Tyler Freel, Staff Writer at Outdoor Life

Tyler Freel

Staff Writer

Highlights

  • Expertise and interests include hunting Alaskan game including mountain sheep and goats, bears, moose, and caribou. He’s also experienced in trapping, recreational and competitive shooting, rifles, handguns, and traditional archery
  • Enjoys writing narrative adventure stories, gear profiles, and opinion pieces
  • Previous work experience: Mechanical insulator in the construction industry and part-time fur handler. He’s also written for Bear Hunting Magazine, American Hunter, Gun Digest, and Field Ethos Journal

 

About

Tyler Freel is a Staff Writer for Outdoor Life. He lives in Fairbanks, Alaska and has been covering a variety of topics for OL for more than a decade. From backpack sheep hunting adventure stories to DIY tips to gear and gun reviews, he covers it all with a perspective that’s based in experience.

Experience

Freel was noticed on Outdoor Life’s user forum page of back in 2010 and began his outdoor media career writing OL’s Live Hunt blog in 2011. Since then, he’s continued to add to his subject matter experience, and honed his voice as a writer. He’s been DIY hunting for Dall sheep and other Alaskan game for nearly 20 years, and has been a competitive shooter in various forms, earning the Distinguished Rifleman Badge in Service Rifle. He enjoys trapping, ice fishing, and is an expert fur, hide, and cape handler.

Education

Freel graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

More from Tyler Freel

A close-up of a brown rifle
Fishing Gear

Best Gifts for Outdoorsmen and Women

By Tyler Freel

MDT Field Stock
Guns

MDT Field Stock Chassis: The Best Upgrade for Any Budget Rifle

By Tyler Freel

22 ARC AR rifle
Guns

I Built a Pair of 22 ARC Rifles in the AR Platform — and They Were Impressively Accurate

By Tyler Freel

Four bullets in a line
Ammo

The Best 10mm Ammo of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

By Tyler Freel

Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8-inch Compact OSP 10mm with light and red dot
Animal Attacks

The Best Bear Defense Handguns of 2024

By Tyler Freel

Palmetto State Armory PSA Micro Dagger C-1 9mm pistol
Guns

The PSA Micro Dagger C-1, Tested and Reviewed

By Tyler Freel

The best concealed carry guns are reliable, accurate, and easy to carry.
Guns

The Best Concealed Carry Guns of 2024

By Tyler Freel

22 ARC cartridges in front of ammunition boxes
Ammo

Could Hot New .22 Cartridges Replace the .243 Winchester?

By Tyler Freel

henry homesteader 9mm carbine
Competitive Shooting

The Best 9mm Carbines: We Tested 7 Different Models

By Tyler Freel

Springfield Armory 2020 Boundary Rifle 6.5 Creedmoor
Guns

Springfield Armory 2020 Boundary, Tested in the Field and on the Range

By Tyler Freel

Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy Comp pistol
Guns

Springfield 1911 DS Prodigy Comp, Tested and Reviewed

By Tyler Freel

Savage M110 Ultralite Elite in 6.5 CM
Guns

Savage M110 Ultralite Elite Tested and Reviewed: A Light and Impressively Accurate Mountain Rifle

By Tyler Freel

Gun cleaning solvents
Gear

The Best Gun Cleaning Solvents of 2024

By Adam Moore, Tyler Freel

Freel using shooting tripod
Gear

The Shooting Tripod: A Tool That Can Make You a More Confident, Ethical, and Effective Hunter

By Tyler Freel

best 5.56 ammo, ar 15 ammo
Ammo

The Best 5.56 Ammo of 2024

By Tyler Freel

Caribou in Alaska
Conservation

The Federal Government Is Increasing Hunting Restrictions and Limiting Access on Millions of Acres of Public Land in Alaska with These 4 Measures

By Tyler Freel

ugly annealer brass annealing machine
Gear

The Ugly Annealer Review: A Simple and Adjustable Brass Annealing Machine

By Tyler Freel

Nighthawk Custom .45 ACP Pistol
Guns

The Best .45 ACP Pistols of 2024

By Tyler Freel

Best Gun Belts of 2022
Gear

The Best Gun Belts of 2024

By Steve Anderson, Tyler Freel

freel with bull caribou
Gear

The Best Rifle Slings of 2024

By Tyler Freel