about Social Media in the Outdoors: Is it Positive or Negative?
Nikki Boxler

I am active on many social media channels. My job in marketing revolves around the use of the Internet and social media. However, I always feel life would be simpler and people would truly connect more with the outdoors if they didn’t have access to the world at the tip of their fingers at any given moment.

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Read more about A Fun Late-Season Whitetail Hunt by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

This time, I won’t be the one hunting however. Two young South Dakota boys will be taking part in the late-season youth-hunt for does. Quite frankly, I can’t wait! South Dakota participates in the Youth Deer Mentored Big Game hunt. I’m a huge proponent of programs such as this.

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Read more about Boar Stew – Make a Tasty Stew from your Feral Swine
Scott Leysath

…some animal parts manage to last a year or two longer than they probably should. Of course, the purpose of putting a label and a date on everything that goes into the freezer is so you know what the heck it is after it has been packed along with 100 other packages.

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Read more about Why Suppressors
Melissa Bachman

The one thing that came unexpected were the comments I received from fellow hunters questioning why on earth I would ever need or want a suppressor on a hunting rifle. I understand that everyone seems to have an opinion online, but I didn’t expect this from hunters.

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Read more about Check out the 6.5 Creedmoor
Nikki Boxler

It is also becoming more popular among hunters. This means that it is an easy to find factory load with more options all the time.  Wanting to learn what all the buzz was about, I decided to order my own Winchester 6.5 Creedmoor to see if it lives up to all of the hype.

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Read more about How to Grill a Quail (and have it taste moist and delicious)
Scott Leysath

Not that you have to be a hunter to know how to prepare wild game. I’ve never killed a cow, but I can cook one, although preferably not the whole animal at once. If the recipe author mentions “catching” wild game, he or she doesn’t hunt. OK, maybe they’re trappers, but I don’t think that’s the case.

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Read more about Melissa Bachman’s Top 20 Useful Coyote Gear List
Melissa Bachman

Figure out how to beat the weather, and the non-stop action of coyote hunting will truly amaze you.

Having the right gear is always helpful, but sometimes it takes a little hard work and suffering before knowing what gear is truly helpful. I’ve put in a lot of time and learned the hard way on things that make a difference in the field. So, skip a little of the heartache and add some of these items to your gear bag to make your season more comfortable and successful:

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Read more about A Successful Whitetail Hunt – Texas Style
Nikki Boxler

I just finished packing my gear to head south for my last hunt of the season in the Texas panhandle. I checked in my bags at the airport counter and made my way through security. As I boarded the plane and the wheels lifted off the runway I happily waved goodbye to frigid below zero temperatures and looked forward to landing in warm Texas.

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Read more about Easy Ways to Make Wild Ducks Taste Better by Scott Leysath
Scott Leysath

It adds moisture and flavor and mellows out — not disguises — the natural flavor of waterfowl. I do not cook a duck or goose without first soaking it overnight in brine.

Those of us who have discovered how much better the Thanksgiving turkey tastes after a brine bath for 24 hours know that the bird will not only cook a little faster but it will also be more moist and flavorful than an unbrined bird.

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Read more about Tips to Stay Warmer While Coyote Hunting This Winter
Melissa Bachman

The last thing you want to do when the temps drop and the hunting heats up is stay at home because you aren’t prepared for the chilly temps. I’m not saying everyone has to go out and buy all new arctic gear and apparel, but there are a few easy tips you can do to stay warm and make your hunts more enjoyable.

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Read more about New Year – a New You – Here is a Simple and Effective Way to Begin
Nikki Boxler

…sharing some easy step-by-step progressions for some exercises that have become staples of my training.

For starters, let’s start with arguably one of the best back and arm exercises: the pull-up. For those of us who are pull-up challenged and looking to improve, here are some simple progressions to get you on track! Depending on your fitness level, you may be able to skip over some steps.

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Read more about Easy-to-Make (Left-Overs) Goodies for New Year’s Day
Scott Leysath

OK, but let’s say your waders are getting a little snug and your fridge is full of odds and ends that won’t quite make a family meal, but when combined, could be loaded onto a platter and served at a New Year’s Day ball game party. It’s a good opportunity to use up holiday leftovers and stock up with healthy stuff to start the year off right.

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Read more about Quick-Hitting Tips for Late Season Waterfowl
Winchester Ammunition

Try some of these tips to end your season with a strong finish and make the most of those days in the blind.

Ducks

Hunt Big Water—Smaller bodies of water are freezing up so ducks will head for larger rivers and lakes where water is still liquid. Hunt from a boat blind, set a layout blind on a sandbar or set up on a finger of land jutting into the body of water and set your decoys close.

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Read more about An Understanding of the 6.5 Creedmoor
Ron Spomer

Here’s a closer look at the Creedmoor and a comparison with the well known 270 Winchester and 243 Winchester. Come along on this video blog form Winchester World of Whitetail host Ron Spomer to learn more.

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Read more about Winchester Deadly Passion Season 6 Highlights by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

Hunting has become less and less about the animal, the hunt, or even the location. Now I reminisce about the people I was with more than anything. This is what I now look forward to the most.

Last year I was super fortunate to take several friends and family in the field with me, but one hunt stands out in particular. I got the privilege to take Grandma Rose on a mule deer hunt in Southern Colorado.

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Read more about Sometimes Your Best Hunt is Near Your Backyard
Nikki Boxler

For me, most of those memories were formed in my home town in Western New York; and more importantly with my dad.

Every year, my dad and I put out trail cameras in hopes of getting pictures of good bucks. This year was no different. After pulling the cards and scrolling through hundreds of pictures, I came across a tall 8 with good mass.  At that moment I knew which buck I had my sights set on for the season.

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Read more about Bird Leg Stew – Surprisingly Good!
Scott Leysath

Perhaps you may have learned that the legs and thighs from pheasants and turkeys are tough, sinewy and unfit for table fare. In some respect, you’re right, but it is probably because you cooked whole birds and discovered that, if the breasts are just cooked and not overcooked, the other parts aren’t fit to eat.

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Read more about Some Tips on Choosing the Best Varmint Caliber
Winchester Ammunition

And why not? Not only does the hunter see these creatures as competitors for the game animals they wish to keep in abundance, but the varmints also present an opportunity for additional time in the woods by hunting them year-round in most places, night in most places and can sometimes even get them access to lands that would otherwise be closed to them for other types of hunting.

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Read more about A Perfect Christmas Gift for the Plinker in Your Life
Ron Spomer

Those, in turn, gave me days of hunting adventure you can’t tie a bow around or put under a tree. Cottontails in the woods. Fox squirrels raiding the corn bins. And — best of all — big, white-tailed jackrabbits racing over the pastures and cornfields. South Dakota’s winter landscape was the ultimate rifleman’s training ground, and those 22 Long Rifles made it all possible.

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Read more about Winchester Innovation is Second to None by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

Winchester has devoted an incredible amount of time and energy to help hunters and shooter be the most effective they can possibly be. One of the most noticeable changes is the extensive range that’s been proven to be effective for turkey hunting with LongBeard XR. This also goes for waterfowl hunting with Blind Side and continues on through with DeerSeason XP, Varmint X, AA TrAAcker, and the list goes on.

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Read more about Christmas is a Most Wonderful “Tine” of the Year
Nikki Boxler

Snow is on the ground, Christmas lights are up, and reindeer are on roof tops. Speaking of deer… Here are 3 ways to use antlers when decorating for the holiday!

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Read more about Home for the Holidays – Roast Beast
Scott Leysath

And as many times as they had all made the exact same dishes, they relied on well-worn recipe cards to make sure that everything was cooked just right. When I mentioned that they could probably get the job done without the recipe cards, they gave my future mother-in-law a look that said, “We don’t really like this kid.”

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Read more about Easy to Use and Super-Effective – the Winchester Ballistics Calculator
Ron Spomer

Because it will make you a better shot. And it could save the day if you’re faced with a puzzling set of shooting conditions. Ballistic calculators are computer programs based on physics. Scientists have long known what happens to projectiles thrown through the atmosphere.

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Read more about Christmas Gift Ideas – Winchester Style
Winchester Ammunition

If that person is an avid shooter or hunter, then Winchester-branded merchandise is the perfect solution sure to bring that special person in your life a smile to their face on Christmas day. Here are some top choices for this holiday season.

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Read more about The Best of Waterfowl
Chris Keefer, Casey Keefer

Getting feathers to fall can be a hard-core task when it comes to waterfowl hunting. As the weather shifts from bad to worse, waterfowl warriors know it's time to scan the skies. Sleet, snow, rain, hail, and cold push the birds to use their wings, and hunters head out to bring them down.

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Read more about How to Winterize Ground Blinds for the Late Season
Melissa Bachman

And many times, the hubs or bars are also damaged. Usually I don’t like to take blinds out of the field until the season is completely wrapped up. That can be late Dec or even mid-January depending on the state I’m hunting. Once a blind is up, deer get used to them so the last thing I want to do is take them down to avoid snow damage.

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Read more about Quick and Easy to Make Wild Game Breakfast Meals
Nikki Boxler

One of the great things about fresh, never frozen meat is you can prepare easy freezer meals for those days when you are in a rush but want to have a delicious breakfast without all the time it takes to make it. Here are 2 quick and easy meals you can prepare in advance for breakfast when you are on the go.

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Read more about Venison Burger Pie – Easy to Make and Super Delicious!
Scott Leysath

Add some onions, celery, carrots and any other vegetables that make you happy. Top the whole mess with a pile of whipped potatoes and pop it in the oven. In about thirty minutes, it’s dinner. Mom used to make something she called “Hamburger Pie.” It was a big hit with dad and the three boys.

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Read more about Shotguns for Self Defense at Home
Winchester Ammunition

Unlike a handgun, with its short sight plane, a longer shotgun is much easier to aim, particularly by less skilled shooters during a stressful moment. A shotgun also throws a wider pattern than a single projectile, allowing for poor aim, likely to be made poorer by a stressful situation such as a home break-in or defensive situation.

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Read more about 338 Win Mag – the Ultimate Elk Round
Ron Spomer

Ever since the advent of the first metallic cartridge (the 22 BB Cap in 1845,) hunters have demanded rifles, cartridges and bullets capable of terminating everything from ground squirrels to elephants. This is why the world has seen the creation of — literally — hundreds of rifle cartridges.

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Read more about Christmas Gifts for the Outdoors-Person in Your Life – or Perhaps Yourself
Melissa Bachman

This is a list that I used to purchase gifts for my own family and friends and hope there may be something that could spark some interest for that hard to buy for person in your family.

S4 Gear Bino Harness– This is a binocular harness that keeps optics dry, clean and at the ready. It fits most styles of binoculars and not only makes it much more convenient, but also keeps binos snow and water-free so you can see regardless of weather conditions.

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Read more about Late-Season Whitetail Tips & Tactics
Nikki Boxler

When it comes to sealing the deal, there are a few tricks I keep up my sleeve to utilize when the time is right. 

Never let deer know they are being hunted

It may sound like a no-brainer and pretty simple, but it takes discipline. After gun opener, deer seem to be on edge. So, I keep the location I hunt low pressure and take every precaution to be stealthy in hopes that deer use my section of property as a safe haven.

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Read more about Finger Food – Easy to Make Wild Game Small Bites
Scott Leysath

My hunting partners don’t look favorably at late arrivals. Whether I like it or not, parties happen and it’s usually best to make a contribution beyond a bag of chips and store-bought salsa. Here are a few of my favorites.

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Read more about 300 Winchester Magnum or the 300 Winchester Short Magnum
Ron Spomer

Maybe we can clear some confusion if we take a hard look at the old 300 Winchester Magnum and the newer 300 Winchester Short Magnum to gain a clearer understanding of what they do. First, both of these powerful magnum rounds exist for the extra reach and punch many shooters demand. North America and Africa harbor good to excellent numbers of large, tough, antlered or horned animals.

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Read more about Four Late Season Deer Tips
Winchester Ammunition

If desperation is setting in, don’t let it. Instead try one of these tricks to save your season before it’s over.

Break Your Pattern – You and your fellow hunters hitting the property every weekend like clockwork, maybe Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday then everybody is back home until next weekend? Work the weekend and take a Tuesday or Wednesday off. Deer pattern us and our activity in their environment as well, if not better, than we do them.

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Read more about Late-Season Whitetail Tips
Melissa Bachman

I’ve always been a huge fan of late season hunting for whitetails. This can be a very productive time of the year. Below are four proven tips that I’ve used to find success as seasons begin winding down.

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Read more about Tips on How Best to Stay Warm in the Late Season
Nikki Boxler

However, visions of big bucks dance through my head along with hearing my dad’s voice say, “You’re not going to shoot anything if you’re not out there.” So, I gear up and head out. Through trial and error, I have found some simple yet inexpensive and effective ways to fend off the cold and hunt comfortably in the field for longer durations. Here are my tips and tricks to stay warm in the field this late season:

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Read more about Sweet, Sour and Spicy Sauce for Game Meat by Scott Leysath
Scott Leysath

If you’ve ever taken a bite into a fresh, unsweetened cranberry, you know that the taste is nothing like what you get from something that’s been made with cranberries. Cranberry sauce, chutney, relish and, of course, the cranberry juice that occasionally floats on top of a vodka drink have all been sweetened or they would taste sour. 

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Read more about Get a Grip for Better Trigger Control
Winchester Ammunition

Think about it, the bullet only has a few inches of barrel to travel down so the slightest dip in the barrel or flinch of the shooter can alter the trajectory drastically in just a few short yards of travel. To improve your ability to fire a handgun accurately, focus on these three aspects of grip for better trigger control and, ultimately, a better aim.

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Read more about 308 Winchester Versus the 300 Winchester Magnum?
Ron Spomer

But not the 308 Winchester and 300 Winchester Magnum. Here there is such a performance differential that one must seriously consider what each does and which hunting applications each handles best. So let’s dig in. Both these popular and vastly different cartridges throw .308-inch diameter (30-caliber) bullets. The big difference is their powder capacity.

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Read more about Live Fire Drills That Force You to Think
Rob Pincus

In many sports, training includes some aspect of learning to focus exclusively on the task at hand, filtering out distractions. In endeavors such as putting, basketball free-throws, billiards and pitching, athletes practice blocking out all distractions and using visualization…

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Read more about Deer Season XP – Why You Need This Lethal Load This Season by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

I put in so much time during the off-season training and throughout the season scouting and hunting that when the moment of truth comes…I want no excuses. Winchester introduced Deer Season XP because they wanted to ensure deer hunters had something specific to their needs. This round was designed with only one thing in mind: dropping big deer in their tracks. 

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Read more about Thanksgiving Day Treats – Quick and Easy by Nikki Boxler
Nikki Boxler

With so much to do and so little time, I like to have recipes on the back burner (pun intended) that I can turn to when I am in a time crunch. Here are a few quick snacks that the entire family will enjoy. The best part is both recipes share the same 3 core ingredients!

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Read more about All We Are Saying is: Give Meat a Chance
Scott Leysath

Let’s face it, we’ve all had some pretty funky venison. Hopefully, any unpalatable dishes you prepared in the past resulted in a learning experience. Sometimes we gain as much knowledge by making mistakes as we do by our successes, a concept I’ve reminded my 20-year old son about for years. In my formative years as a wild game cooker, I had some remarkable culinary failures.

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Read more about Tips for Shooting in Low-Light Conditions – Part II
Winchester Ammunition

Big on Optics: Quality optics, both in the form of binoculars and a scope, are your best friends in low light scenarios. A good pair of binos in the 8x to 10x range, but with a larger objective, can help gather more light and make creatures almost invisible to the naked eye easily identifiable in low light.

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Read more about Don’t Let Parallax Paralyze You by Ron Spomer
Ron Spomer

The result is you can hold the crosshair in the right spot, but it could really be pointing an inch or more off that spot at 100 yards. This isn’t a big deal, but as distance increases, that one-inch difference expands to 2 inches at 200 yards, 3 inches at 300 yards, etc. For precision, long range shooting, a tiny big of parallax in a scope can result in significant misses.

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Read more about The Best of the Rut
Paul Sawyer, Chris Keefer

The rut. An instinct-driven, chaos-filled craze. The time of year when whitetail bucks have one thing on their mind, and one thing only. They seek a willing doe-in-estrus. The need propels them through the fields and forest with persistence.

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Read more about Do Not Mistake Enthusiasm for Training for Motivation to Train
Rob Pincus

Don’t be a hobbyist in the area of defensive skill development. It is great if you gain pleasure from knowing that you are better able to defend yourself or your family if you need to. But, if the only reason that you train is because you enjoy it, you will inevitably start compromising your training… you’ll start deferring to techniques that you perform best in the training environment, not the ones that would serve you best in a fight.

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Read more about Freeze-Dried Meals – Hunting Meals Made Easy
Melissa Bachman

I’ve been in camps where everyone is so exhausted by the time dark comes that food preparation is the last thing anyone cares about. When this is the case, I’ve found a great solution: freeze dried meals. Most people think that freeze dried food would be a last resort or something that is less than desirable to eat. This may have been the case years ago, but this is an area that has really come a long way!

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Read more about Aging Bucks on the Hoof
Nikki Boxler

For me, determining a buck’s age beyond 4.5 years old becomes more difficult due to variations in genetics. Therefore, I am going to break down bucks into a couple different age groups: fawns, yearlings, 2.5 year olds,3.5 year olds, and 4.5 or older. Whether you are new to aging bucks or just want to brush up on your skills before heading to the tree stand, here are a few tips and body characteristics that you should pay close attention to.

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Read more about How to Make a Medium Rare (and delicious) Venison Roast
Scott Leysath

It’s true comfort food that greets you with an inviting aroma as you open the door. No waiting for dinner. Let’s eat! The bigger challenge is to roast a venison hindquarter and have it come out medium-rare like sliced roast beef that you might put into a sandwich. Cooking lean venison isn’t nearly as forgiving as fatty beef. It requires more time and attention, but the end result can be just as delicious as any thin-sliced beef you may have had in a French dip.

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Read more about Tips for Shooting in Low-Light Conditions
Winchester Ammunition

Whitetails, mule deer, elk and even small game such as squirrels and rabbits are crepuscular, meaning they feed primarily at dawn or dusk (twilight hours) when night is transitioning to day and vice versa. For this reason, much of a hunter’s time—for sake of this blog, a deer hunter’s time—is going to be spent in the woods, most likely on a stand during…

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Read more about The Problem With Wind
Ron Spomer

In this era of laser-measured ranges, turret dialing scopes and multiple-stadia-line reticles, wind remains the biggest roadblock to precise targeting. That’s because wind, unlike gravity, isn’t constant. You can’t depend on its velocity or direction. Inside of 200 yards or so, this isn’t generally a big problem, but as distance increases and/or wind speed increases, so do your chances for missing.

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Read more about Teamwork While Armed – Three Tips
Rob Pincus

Have you thought about how you can improve your safety by planning to work together with other armed people during a defensive event? Have you considered that not being prepared to interact with other armed people could put you at risk? Here are some tips to help you be safer and be better prepared to deal with threats when there is more than one armed “good guy” on the scene:

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Read more about How to Best Prepare for the Late-Waterfowl Season
Melissa Bachman

Another important aspect is keeping yourself warm and comfortable and using the best gear possible. The more prepared you are for the weather conditions, the more you’ll enjoy the hunt. First, when calling or setting decoys remember you’re probably hunting pressured birds. With this, the adage “less is more” holds its own weight. I try to setup in locations where the birds naturally want to be or will be going through. As far as calling, this is absolutely true.

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Read more about How to Make a Set of Rattling Antlers – it’s Easy! By Nikki Boxler
Nikki Boxler

November is finally here! We have waited in anticipation all year for these next few weeks. The rut is heating up in many parts of the country and bucks are beginning to build aggression – this means it is time to break out those rattling antlers!

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Read more about Guns & Ammo Magazine Bestows Honor Upon Winchester Deer Season XP
Winchester Ammunition

As for the millions of deer hunters across North America who dropped a deer using it in the field, they were convinced. Now it’s been confirmed by one of the most prestigious magazine titles in the hunting and shooting world; Guns & Ammo has named Winchester Deer Season XP as its 2017 Ammo of the Year.

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Read more about Chunky Chili…Mmmm Good!
Scott Leysath

One of my most frequently reoccurring rants concerns the amount of whole muscle game meat that gets ground into burger. I think it’s because ground meat is easier to prepare, it’s more forgiving than steaks and roasts, especially when it’s a bit overcooked. Ground game usually ends up in tacos, meatloaf and, most often, chili.

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Read more about Improve Your Handgun Skills in Your Home
Winchester Ammunition

Let’s face it, even though live-fire drills are critical to becoming a skilled shooter (and are much more fun), the cost can add up quickly for a lot of people making it difficult to put in the training time needed. Dry-fire drills can be done every day in the privacy and convenience of your home and best of all, they don’t cost a thing. But safety first.

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Read more about Understanding Bullet BC (Ballistic Coefficient)
Ron Spomer

BC might sound like a bunch of hooey, but it’s really at the heart of bullet performance. With the right BC you can make a light bullet hit with twice the kinetic energy of a bullet twice its weight because doubling a projectile’s velocity quadruples its energy. Doubling its weight only doubles its energy.

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Read more about The Best of Big Game
Casey Keefer, Nikki Boxler

Across America, hunters have pursued wild game for decades with Winchester. They have made choices on the perfect caliber, bullet type, bullet weight … choices that have then been proven in the field, when the moment of truth presented itself. They have stepped out beyond their own backyards to find diverse backdrops and hunt thick-skinned, powerful, and challenging opponents.

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Read more about Tips for Rattling Success
Melissa Bachman

Time of Year – Over the years, I’ve had the most success with rattling during the peak of the rut. However, that’s not the only time it works. Pay attention to what is happening, and take of your surroundings. Study the behavior of the deer you’re hunting while on stand. See how they interact with each other and take note.

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Read more about How to Best Prepare for the Late Waterfowl Season
Nikki Boxler

Being new to waterfowl hunting, I decided to turn to hunting guide and Owner of Goose Creek Outfitters and Retrievers, Matt Peel, to help me explore some new tactics to help get more birds on the ground this year.

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Read more about A New (and better) Twist on Stuffed Turkey and Duck Breasts
Scott Leysath

The stuffing allegedly draws out the evil spirits and adds a fruity and, um…vegetably flavor to the cooked bird. I’m not buying it. Oh, I’ve tried stuffing my turkey and ducks a number of times. It just didn’t seem to make a difference. I know some of you are going to keep doing it the way you’ve always done it. For the rest of you, I’ll continue.

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Read more about Slug Gun vs. Muzzleloader in Non-Centerfire Zones
Winchester Ammunition

One of the main reasons for this requirement—at least in many areas is the perception that the limited range shotguns possess when compared to rifles makes it safer when hunting is taking place in close proximity to human-inhabited areas. Centerfire rifles are not permitted in the big buck states of Illinois and Iowa, as well as all or portions of East Coast states like Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. Limits exist in many other areas, too.

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Read more about Light Recoil Options for Deer
Ron Spomer

The happy truth, though “bigger hammer” enthusiasts hate to admit it, is that plenty of mild recoiling rifles have proven deadly on deer for decades because most of us can shoot them more accurately without flinching. Here’s why:

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Read more about How to Create a Buck Paradise in Front of Your Stand by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

Come along on this video blog by Winchester Deadly Passion’s Melissa Bachman to learn how to do it. It’ll take a little sweat-equity, but will surely pay off in spades down the line. We will give you a few hints: cover, food and water. Check out his video to learn more.

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Read more about Going in Blind: How to Best Set and Prepare a Blind for Deer Season
Nikki Boxler

Have you ever been so close to a deer or turkey that you could reach out and touch them while out hunting? I have had serval of these experiences when hunting from blinds, there is nothing quite like being “one with nature” and seeing animals up close and personal in their natural habitat! First we must first consider where and what type of game we are hunting. This is key when deciding on the type of blind and camouflage pattern that would be most effective.

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Read more about Mixed bag – a Stew Pot for All
Scott Leysath

My utensils included a fire pit for heat and an assortment of iron, clay and wood pots. It’s not much different than deer camp today, except for the coolers full of ice, sound systems, propane stoves and 500-watt lighting. The few pigs that were brought over the Atlantic Ocean stayed fairly active, growing in numbers to a thousand or more that were maintained at nearby Hog Island.

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Read more about Five Tips for Hunting the Rut
Winchester Ammunition

The whitetail rut one of the most anticipated times of the year. Don’t miss out on this golden opportunity, and don’t flub your chance at a monster when the moment of truth arrives. But to make that moment arrive, try these tips this fall.

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Read more about Shooting events for Women – Give it a Try, Ladies by Becky Yackley
Becky Yackley

For this match, I helped my friend Cyndi get her rifle zeroed and a little practice in, then we headed to the match. First, we checked out what vendors had to offer at side stages with her mother in law Jane. Them we got Cyndi shooting a pistol for the first time since she was last at a ladies event. Then we got ready for the match with things such as loading mags and organizing gear, listening to stage briefs with the other women in our squad, and then shooting.

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Read more about Blind Side – Waterfowlers’ Favorite Ammo by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

Take Winchester Blind Side for example. The amount of time, energy and innovation that has been put behind ways to make a waterfowl load better is truly mind boggling. Winchester took something that most people thought was just fine and made it more effective than most people could ever imagine.

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Read more about Tips to Prepare Your Dog for a Long Waterfowl Season
Nikki Boxler

Being new to waterfowl hunting and not having a dog of my own, I decided to turn to gun dog trainer, hunting enthusiast and president of Lone Duck Outfitters, Bob Owens, for some knowledgeable insight on what it takes to get a dog ready for the season. We touched on everything from strategies for good conditioning, proper nutrition, and “must have” products to help keep a dog safe and performing at their best while out in the field this fall.

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Read more about There’s Only One Way to Slice
Scott Leysath

How you slice any hunk of meat can make a big difference at the dinner table. You’ve heard about slicing meat “across the grain.” If you haven’t heard, then you’re probably just not paying attention. Take a close look at a piece of meat, the bigger the better. Notice that the muscle fibers run parallel to each other in long bundles or strands.

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Read more about Light Bullet Verses Heavy Bullet – Which to Choose?
Ron Spomer

Ah, but whack that golf ball with a 100-miles-per-hour club swing and you might change your mind. A basic rule of physics is that double weight doubles energy, but doubling velocity quadruples energy. This is what enables us to terminate 1,000-pound moose with bullets weighing less than a half-ounce! Knowing this does little, however, to clear up the confusion over various bullet weights offered in most cartridges.

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Read more about Understanding and Correcting Parallax
Winchester Ammunition

That is a byproduct of correctly adjusted parallax, but it does not explain the phenomenon nor will merely turning the ocular to bring the reticle into focus correct it. Parallax occurs when the target and reticle are on different planes within the scope.

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Read more about Pack Your Truck Now for the Upcoming Big Game Season
Melissa Bachman

This list is something I’ve come up with over the years that I personally use before the season starts to ensure I’m prepared for as many obstacles that may be thrown my way. I can’t count the number of times I’ve run to my truck and grabbed one of these items which allowed me to repair or get out of a sticky situation. All because I have had the necessary tools.

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Read more about Helpful Tips on how to Best Pattern a Shotgun
Nikki Boxler

Nothing is worse than missing birds and then deciding to pattern the gun just to find out that the shot pattern is not hitting what you expected. Finding the right ammunition and choke for the gun you intend to shoot is critical to success in the field. When I am unable to get to the woods one of my favorite things to do is to hit the range, or in my case a nice hilly farm field to sight or pattern guns for the upcoming season.

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Read more about Fun for Fall – Cooking With Barley
Scott Leysath

Barley’s full of fiber and it’s supposed to boost your immune system. It’s also a complete protein that also regulates blood sugar. Why someone hasn’t come up with an infomercial selling barley capsules as a miracle cure for anything that ails you is a mystery to me.

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Read more about Bearable Cartridges for Black Bear
Ron Spomer

So forget the perfect, all-round bear cartridge. Instead, let’s concentrate on a good black bear round. This is assignment enough because black bears can grow to weigh more than 700 pounds! Most, however, are going to fit into the 150 to 400-pound range, and that’s doable for a great number of cartridges. Before we dive into those, however, let’s pay homage to something even more important — the bullet.

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Read more about Long-Range Shooting Tip – Doping the Wind
Winchester Ammunition

But wind is inconsistent and hard to measure, and as a result, can throw even the best aimed shot off by feet—even yards—depending on the distance of the shot and the speed of the wind. It would be hard to adequately tackle every aspect of judging and accounting for the wind when shooting at targets 500 yards out and beyond, but here are some tips to help you stay on target when the wind is up.

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Read more about Tips to Make This Your Finest Waterfowl Season Ever
Melissa Bachman
  1. Quality decoys- Just like turkey or deer decoys, waterfowl decoys can make a huge difference on the overall success of a setup. Quality decoys may take time to purchase but you’ll be very happy in the end. Once you have everything you need, keep them in good shape by cleaning them each year and taking care of them both in and out of the field.
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Read more about Tips to Help ID Waterfowl on the Wing
Nikki Boxler

Yes, if you show me a picture of a duck I can identify it immediately. However as with most things in life, learning about it through books and actually testing knowledge in the field when birds are flying at various distances and lighting conditions, it is a whole different ball game! My first couple of trips to the blind resulted in me being more of an observer; watching and learning how to identify each duck as they flew past our setup.

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Read more about How to Clean an AR Platform Rifle by Becky Yackley
Becky Yackley

Come along on this Winchester video blog with Becky Yackley to learn how to easily and quickly clean your AR platform rifle. Deer season is fast-approaching…you’ll be glad you did.

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Read more about A Venison Meatball Sandwich Made Easy
Scott Leysath

Some of us tend to grind up way too much of our good game. There are other options. Before you go grinding up both hindquarters, consider turning the better muscles – sirloin, top round, bottom round – into steaks or roasts. Take a sharp, thin-bladed knife and separate each muscle from the hindquarter. Trim away anything that is not muscle. Give one of the cuts a good soak in olive oil, red wine, garlic and herbs.

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Read more about Elk Stopping Cartridges
Ron Spomer

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use enough gun. The confusing thing about elk is that one bull collapses after a single lung shot from a 243 Win. 95-grain Ballistic Silvertip at 100 yards while the next one takes three 180-grain AccuBond CT slugs through the shoulders inside 50 yards — and keeps walking. Yes, elk are big and notoriously durable, but they’re also known to give up the ghost with what most shooters would deem “minimal persuasion.” Does this mean you should load up your 243 Model 70 or 30-30 M94 for your big bull hunt-of-a-lifetime?

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Read more about Understanding Shot Sizes for Ducks and Geese
Winchester Ammunition

Not only are distances away from the shooter and speed of the targets factors a hunter must consider, but having the right shot size for the size of the ducks or geese likely to be encountered is a critical consideration. Common shot sizes used for waterfowl (from smallest to largest) are No. 4, 3, 2, 1, BB, BBB and T shot. Naturally, smaller shot sizes are best suited for ducks, while the larger shot is better for geese and swans.

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Read more about Light Bullet Versus Heavy Bullet: Which to Choose?
Ron Spomer

Ah, but whack that golf ball with a 100-miles-per-hour club swing and you might change your mind. A basic rule of physics is that double weight doubles energy, but doubling velocity quadruples energy. This is what enables us to terminate 1,000-pound moose with bullets weighing less than a half-ounce! Knowing this does little, however, to clear up the confusion over various bullet weights offered in most cartridges.

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Read more about Winchester Blind Side and Early Goose Season
Melissa Bachman

Although I don’t get much time to hunt with my family anymore, this season I’m getting the best of both words. I’m heading to Saskatchewan at Buck Paradise Outfitters with my dad for an early goose hunt. So what makes these early hunts so great? In my opinion it’s tough to beat hunting with family and hunting birds that have had little to no pressure is a blast.

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Read more about Long-Range Shooting, Part II
Nikki Boxler

If mean, if I can’t keep calm when people are watching, what I am I going to do when buck fever kicks in? Luckily for me, I was in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia so a sense of peace filled my veins. As I wrote last week, I was taking a long range shooting course taught by Phil Conklin. Phil is an accomplished instructor who had me hitting long range targets, calculating wind compensation and elevation changes in just a few hours. Most certainly a testament to his teaching ability all on its own.

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Read more about Making Sauces From Game Stock by Scott Leysath
Scott Leysath

The type of recipes best suited for a particular kind of stock depends on the critters you used to make the stock. For instance, a reduced stock made from lighter-fleshed upland game is ideal as a replacement for chicken broth or stock. Darker-fleshed waterfowl and antlered game stocks are an upgrade from canned beef broth.

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Read more about Defensive Calibers
Winchester Ammunition

But for many buyers a lot of questions surround not only which firearm to purchase, but primarily, what caliber it should be. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of many of the top defensive handgun calibers available.

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Read more about How to Take and Make Odd Shooting Angle Shots
Ron Spomer

Most hunters understand that steep shooting angles alter where bullets strike. If your rig is zeroed at 200 yards on the level and your target stands 200 yards up a steep mountain slope, your bullet will strike lower than usual, right? And if its below you, you’ll shoot high? No? Well, at least half no.

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Read more about A Behind the Scenes Look at a Shooting Match by Becky Yackley
Becky Yackley

Take a peek at some shooting and scenes from a weekend match.  This match was the Generation III Gun Championship in Lake of the Ozarks, MO.  The event is a fundraiser to support youth who compete in 3 Gun, and they even had a shoot-off where juniors (kids under 18) picked adults to shoot a head-to-head stage with them while competitors waited for scores from the match to be tallied. Out of the 209 shooters, there were 31 juniors and 23 ladies competing in this match.

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Read more about Pattern Your Waterfowl Gun Now – Here is How by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

I like to do this at 30-yards as it’s a great way to test out the gun, choke, and ammo combination to ensure perfect patterns when it’s time to hit the field. I always recommend shooting from a lead sled on the bench because it really helps reduce recoil and ensure that shots are consistent, and human error has been taken out.

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Read more about 365
Gabe Adair, Paul Sawyer

Living the Whitetail Dream in Iowa...by chasing Spring Turkeys

 
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Read more about Long Range Shooting – Part I
Nikki Boxler

She described the details of the course to me and how it helped drastically improve her ability to fire long range shots accurately and elevate her overall shooting confidence. As she filled me in on the course, my first thought was how unconfident I would be to put an animal down at anything over 150 yards, let alone 600-800 yards!

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Read more about Don’t Waste Critters- Making Stock From the “Remains” Made Easy by Scott Leysath
Scott Leysath

From the hides to the nether regions, nothing was wasted. By comparison, think about how much of your wild game gets thrown in the trash. Based on a lifetime of talking to others about how they prepare their harvested game, I’d guess that only a very small percentage of them make the most of their critters. I’m not talking about making coin purses out of venison scrotums, but the tasty shanks and flanks are often discarded.

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Read more about Animal Targets Cure Buck Fever
Ron Spomer

Veterans of the syndrome recommend all hunters begin their anti-buck fever training as soon as possible. A great way to begin is by working with your rifle until you can operate it with complete function and confidence in the dark. Figure out how you’re going to carry it, get it off your shoulder and into shooting position.

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Read more about Dealing With Elevation While Shooting
Winchester Ammunition

But where the country opens up and mountains rule the terrain, most certainly out West, taking shots uphill or downhill, and sometimes at fairly long ranges, definitely comes into play. Compound that with the interest—and modern capabilities—of shooting longer ranges courtesy of technological advances in optics, firearms and ammunition (think Winchester Big Game Extended Range) and you have a world where considering angles when shooting becomes critical.

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Read more about Tips for Hunting From a Ground Blind by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

The blind keeps weather from becoming an issue if it’s raining or snowing allowing you to sit longer. Last but not least, it’s pretty tough to beat being eye-level with a big buck only steps away from the blind. With all these benefits, it does however take a little work to make them as effective as a treestand, but it can be done by utilizing a few simple tips.

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Read more about Give Your Pistol a Good Cleaning – Here’s How
Nikki Boxler

There are many variations of kits, you can buy one that will only have the tools for your specific gun or you can purchase one that includes attachments for various different guns. If you have a kit that has several bore brush sizes, be sure to match the appropriate cleaning brushes with the gun you are cleaning to avoid damage and ensure you have a clean gun once finished!

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Read more about Shotgun’s Best Compete at 2017 World Championships
Winchester Ammunition

Team USA, powered by Winchester Ammunition, is off to a great start having earned four medals and five top-10 finishes thus far. Ashley Carroll (Solvang, California) and Derek Haldeman (Sunbury, Ohio) have led the charge as Carroll finished sixth in Women’s Trap and Haldeman finished fifth in Men’s Trap. The two then went on to earn a bronze medal in the Mixed Team Trap event Monday. The Trap Mixed Team event will make its debut as an Olympic event in Tokyo in 2020.  

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Read more about Easy Solutions for Making Tough Meat More Tender
Scott Leysath

Leaving a dead or mortally wounded animal on the ground in hot weather happens, but we’d all prefer a solid kill shot with an animal that drops dead immediately. Fortunately, we found this one before it got too hot. Since this was a “TV hunt”, part of what it is that I am supposed to do is to show viewers how to cook it, or at least part of it.

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Read more about Slug Country
Chris Keefer, Nikki Boxler

A thick slab of fatback bacon sizzles on a well-seasoned cast iron griddle. A trusty Model 94 30-30 waits for the sunrise at the front door, alongside a notched up .270 and a walnut-stocked 30-06. The woods are still quiet, but the camp is starting to wake to the sound of hot grease, and the sweet smell of early morning at deer camp. Behind the spatula is an artisan of sorts. A specialist in the nuances of rustic dining. A seasoned stove operator who wants nothing more than to follow up the bacon breakfast with a backstrap supper. It’s The Camp Cook, and every deer camp has one.

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Read more about Beyond the 22LR for Small Game
Winchester Ammunition

Despite all the hype in this day and age over larger game such as whitetail deer and wild turkeys, for many hunters who grew up prior to the Millennial generation, small game is what we first hunted—with much of that focus on squirrels and rabbits. Long a perennial favorite firearm choice for these smaller critters has been the .22 LR. The .22, with its low recoil, minimal cost per round and light weight of most rifles chambered in that caliber, makes it a favorite.

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Read more about Get “Off the Bench” for Better In-The-Field Shooting by Ron Spomer
Ron Spomer

Practice shooting from field positions using prone, sitting, kneeling and standing positions with and without assistance from bipods, monopods and the like. Come along on this insightful video blog from Ron Spomer to learn more.

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Read more about Deer Camp
Chris Keefer, Nikki Boxler, Paul Sawyer

Deer season is a treasured time of year where cherished memories are made…and mighty bucks are taken. Each season has its own unique highlights, but one thing remains the same: the trusted reliability of Winchester.

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Read more about Pistol Cleaning Made Easy by Becky Yackley
Becky Yackley

Come along on this video blog from Becky Yackley to see just how simple cleaning a pistol cab be. From disassembly, to an entire cleaning regime to putting the pistol back together…you will see all the steps that go into it. We hope you enjoy this latest video blog from Winchester.

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Read more about Safe & Easy Treestand Tips
Melissa Bachman

Most accidents happen going in and out of the stand before people are safely strapped in. The good news is this can be avoided simply by using a lifeline. The idea behind a lifeline is to keep you connected from the moment you leave the ground until the moment you return. This eliminates the chance of falling from the tree on the ascent or descent; plus it make things easier when you get into your stand because you’re already connected.

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Read more about Setting a Groundblind for the Season Ahead
Nikki Boxler

Tall grasses, cornstalks, pine, and cedar work great if they occur in the landscape you are hunting. When collecting materials you will need a folding saw for the larger branches, pruners, and some zip ties for holding everything in place. When covering the blind don’t worry if you cover the windows as you can use the pruners to cut any obstructions out of the way once you get into your blind.

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Read more about Early Season (Warm Weather) Game Processing
Scott Leysath

I’m headed to the central coast of California to shoot a blacktail deer on their opener, the second weekend in August. I’m told that it’s the earliest rifle season in the country and I can’t find any evidence to the contrary. The temperature is supposed to be right around 100 degrees, which is about 40 degrees warmer than what I’m used to on an early deer hunt. So, what’s the best way to handle a warm weather animal in the field?

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Read more about Hot & Cold – Curing the Rifle Flinch by Ron Spomer
Ron Spomer

Training with an empty rifle helps shooters forget about recoil and concentrate on proper form and trigger control. They can see where their sights were when the firing pin clicks. So load for the shooter behind his back. When she’s doing everything right, slip in a live round and score!

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Read more about Early Goose Season Tips
Winchester Ammunition

The Canada goose population in the East and across the rest of its migratory range has exploded. Not to the point of snow geese, but certainly, what they tend to call “resident birds,” those that have adapted to staying put in areas of warmer weather and abundant food and nesting conditions, are quite plentiful.

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Read more about Defensive Shooting Target Distance
Rob Pincus

Training at realistic distances will help you gain an accurate understanding of your ability to do so. Your most likely defensive shooting distance is influenced by where you spend your time while armed or with access to a defensive firearm. If you only have a gun staged in your bedroom, then you can predict the distance you would be shooting if someone broke through your secured bedroom door to a high degree of certainty. 

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Read more about Here we Go – Early Teal Season!
Melissa Bachman

As a young girl growing up in Central Minnesota, teal hunting is something we always looked forward to. Sure they’re fast as can be, but what a great way to get back in the swing of things to kick of the season. A few tips to make your hunt more successful and enjoyable for early season teal usually involve bringing a couple key items to make your time in the field more comfortable.

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Read more about A Venison Dish for the Season to Come
Nikki Boxler

With every bite it always takes me back to my grandma’s home cooking! Presume the same is true for you as well. I really love how that it only takes a few ingredients that I usually have on hand. I just mix it all together and throw it in a pan for a quick and easy healthy meal!

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Read more about Shanks for the Memories – How to Make Delicious Deer Shanks by Scott Leysath
Scott Leysath

I’m all for rewarding my dogs, but they feel equally rewarded with a good scratching or maybe a rawhide chew. For me, one of the best rewards is a slow-cooked deer shank bathed in a tasty sauce. Discarding venison shanks is about the same as throwing away bones and carcasses that could be used to make a stock that is infinitely more flavorful that something out of a can or a bouillon cube.

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Read more about Tips for Clean Shots on Dove
Winchester Ammunition

However, beyond the opening day hubbub or the groups of hunters gathering on those first few warm (often still downright hot) Saturdays, some hunters like to sneak out after work or even before, once the season permits, and oftentimes, they find themselves without the benefit of the other hunters to keep birds moving around.

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Read more about Stay Cool – You Got This
Ron Spomer

Heck, even veteran hunters are susceptible to buck fever. And sometimes doe fever. We overthink, worry, hyperventilate, get the shakes, rush our shots, panic and miss, miss, miss. But we don’t have to. It’s possible to train to keep cool, shoot straight and score. It isn’t necessarily easy, but it can be done. Here’s how:

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Read more about Find Friendship and Sportsmanship in the Shooting World
Becky Yackley

The physical variables that give bodies with larger muscles and longer limbs an edge are a matter of physics. Even in this modern day where girls are told not they can “do anything,” there are certain things that certain individuals cannot physically do. A 5′ tall person will not be able to reach something that a 6’3” person can, without artificial help. 

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Read more about A Dove Primer for the Waterfowl Season
Melissa Bachman

 There are several reasons for this. First, it’s usually beautiful weather and a great way to spend a morning or afternoon. Secondly, it’s a fun hunt that can be very social. Third, I believe it’s a great way to get in some much needed real life practice which will help you for the upcoming waterfowl season.

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Read more about Tune Yourself up for the Season-To-Come
Nikki Boxler

Whether it be camping with the family on the 4th of July or spending a week at hunting camp with the gang, don’t limit yourself from being able to squeeze in a quality workout! Workouts don’t need to last multiple hours and involve loads of equipment – think minimalistic! In this case, I’m going to demonstrate how something as basic as a cooler can double as your on-the-road fitness center! First I will go over some basic exercises and then follow those up with some simple ways to throw them together for a quick yet effective workout.

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Read more about Celebrate National Shooting Sports Month
Winchester Ammunition

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and other major industry manufactures, including Winchester, are supporting this initiative to showcase the positive benefits the shooting sports contribute to communities across North America. Online, messaging promoting the month is being noted with#LETSGOSHOOTING.

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Read more about Everyone’s Favorite – Time to Clean Out the Freezer
Scott Leysath

But then, so does setting up trail cameras and scouting for good animals, but both of those activities are more fun than thawing out your freezer and deciding what is worth saving. Look, I know that you’ve been planning on doing something with that trout you caught last year, or was it three years ago?

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Read more about Choosing the Best Choke for Your Game
Winchester Ammunition

For close shots on birds such as released quail or other tight sitting upland game that present close shots, a more open choke such as skeet, cylinder bore or most likely, improved cylinder are best. For late in the season ducks and geese, where birds are reluctant to decoy and will likely flare at the edge of range, a much tighter full choke is better.

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Read more about Cleaning for Accuracy by Ron Spomer
Ron Spomer

In this video our field reporter Spomer explains not only how to clean a barrel, but how often in his latest Winchester video blog. It’s not as often as you might fear. Nor as difficult.

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Read more about Assessing Your Environment
Rob Pincus

In our Intuitive Defensive Shooting Courses, we spend 15-20 minutes just talking about the concepts I am about to share with you and then spend a lot of time engaging in the reality based application of those concepts into our live fire drills. First, let’s define “Assessment:” Collecting and Processing Information.

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Read more about Hunting With Your Family Heirloom Rifle by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

Some people keep things like this locked up or under glass, but in our family we like to take them afield. This keeps the stories going and adds to the history. In our family, a particular heirloom is a Winchester 30/30 that my grandfather had. He was a guy who loved Winchester, and was so proud of this particular gun. It was then passed on to my father, and now my brother and I both get to use it.

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Read more about How to Start a Survival Fire
Nikki Boxler

But, what happens if you find yourself in a survival situation while hunting in the backcountry? Do you carry the appropriate fire starting materials with you and would you know where to begin? The foundation of starting a fire is in proper planning. There is nothing more frustrating than getting a flame started just to have it go out due to a lack of preparation.

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Read more about Last Night in Texas: Whitetail Hunt Part Three
Paul Sawyer

But Winchester Life isn’t centered on taking every shot when you see any opportunity walk your way. It’s knowing the difference between the right opportunity and the wrong timing. It’s effective discernment. Most of all, it’s patience.

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Read more about Hot Fun in the Summertime – Sausage Party by Scott Leysath
Scott Leysath

We’ve all heard tales of lips, ears, glands and all things gristly that, once passed through a meat grinder, get crammed into a casing and loaded into boxes destined for your local market. And while there are plenty of sausage horror stories, most them are just that…stories. Make your own and you’ve got nothing to worry about. “Hey, has anyone seen my Band-Aid?

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Read more about Nine Lives: Whitetail Hunt Part Two
Paul Sawyer

It’s near the end of firearm season, and Paul Sawyer heads to Oklahoma to dial in on a 9-point he has his heart set on. When The Big Nine makes an appearance in the field, the Model 70 is warm and the Deer Season XP is ready…and Paul learns that patience really does pay off.

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Read more about How to Hit More Targets and More Game
Winchester Ammunition

To Navy pilots practicing touch and goes on a carrier deck, and a surgeon doing years of residency to perfect his art, the only way to get better at anything is to practice it over and over. And along the way, some good instruction is critical. Shooting is no different.

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Read more about Accuracy Testing of Ammunition
Ron Spomer

To determine which ammunition your rifle likes best with minimal fuss, try this system of initial 3-shot group testing combined with careful record keeping.

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Read more about The Intruder: Whitetail Hunt Part One
Paul Sawyer

Paul Sawyer immerses himself in the everyday worlds of whitetail deer. Bucks’ bedrooms span across the country, and Sawyer has seen it all. Near creek bottoms. Across golden fields. Within thick timber. 

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Read more about Lateral Movement in Defensive Training
Rob Pincus

Both Rob and I agree that you generally don’t want to try shooting and moving at the same time during a defensive gun use: Plant & Shoot! But, what about the times that you are not actually shooting? When you are drawing your gun, when you are reloading or if you have to clear a malfunction, it probably makes a lot of sense to be moving.

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Read more about Building Responsible Gun Owners – One New Shooter at a Time by Becky Yackley
Becky Yackley

For youth, the promise is that for time spent shooting with supervised qualified Range Officers who adhere to safety measures that govern competitions, groundwork for being a lifelong gun owner with safe firearms handling skills is laid.  Furthermore, what is established are good gun habits that will be passed down for generations. 

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Read more about How Summers Clays Will Help You Become a Better Shooter in the Fall
Melissa Bachman

One thing many people forget about is practicing for wing-shooting! I shoot my bow and rifles year round, but many people forget about taking their shotguns out to shoot clay targets. Not only can this be a lot of fun, you’ll find it’s super helpful to improving your wing-shooting this fall.

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Read more about How to Get Youth More Involved in the Outdoors
Nikki Boxler

But, I am not alone in realizing the many drawbacks to having seemingly endless technologies available at our fingertips 24/7, 365 days a year.  These drawbacks become especially present in regards to our developing youth and a growing disconnect with nature and the environment around them! 

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Read more about Venison and Wine Pairing #101
Scott Leysath

Rarely does the most expensive wine get the most votes. It’s usually somewhere in the mid-price range. One time, a $7 bottle of Smoking Loon Cabernet Sauvignon beat out the competition. Boy, were the wine aficionados all worked up about it. Fun to watch. I’m guessing that there are as many people reading this that are wine lovers as there are those who don’t really care for wine or would just rather drink something else.

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Read more about Zeroing in for Hunting by Ron Spomer
Ron Spomer

But then the size of your game, range at which you hope to shoot and more enter into the equation. Here’s how to decide whether to zero at 100, 200, 250 or even 300 yards and whether to bother with BDC reticles or turret scope dialing.

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Read more about USA Shooting Heads Overseas to Porpetto, Italy
Winchester Ammunition

Twelve of the USA’s best junior shotgun athletes have made their way there to compete in the lone World Cup dedicated specifically to Junior shotgun athletes in the ISSF season. For most of the U.S. team, it also serves as a warm-up for the ISSF World Championship for Shotgun in Moscow, Russia starting later this month.

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Read more about Bench Shooting Tips to Prep for the Big Game Season-to-Come
Melissa Bachman

First, think about what type of hunts you have planned for the fall and decide what ammunition will be best. What I love about Winchester is they have done such a good job of making specific ammo for specific needs. For example, I’m shooting DeerSeason XP in preparation for several mule deer & whitetail hunts this coming fall. 

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Read more about Treestand Safety Tips #101 by Nikki Boxler
Nikki Boxler

Remember to get comfortable using your full-body safety harness with your treestand at ground level before climbing into the tree and never leave the ground without wearing your full body harness! Safety first, safety in the middle and safety at the end makes for a great and memorable outing.

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Read more about Making Super-Easy Meat Sauce for Venison Burger or Sausage
Scott Leysath

The rest is divided into smaller batches, cooled and packed for the freezer. When I’m short on prep time, I can quick-thaw the basic red sauce and throw in a few fresh ingredients like mushrooms or diced tomatoes and dinner is served in less than an hour.

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Read more about Tips for Breaking More Clays
Winchester Ammunition

Envision the target or if actually using something as a target, bring the butt of the gun smoothly to the shoulder, swing the gun from behind the target catching up to it, and the eye should automatically align down the barrel and looking at the target.

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Read more about Gearing up for the Range by Ron Spomer
Ron Spomer

By eliminating as much human error as possible via a solid anchor, you can determine what your rifle and ammo are doing without worrying that YOU may have pulled a shot. Here’s what you need.

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Read more about Life-Lessons Gained Through Hunting & Shooting
Becky Yackley

She was confused, said yes, and as she pulled away, realized what he was doing – helping an elderly man who was out mowing his lawn. The number of shares and comments highlighted how out of place it’s become for young people to help the elderly and for people to just be decent to each other. To put themselves aside and think of others.

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Read more about Prairie Dog Plinking – Great Summertime Rifle Practice
Melissa Bachman

First on this list would be prairie dogging! In many areas prairie dogs have become a huge nuisance and can be difficult to get rid of. There towns cause big holes that cattle can step in, and they also carry tons of disease. On a recent trip to the Rosebud Reservation in SouthDakota with my good friend Ben Bearshield, we took an afternoon off to hunt prairie dogs with little Miss Pork Chop. 

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Read more about Must-Have Survival Tools
Nikki Boxler

So, before heading out to hunt this fall, be sure to look at the contents of your pack to ensure that you have basic survival tools that would help you if you were unable to make it back home. My pack contents vary depending on factors such as: where,when and for how long I will be away. However, here are the staple items that I always keep in my pack.

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Read more about Tenderizing Tough Cuts With a Sous Vide (Sue Veed) Cooker by Scott Leysath
Scott Leysath

It’s basically a cooking method that slowly and evenly cooks things like venison steaks and roasts and holds them at a precise temperature. You know how you like how your slow-cooker cooks your dinner while you’re away from the kitchen all day? It’s pretty much the same with sous vide, only different. A slow-cooker uses relatively low heat and moisture to transform lesser cuts into pot roast tender stews and more. If you have a tough hunk of meat, throwing it onto a hot grill won’t do anything to make it more tender.

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Read more about “The Grand” Shooting Event
Winchester Ammunition

The Grand American World Trapshooting Championships (known simply as the Grand American to competitors) kicks off Aug. 2 and will run for 10 days through Aug. 12. It is the 118th year of the Grand American as the first one was held in 1900. The championships feature more than 24 shooting events in which shotgun competitors to go head to head including events for singles, doubles, handicap and even sub-gauges.

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Read more about Picking the Right Bullet for Your Type of Hunting
Ron Spomer

After all, the bullet is the reason for the rifle, case, primer, powder and scope! The bullet gets the game, does all the work. All the rest is just the launch pad. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, ammo and bullet makers like Winchester have done the hard work for us. By testing and modifying and retesting bullet after bullet, they have freed us from even thinking about this critical ingredient.

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Read more about Proper Handgun Fit
Rob Pincus

Proper handgun fit will make it easier for you to hold the gun, aim the gun, shoot the gun, manage recoil, reload the gun and clear malfunctions. If your gun doesn’t fit your hand as well as possible, it will compromise your performance in one or more of those areas. Proper Handgun fit starts with making sure that you can hold the gun in a way that deactivates any grip safety and allows you to actuate the trigger while the first knuckle of your strong hand thumb is positioned to the weak side of the frame of the gun.

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Read more about Hot Fun in the Summertime – Carp With a Bow
Melissa Bachman

Most of my days were spent chasing grass carp, however the many locations including the Illinois river are now flooded with Asian carp that have become a real nuisance. Regardless of where in the country you live, usually if there is water nearby there is some sort of invasive species that you can shoot with a bow.

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Read more about Go the Distance – How to Measure Distance Without Technology and Why You Should Care
Nikki Boxler

In situations like these, it is important to be mindful of a few practices that will aid in navigating your way back to safety. One practice that we should always be aware of is being able to accurately keep a pace count. Keeping track of a pace count gives us the ability to estimate our distance traveled and hopefully provide us with the confidence to orient ourselves. 

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Read more about How to Make Delicious and Tasty Venison Burgers by Scott Leysath
Scott Leysath

One man’s delicious burger just might be another man’s bland and dry one. And based on the huge quantity of deer meat that is ground into burger, it seems appropriate to add a twist or two to the grind without compromising the deliciousness of a properly cooked burger. If you’re not overjoyed with the way your venison burgers taste, here are a few tips to make them better next time.

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Read more about Choosing the Ideal Cartridge for Your Type of Hunting
Ron Spomer

Heck, there was no 270 Winchester either. No 270 WSM, no 7mm WSM or 243 Winchester or…Last time I looked, the Winchester ammo catalog offered ammunition for 66 different centerfire rifle cartridges. I didn’t even count the handgun options. Sixty-six is more than enough to choose from for this big gamehunter. Obviously, some rounds like the 17 Hornet and 458 Winchester Magnum are easy to brush from consideration. But that leaves plenty for a dilemma: which cartridge do you pick for your deer rifle?

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Read more about Aim Event – Sparta, IL
Winchester Ammunition

The AIM (Academics, Integrity, Marksmanship) 2017 Grand National Youth Trapshooting Championships will take place July 27-Aug. 1 at the World Shooting Recreational Complex. The event will feature competitions in registered skeet, registered trapshooting and registered sporting clays. 

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Read more about Travel to Shoot – Find Experiences Beyond Your Local Range
Becky Yackley

They also meet adults, see new faces and places.  But there’s a sport that will not only introduce them to new people nearby, but new people all over the country and world.  That sport is shooting. Since 2012, our boys have seen most corners of the US, as well as Italy and Russia.  They’ve seen America first-hand.  Not from geography books, but with their own eyes. 

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Read more about Pistol, Rifle or Shotgun for Home Defense
Rob Pincus

Rifles and shotguns are often more powerful than handguns and increase your ability to hit your target under circumstances beyond two arms reach, especially for those with less training and practice. In any case, be sure that you have trained to use your firearm under dynamic circumstances and stage it responsibly in your home to prevent unauthorized access.

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Read more about The Importance of Joining a Summer Clay League
Melissa Bachman

Unfortunately, in the last 10-years, I haven’t been able to do as much of it as I would like to. However there is still no reason not to practice to ensure good shooting should the opportunity arise. Many people don’t have the ability to shoot trap in their backyard like I did when I was a kid, me included today. So what’s a great way to practice and still have some fun this summer? Join a trap league!

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Read more about Choke Tube Selection by Nikki Boxler
Nikki Boxler

This video will give you a visual of what the choke patterns look like and help you to decide what choke is best for the type of shooting or hunting you will be doing. I hope this video gives you a better understanding of what choke you should use before heading out on your next adventure!

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Read more about Home Defense Tactics
Rob Pincus

Remember that these tactics revolve around protecting yourself or those you care about inside of your house or apartment, not protecting your belongings or the home itself.

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Read more about The Creek Beneath: South Dakota Part Four
Casey Keefer, Chris Keefer

The Keefer Brothers and longtime friend Jason Brown made cherished memories while hunting Merriam’s wild turkeys in South Dakota. Though they traded the Midwest timbers for the golden prairies of the west, the crew never leaves home without Winchester. For good reason.

 
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Read more about Now is the Time to Prep for Deer Hunting Season
Winchester Ammunition

In fact, some of the nation’s first open deer seasons—in both South Carolina and California—are but a month away. So, without any further hesitation, here’s what you need to do to get your deer season ball rolling.

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Read more about Selecting a Scope to Balance With Your Rifle, Game, Cartridge and Style of Hunting
Ron Spomer

In many ways, choosing a scope these days is harder than selecting a rifle. You have to decide among 1-inch, 30mm and 34mm main tubes. Will the objective be 36mm, 40mm, 44mm, 50mm, or 56mm? Parallax adjustment dial or not? BDC reticle, duplex, fine, post, heavy, illuminated? Dialing turrets?

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Read more about Keeping it Simple – Caveman Fare by Scott Leysath
Scott Leysath

VIDEO – Jan “Boland” Coetzee, owner of Vriesenhof Winery near Cape Town, South Africa. Jan is a legendary professional rugby player, food and wine lover and hunter. Jan demonstrates a typical marinade and style of cooking for kudu and oryx loins. Of course, if you’re out of kudu, you can always substitute whitetail.

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Read more about Yum! Bacon-Fried Squirrel by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

Usually I have everything from fish, to pheasant to deer and elk with the assortment of other game along the way as well. Although I may have some specific go-to recipes, I’m always looking to try new things and prepare wild game different ways. I’m a firm believer in learning from the best so you’ll often catch me browsing through Scott Leysath’s website, the Sporting Chef, for new ideas and recipes to try.

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Read more about Celebrate the 4th With Quick & Easy Jalapeno Poppers by Nikki Boxler
Nikki Boxler

Note: I used the Big Game Rub by Traeger and cooked them on the Traeger to add a smokey flavor! You can also use a marinade of your choice and cook them in the oven. If you are using a marinade, place the pheasant in a bowl and let it marinade overnight in the refrigerator for extra flavor!

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Read more about Choosing 9MM as a Defensive Caliber
Rob Pincus

For many years, I believed in the “bigger is better” theory of defensive handgun rounds. About a decade ago, I started paying more attention to the engineering and performance of modern 9mm rounds and I made the switch. I have no lack of confidence in the 9mm round when I recommend to students or carry for the protection of myself and those I care about.

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Read more about Shoulder to Shoulder - South Dakota Part Three
Casey Keefer, Chris Keefer

Hunting is a beloved past time rooted in America’s history. Life-changing lessons and cherished memories made with Mother Nature are stamped in the minds of outdoorsmen since childhood.

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Read more about How to Find a Place to Hunt and Shoot
Winchester Ammunition

Research from organizations like Southwick Associates repeatedly reveals that access is one of the biggest challenges facing sportsmen today. With that in mind, unless you own your own land, searching for a place to hunt really isn’t something you can afford to concern yourself with just now or when you need a new place to hunt, but rather should be an ongoing search every year, always working leads to improve your odds of finding decent spots to recreate.

 

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Read more about Summer Break – Time for Some Shooting With the Kids
Becky Yackley

Learning with play while engaged in an activity we are interested in is a strong way to learn. You can turn summer play time into a way to teach firearms safety. Let the kids practice with BB guns, squirt guns, rubber band guns, marshmallow guns… They will learn firearms safety with simple toys.

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Read more about Summer Squirrel Hunt With Pork Chop – Part II by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

Recently, I was able to grant Pork Chop a wish come true. Her very own hunt in South Dakota with my good friend Ben Bearshield on the Rosebud reservation. We went into this thinking the squirrel hunting would be a slam-dunk, but unfortunately things always come up along the way.

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Read more about Olympic Day: Celebrate With Thousands Across the Globe
Winchester Ammunition

To continue the celebration of the Games, The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has instituted June 23 as “Olympic Day.” Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO., the USOC serves as both the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States. It is responsible for the training, entering and funding of U.S teams for the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games, while serving as a steward of the Olympic Movement throughout the country.

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Read more about Time to Prep for Deer Season – Like Now!
Nikki Boxler

Here are five steps to help you prepare for deer season and ensure that you are ready for opening morning!

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Read more about New From Winchester – Expedition Big Game
Winchester Ammunition

For many, booking a guided hunt for the chance to seek a trophy in one of our nation’s best game units, is often the culmination of years of planning and saving money. Even preparation for a self-guided hunt is not without planning time, expense and the need for physical conditioning. As part of preparation for the hunt, a sportsman often purchases or makes sure he has the best firearm he can afford along with a top optic. 

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Read more about Summer Squirrel Hunt With Pork Chop – Part I
Melissa Bachman

All last fall I took little Miss Pork Chop on almost every single hunting adventure. She sits in the blind patiently with me from sun up until sun down. Of course I bring her treats, toys and keep her busy, but I’m assuming it’s not all fun for her. Well all that’s about to change on this next hunt!

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Read more about Prepping for the Hunting Season – The Leg Workout Edition
Nikki Boxler

By adding in an overhead element to this exercise, you will not only work the muscles in your lower body but also challenge the muscles in your shoulders, back and core.

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Read more about Longbeard's Bluff: South Dakota Part Two
Casey Keefer, Chris Keefer

When wild turkey season arrives, the woods whirl with the melodies of turkey calls. Excited outdoorsmen employ several call tactics to encourage hearty toms to make a move.

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Read more about What are the Benefits of Owning a Suppressed Firearm?
Winchester Ammunition

However, according to most experts, the two terms can be used interchangeably. In fact, Hiram Percy Maxim, who invented the suppressor, named his original device, the Maxim Silencer. Regardless of what you call it, confusion and information abounds around this device that is heavily regulated in the United States, but can be purchased over the counter in Europe where it almost considered rude to shoot without one.

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Read more about Quick and Easy Gun Cleaning 101 by Becky Yackley
Becky Yackley

For quick cleaning, I usually do three things: clean the action, clean the slide, clean the bore. This isn’t a deep clean, but just a quick going over. This is what I do during a competition; at the end of the day before I go to bed. If it’s a shotgun, I also clean the magazine tube. I Look over my gun, wipe out the action and clean under the extractor (q tips, brush, rag, paper towel). Add oil. Run a bore snake. Run a dry patch to wipe oil and carbon out. Oil where appropriate. Check gun sights and mag release, reassemble.

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Read more about How to Safely Store Self-Defense Firearms at Home
Melissa Bachman

If someone knows an individual has a lot of guns or ammunition you could inadvertently become a target if you leave them in plain sight. The next reason is by far the most important – and that’s to keep kids safe. Growing up in Central Minnesota, we were taught never EVER to touch a gun unless our parents were around, but not all kids have this kind of training. Organizations like Project Childsafe have done an incredible job at educating people on the importance of locking guns and ammo up.

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Read more about Tips on Setting Trail Cameras This Summer by Nikki Boxler
Nikki Boxler

Winchester Life co-host Nikki Boxler gives us 3 tips for setting up for trail cameras.

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Read more about What are the Four Top Tactical Rounds?
Winchester Ammunition

The popularity of the latter has been largely driven by a climbing interest in home defense and concealed carry. So, what are the most popular tactical calibers out there today? Let’s take a look:

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Read more about The Model 42 Shotgun

Winchester: A tried and true name that represents much more than quality hunting and shooting products. It is an American symbol of a beloved past time. Every barrel boasts a story.

 
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Read more about W Train & Defend – a Fabulous Ammunition Combination for the New Shooter
Melissa Bachman

Luckily, they didn’t stop with this mindset when they moved to the world of self-defense. There is a huge rising number of Americans buying guns for the first time with personal defense in mind, and many of these new shooters are female. Understanding this, Winchester realized there needed to be a streamlined process when choosing the best ammunition for personal defense and training with it. When looking at an ammunition shelf it can be truly overwhelming trying to decide what ammo is best to protect yourself and your family.

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Read more about School is Out – Time for Some Summertime Varmint Plinking
Nikki Boxler

Luckily for hunters, there are plenty of opportunities for us to get outside and sharpen our shooting skills, doing some pest control, and have fun while doing so. Here are 4 reasons why you should hit the fields and woods this summer!

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Read more about Winchester’s Favorite Hunting Loads
Winchester Ammunition

When the company’s second lever-action rifle, the iron-framed Model 1873, which would come to be known as the “Gun that Won the West,” was introduced in 1873, it was originally released in .44 Winchester Centerfire, a new cartridge that was the first to carry the Winchester name. It included a 200-grain bullet that left the muzzle at 1,250 fps powered by 40 grains of blackpowder. 

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Read more about Shooting is a Family Sport – Let’s Go!
Becky Yackley

It’s not what one would usually think of when they hear “sport.” This sport takes mental and physical agility, focus, and strength. Young and old, male and female, can compete in it. This sport is competitive shooting. Competitive shooting can vary from low-impact, static disciplines, like NRA smallbore, air rifle, or sporting clays, to ones that demand stamina and explosive power, such as practical pistol and shotgun competitions under USPSA and IPSC governing bodies, to true marathons of skills put to practice in 3 gun and multigun.

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Read more about Tips to Get More Coyotes and the Importance of Getting After Them by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

The number of coyotes has increased all across the country, but as hunters we understand the need for a balance. To accomplish that balance it takes a hunter willing to go the extra mile to outsmart these predators. They use every advantage possible so we need to ensure we are doing the same! Here are few tips about how to become a more effective predator hunter this year in my latest video-blog…come along.

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Read more about Seven Benefits to Shooting Clays Birds This Summer
Nikki Boxler

So this summer be sure to visit your local range and get together with your friends to have some good old fashioned fun! If you do this consistently you’ll be a better shot this fall! Add some Winchester AA Ammunition and break some clays!

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Read more about Cottonwood Bottom: South Dakota Part One
Chris Keefer, Casey Keefer
They don’t just walk….they strut.
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Read more about Looking for Some Spring and Summer Fun – Grab Your .22 Rimfire!
Winchester Ammunition

Many stores limited buyers to no more than two boxes of the rimfire ammunition at a time and even other stores were left to simply tell their customers to search elsewhere. As a result, prices also went up. The ammo was still relatively cheap when compared to larger caliber centerfire loads, but it was no longer the bank account afterthought that many outdoor writers had once waxed poetic about for its availability and low cost.

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Read more about How to Set-Up Your Shotgun to Take Turkey, Coyote and Pig on the Same Trip by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

I knew most shots would be close as we were calling, so I decided to just bring my shotgun.  Before heading out however, I wanted to do a little test at the range to see what changes needed to be done to get my SX3 ready for hunting all three. The first thing I did was get my turkey gun all setup with the LongBeard XR using 3 1/2 inch 5 shot.  Once that was dialed in, I switched over to the Varmint X in BB, and swapped out my extra full choke for a full choke.  

 

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Read more about Spruce up Your Home With Some Wild Turkey Decor
Nikki Boxler

Did you have a successful turkey season? Then save those turkey feathers and use them to spruce up your home with this quick and easy-to-make rustic turkey feather wreath!

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Read more about Hot Fun in the Summertime – Hunting Opportunities Still Exist
Winchester Ammunition

Sure, you can still enjoy all of those fun activities as well, but there is no need to leave your shotgun or rifle neglected in the gun safe, just waiting for the fall to return. There are still ample summer hunting opportunities out there as long as you don’t mind the heat and insects. Here are some of the top hunting opportunities you will find, many in a location near you.

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Read more about The Shooting and Hunting Sports See a Surge in Female and Youth Participation
Becky Yackley

But it’s okay, because that cradle-rocking hand can’t do it from a pedestal – women who work and impact those around them are in the trenches. They’re not up on a pedestal, inaccessible – they’re covered in baby burps and the 1,001 things that need to be done when they get home from work at night.

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Read more about Dog Days
Chris Keefer, Casey Keefer

The ways of the wilderness pivot around one crucial, constant fact: A chain of command exists. A food chain of command, to be exact.

 

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Read more about Try the 20 for Late-Season Toms or Next Year’s Gobbler by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

If you’re looking to get someone new into hunting or just prefer to tone that recoil down a bit, a 20-gauge is a perfect solution. Earlier this spring Winchester announced the addition of LongBeard XR in 20-gauge so everybody can experience the Shot-Lok technology regardless if they’re shooting a 12 or 20 gauge.

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Read more about Tips to Best Dry and Stretch Your Turkey Fan by Nikki Boxler
Nikki Boxler

Here is a great video blog from Winchester Life co-host Nikki Boxler who will explain and show just how to properly go about stretching and saving artifacts from your successful outing. Grab some salt (or borax), stick pins and a sheet of cardboard and come along. It’s not only fun to keep a journal of your hunts through the years, but to also save some of what tome once was.

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Read more about Ammunition for Self-Defense Training
Winchester Ammunition

Firearms retailers estimate that 40% of their gun customers in the first four months of 2020 were first-time buyers. Personal protection was the over-riding purpose of the handguns, MSRs and shotguns purchased by first-time buyers. 

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Read more about Ammunition for Self-Defense Training
Winchester Ammunition

And while the motivation for many of these permit holders is to improve their opportunity to protect themselves in the event of a violent crime, it is fortunate many of these people will never actually need to defend themselves with a firearm. Think of it more as insurance.

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Read more about Tips and Tactics for Late-Season Turkey Success
Melissa Bachman

One of the first tips I will try late season while hunting turkeys is to get out of the blind.  The more mobile you are, the better off you’ll be in the long run.  Also try to use any vantage points to your advantage so you can potentially see what’s going on.  If the birds are talking use your eyes to find them and make a plan.

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Read more about Tips to Stay in Shape for Fall Hunts by Nikki Boxler
Nikki Boxler

Here are a few basic (and simple – yes!) exercises I use and would recommend to you as a great pace to start. I’ll show more in this video blog, but here is a rundown on them. Come along on this video and learn more!

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Read more about Double Up
Chris Keefer, Casey Keefer, Nikki Boxler, Paul Sawyer

Catching sight of a gorgeous gobbler as it struts between the oak trees is a surefire way to get every turkey hunter’s blood pumping.

 

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Read more about How to Select the Proper Choke Tube
Winchester Ammunition

Most shotguns today utilize screw-in choke tubes to change the constriction at the muzzle end of the barrel. The purpose of the choke is to improve the pattern of shot delivered when fired from the shotgun—primarily through achieving better range and pattern density.

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Read more about 4 Easy Tips For Taking Kids Turkey Hunting
Melissa Bachman

When it comes to bringing kids out hunting, going after turkeys is one of my favorite places to begin. Turkey hunting is an interactive experience and lends itself well to hunting with kids.

Tip 1: Start by hunting out of a blind. This helps with the early mornings and allows them to lay on the ground and take a nap until the action heats up.  A few things to keep in mind is mornings can be pretty chilly.  Make sure they’re bundled up enough with layers so they can be comfortable.  Nobody likes to be cold and it’s all about making this a fun experience.

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Read more about Easy to Make and Delicious – Turkey and Stuffing Casserole by Nikki Boxler
Nikki Boxler

Give this recipe from Winchester Life co-host Nikki Boxler a go. It’s quick and delicious – turkey and stuffing casserole may just become a new favorite. To learn more and how easily you can make it, come along on this video blog from Winchester. Bon appetit – enjoy!

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Read more about How to Bust More Clays at the Skeet Range
Winchester Ammunition

Hunters may be hitting the turkey woods, but for many competitive and recreational shooters, the skeet range is where they cut their clay busting teeth and the skeet range is where they return to perfect the wingshooting skills that make this and other competitive clays games so challenging and so much fun. To improve your game on the skeet range this year, follow these basic tips:

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Read more about LongBeard XR – a Range Test with Melissa Bachman by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

It is critical to get comfortable not only with your gun as the season approaches, but also determine the best load-choke combination. In this video blog Melissa shows just how great (and how lethal at long distances) LongBeard XR is and then stretches it out for some long-distance patterning.

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Read more about Wild Turkey Enchiladas Made Easy by Nikki Boxler
Nikki Boxler

These are super-quick and super-delicious, and a great thing to do with your wild turkey this spring and summer. Come along on this video blog from Nikki Boxler to learn more…really, these are fun to make!

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Read more about Spring Hunting Opportunities – Black Bear
Winchester Ammunition

Canada represents the most spring black bear hunting opportunities by far with British Columbia offering a two-bear limit to hunters and some of the best spot-and-stalk hunting anywhere. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba also rank high though the style of hunting is decidedly different. Because of the thick, evergreen forests of these western and central provinces, sitting over bait remains the primary method for hunting bears here. 

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Read more about One Call Away
Chris Keefer, Casey Keefer, Nikki Boxler, Paul Sawyer

Spring. A season where the senses are heightened.

The colors are brighter.

The air is fresher.

The sounds are louder…a cacophony of change.

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Read more about Winchester Unveils Updated Retail Outlet for ACUI Collegiate Championships
Winchester Ammunition

That was 120 more students than the previous year, making it one of the largest collegiate clays shooting competition held each year. The event was held March 28-April 2. Shooting competitions were held for International Skeet, International Trap, American Skeet, American Trap, 5-Stand and Sporting Clays. Lindenwood University out of St. Charles, Mo., proved to be big winners at the event taking top Division 1 American Skeet and American Trap, Division 1 International Skeet and International Trap, and Division 1 5-Stand and Sporting Clays honors.

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Read more about Easy Steps to Filming Your Own Turkey Hunt by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

Unfortunately many of the things I’ve learned have been by trial and error so I decided to put a video together highlighting some of the tactics I utilize to get that stunning video. Maybe you’re filming just to show family, for Youtube, or you’re looking to start a TV show.

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Read more about Winchester Long Beard XR Ammunition – a Most Deadly and Lethal Round by Nikki Boxler
Nikki Boxler

Here’s why: the key feature behind Long Beard XR’s long-range capability is the shell’s Shot-Lok technology. Instead of traditional buffering materials, Shot-Lok is injected as a liquid resin into the hull among the lead shot during assembly. The resin hardens to keep pellets locked in place until the round is fired. When fired, Shot-Lok immediately fractures into a micro-buffer that protects the shot deformation caused by set-back forces. 

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Read more about Sure Shot
Chris Keefer, Casey Keefer, Nikki Boxler, Paul Sawyer
Spring unlocks a closed window that anxious outdoorsmen have waited all winter to unhinge: Open wild turkey season.
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Read more about Going Long: Long-Range Shooting Tips
Winchester Ammunition

To begin with: Make Sure Your Rifle Fits—Being able to control your rifle and maintain consistent attachment and form with every shot is key to repetitively making long, difficult shots. To do this, a shooter needs a rifle that fits them perfectly, with adjustable combs set so each time they place their face against the stock and line up to shoot, they are in the same position.

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Read more about Spring Turkey Tactics, Part 3
Melissa Bachman

Sometimes this can be caused by weather, bad luck, or just simply running out of time in states where the season closes at 1pm – like Illinois.  When that day comes and you have a turkey hang up, know that you now have options. In the past, long-range turkey shots were simply out of the question for most. Though, the development of Winchester’s Long Beard XR will enable you to make much longer shots with extreme downfield lethality. 

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Read more about Turkey Gear – What to Look For by Nikki Boxler
Nikki Boxler

However, what are some of the staples you need in regards to turkey Gear? Vest? Clothing? Boots? Gloves? Yes to all. Come along on this video blog from Winchester Life co-host Nikki Boxler to learn more. 

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Read more about Brother Blunder
Chris Keefer

As the gobblers make an entrance, the Keefer brothers receive a reminder that communication is key.

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Read more about Tips for Opening Day Turkey Success
Winchester Ammunition

But to make sure the optimism transfers into actual success, a hunter has to have his game plan down and make the most of the moment. Don’t leave opening day up to random chance. Here are five tips to help you punch that turkey tag on opening day.

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Read more about Spring Turkey Tactics, Part 2
Melissa Bachman

One question I often get from people is what kind of call is best?  I guess that really depends on the situation. I’m one of those people who prefer to just have a variety with me at all times so I have whatever I could need.  Box calls are probably the easiest to use
in my mind.  I have an incredible sounding box call that I absolutely love. 

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Read more about Turkey Scouting and Early Season Techniques
Nikki Boxler

While I am constantly learning and often making mistakes, this experience makes me a more proficient turkey hunter. Here are some tips and tricks that have helped me to become a successful turkey hunter. I hope they may help you as well:

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Read more about Is There a Best Shot Size for Turkey?
Winchester Ammunition

Sure, there are some off brands with off-sizes, such as No. 7s or duplex loads with a mix of 4s and 6s, but generally we are talking about one of those first three when it comes to buying turkey loads. 

When standing at the ammo shelf at your local gun shop trying to decide which turkey load is the best size shot, many hunters simply hedge their bets with the obvious compromise and pick No. 5s. Not a bad choice, but let’s consider what’s good and maybe not quite as good between one shot size and the other.

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Read more about Spring Turkey Hunting Tactics
Melissa Bachman

Turkey hunting odds can be easily increased or decreased depending on the amount of work you put into your hunt both before and during.  For those who want to increase their chances of success, here are a few simple tips to make you a more effective hunter.  

First, do your best to get out to where you plan to hunt and do a little pre-scouting.  If you can’t be there all the time, put out your Cuddeback cameras and let them do the work for you! I use cameras for turkeys just as I would for deer so I know what time the turkeys frequent what field.

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Read more about Tips for Sighting in Your Turkey Gun by Nikki Boxler
Nikki Boxler

While Winchester’s Longbeard is lethal at longer shots up to and beyond 60 yards, I like to shoot most of the turkey I have a whack at closer in – around 30 to 40 yards. It is super-important to choose a good combination of ammunition, gun and choke to ensure a clean kill shot. In this video I am shooting Longbeard in 12 at both 30 and 40 yards to test the pattern of the gun, load and choke. I am using a full choke and Longbeard 3” in #5 shot.

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Read more about Hometown: Hunt Part Two
Nikki Boxler
Mother Nature brings a bounty of variables that keep outdoorsmen on their toes. One consistently unpredictable factor? Weather.
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Read more about The Enduring and Ever-Popular .45
Winchester Ammunition

And so on and so forth. Whenever the 9mm crowd and .45 fans begin debating the merits of each caliber as a defensive round, while both cartridges have their merits, two things are undeniable. One, is that the .45 certainly delivers an abundance of stopping power. The second is that having been created more than 100 years ago, it remains one of the most popular, and enduring handgun cartridges still today. Here’s why:

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Read more about How to Make More Accurate Shots at Turkey by Melissa Bachman
Melissa Bachman

Get to know your best gun/load/choke combination before hitting the woods or prairies this spring. Too, another great idea is to check out Winchester’s Ballistics Calculator online at winchester.com. Come along on this video blog from Melissa Bachman to learn more.

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Read more about Tips for Finding More Bone This Spring
Nikki Boxler

I do not have a shed hunting dog, therefore I am covering a lot of ground on my own two legs and always have to be on top of my game if I want to find sheds. Below are the areas that I look at first and a few things to keep in mind that help me find sheds.

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Read more about The Winchester AA – America’s Clay Shooting Favorite for More Than 50 Years
Winchester Ammunition

With so many people involved in shooting shotguns for fun, it’s no surprise, with their technology leading shotshells, Winchester has been a big part of the fun as well. Leading the way is Winchester’s AA line of shotshells—without doubt one of the most versatile and unique collection of offerings for any shotshell line available. Here’s why:

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Read more about Winchester Introduces Varmint X in Lead Free
Melissa Bachman

An incredible amount of research and development is put into creating products that put we hunters at the top of our game. This goes for everything from Deer Season XP to Longbeard XR to Varmint X, but it doesn’t stop there. Let’s take Varmint X for example.

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Read more about Pre-Turkey Season Fitness Video by Nikki Boxler
Nikki Boxler

With regards to our bodies, mobility is simply the ability of our body to move freely or be moved freely at all joints. Over time, activities occurring in our daily lives tend to result in a lack of mobility in our major joints which, over time, may lead to further health drawbacks down the road. For instance, my full-time job often times involves extended periods of sitting and being on a computer Perhaps much like yours. 

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Read more about Hometown: Hunt Part One
Nikki Boxler
Up Close with the Host: Nikki Boxler
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Read more about Women, Interest in Self-Defense Shooting Driving Crowds at Local Ranges
Winchester Ammunition

When you factor in that this crowd includes clay target shooters, rifle and handgun competitors, self-defense practitioners, weekend plinkers and even those who own a firearm and maybe only shoot it once or twice a year at most, you can quickly see how pinpointing a precise estimate of recreational shooters can be such a moving target.

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Read more about Tips to Finding More Sheds This Spring
Melissa Bachman

I would love to tell you that this year will be amazing as little Miss Pork Chop and I are teaming up to look for sheds, but her flat nose doesn’t exactly lend itself to that of an amazing sniffer. With that being said, there are a lot of people who are now training dogs to find sheds and the results can be incredible.

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Read more about How to Build an Inexpensive Yet Sturdy Shooting Target by Nikki Boxler
Nikki Boxler

Come along on this video blog with Winchester Life co-host Nikki Boxler to find to how easy this is to do. Plus, it’s collapsible so you can easily take it with you in the back of the truck on outing away from home.

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Read more about How Workouts Lead to Better Stamina in the Field
Nikki Boxler

Along the way, I will share my training tips as well as give you a glimpse into my workouts, and talk about why and how they will prepare me for hunting season.

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Read more about Tips on Gaining Hunting Access to Private Property
Melissa Bachman

I’ve put together a few tips that can be helpful when looking for a new place to hunt this fall so you can ease land owners’ minds so they let you on their property. Don’t wait until the season is ready to begin! Get out there now to make some new friends and start building relationships. A big part of someone letting you on their property comes down to trust, helpfulness, safety and respect. This is a HUGE first step with any land owner – they must see these sincere qualities in you.

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Read more about Tribute to Leo George
Winchester Ammunition

We want to recognize Leo for his contributions to Winchester, to its historic NILO Farms hunting preserve, and to conservation and the shooting sports. Leo became manager of Winchester’s NILO Farms preserve in 1961 and carried that responsibility for the next 30 years. NILO Farms is a world-renowned hunting preserve located near Brighton, Illinois, where guests can enjoy hunting ringneck pheasants, chukar partridges, and mallard ducks, and also shoot trap, crazy quail, skeet, Riverside skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand, and the tower. 

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Read more about Hog Wild Part Three
Chris Keefer, Casey Keefer, Gabe Adair, Nikki Boxler

As the sun shines down on the hills of Barksdale, Texas, the Winchester Life group heads back to the blinds. It’s their final day at the H5 Trophy Ranch.

 

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Read more about Prepping for Turkey Season – Part 1
Winchester Ammunition

From there opening days proceed northward with Georgia, Alabama and others following just a couple of weeks later. Even if you’re in the wild turkey’s most northern United States (or Canadian) ranges, where seasons don’t open until May and run even into June, now is the time you need to turn your attention toward getting ready for your warmer weather pursuit of America’s favorite gamebird.

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Read more about Hog Wild Part Two
Chris Keefer, Casey Keefer, Gabe Adair, Nikki Boxler

The H5 Trophy Ranch in Barksdale, Texas, is dotted with an array of animals for hunters to stalk. Today, the Winchester Life crew continues their mission to hone in on hogs.

 

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Read more about Give Small Gauges for Small Game a Try…They’re both Super-Fun!
Winchester Ammunition

Rekindle your love for hunting for the mere sake of hunting and spending time outdoors—try a late-winter small game season. And while most small game hunting articles point sportsmen toward the merits of the 22 Long Rifle or other tack-driving, rimfire calibers, I’m still a fan of the all-purpose scattergun. But no need to go in over-gunned with the ubiquitous big-bore 12 gauge.

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Read more about Here Comes the National Wild Turkey Federation Convention
Melissa Bachman

It was at my great grandfather’s house and they came into his yard.  We thought they were the coolest thing ever, and were mesmerized while watching the birds.  Now…fast-forward 20-years and we have an abundant supply of turkeys right in the backyard we grew up in.  I’ve even had the privilege to hunt with my parents on our property for turkey and will never forget the memories made each spring.

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Read more about Knock-Knock – Don’t Forget Your Hunting Sweetie on Valentine’s Day
Nikki Boxler

To help ease the feat of finding that perfect way to show your love and affection for that special someone this Valentine’s Day, I’ve created a sportsman-friendly gift guide. I think you’ll find the ideas below are sure to pair well with your Valentine’s Day plans…especially if those plans include target practice in the days to come.

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Read more about Hog Wild Part One
Chris Keefer, Casey Keefer, Gabe Adair, Nikki Boxler

A crater stretches across the soil. Five feet wide by three feet deep, the ground looks tilled by tractors. Tracks are imprinted in the mud. River beds are destroyed. Crop fields are devoured.

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Read more about Winchester’s New Subsonic Loads
Winchester Ammunition

In fact, every year at SHOT Show, the largest tradeshow in the shooting and hunting industry, there have been more companies introducing new suppressors. To meet the needs of today’s suppressed shooter, Winchester, always on the cutting edge of shooting developments, has introduced new ammunition designed for suppressed shooting enthusiasts looking for heavy-for-caliber projectiles to maximize performance from their firearms while minimizing sound.

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Read more about Easy Dishes for Super Bowl Sunday
Nikki Boxler

No Super Bowl party would be complete without dishes upon dishes filled with treats for friends and family. Why not head to the wild side and create dishes with wild game that is perhpas still in the freezer from last season? Not only will this serve as a freezer-dump, but will be a great showcase of the many things you the cook can do with wild game…and will certainly add a spark to the party!

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Read more about A Beginner’s Guide to Waterfowl Identification
Nikki Boxler

As a hunter, we must make sure we know what we are shooting to help ensure proper harvest limits and avoid wantonly wasting any undesired birds. I’ve found that learning to identify different ducks adds to the enjoyment of waterfowling. Sometimes I find myself bird watching and observing nature rather than shooting…it must be the beginner in me! Here are some tips I’ve picked up so far:

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Read more about Winchester Expedition Big Game Adds New Chamberings
Winchester Ammunition

From elk, moose and mule deer in North America to kudu, eland and Cape buffalo in Africa, the ammunition line is built for use on the toughest hunts around the world and was introduced in a range of popular big-game calibers. That range of calibers will expand in 2017 with the introduction of six new additions built specifically for long-range accuracy, trajectory and terminal performance.

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