Read the latest articles from Outdoor Life

We tested the new Zeiss Conquest Apia
Optics

Zeiss Stopped Making Sporting Optics In Germany. I Reviewed the Company’s New Spotting Scope to Test Quality

This mini spotter has surprisingly good glass for the money

A teenager with a pending state-record trout.
Trout Fishing

‘Too Fat to Jump.’ West Virginia Teen’s Massive Golden Rainbow Trout Is a Pending State Record

Fifteen-year old Hunter Rohr spotted the fish in a deep hole and hooked it on a dead-drifted egg

The QAD Ultra Rest is the best drop away arrow rest
Bow Hunting Gear

The Best Arrow Rests of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

We tested drop away and fixed arrow rests for bowhunting

Turkey calling tips
Turkey Hunting

Turkey Calling Tips: The Ultimate Guide to Bringing a Gobbler in Close

These are the turkey calls and vocalizations you need to know this spring. Watch these videos and then start practicing

An illustration of an owl swooping at a grown man and his son
Catfish Fishing

For His First Camp Out, I Took My Son to an Old Bootlegger’s Island in the Bayou

Frog Island was full of spooky stuff, but it also had plenty of catfish, panfish, and fat bullfrogs

mountain lion hunting
Cougar Hunting

Calling Mountain Lions at Close Range Is a Predator Hunt Unlike Anything Else

"When calling apex predators in close quarters, your eyes and mind focus in an intense way"

A woman runs from a family of black bears in an illustration
Animal Attacks

I Raised 3 Kids Alone in the Wilderness. Surviving Bear and Moose Attacks Was (Almost) Routine

I spent decades surviving and homesteading in the Canadian wilderness. Black bears were troublesome enough, but the moose might've been worse

Two vintage bass photos
Bass Fishing

Old-School Tips for Catching Big Bass Right Now

Tried-and-true advice for targeting big fish this spring

Hand full of wild strawberries with leaf
Foraging & Gardening

Here’s How Your Granddaddy Foraged for Nuts, Berries, and Fruits to Live Off the Land

An old outdoor writer shares his tips for making berry pie, homemade wine, and much more

A bass angler with a big Toledo Bend largemouth.
Bass Fishing

Bass Angler Who Lied About Where He Caught a 12-Pounder Now Facing 10 Years in Jail

The angler made the mistake of showing off the bass to a pair of conservation officers the day he caught it

A composite photo of pen-raised deer and an Oklahoma lawmaker.
Wildlife Management

Oklahoma Is Now Releasing Pen-Raised Deer into the Wild as Part of a Vast CWD Experiment

A new bill would expand on the state’s plans to introduce captive deer into the wild by cutting the Department of Wildlife out of the process

An illustration of a hunter in fringe with a rifle looking out over a herd of buffalo on the yellow plains.
Guns

The Near-Death Moments That Nearly Finished Two Iconic American Gunmakers

OL's former shooting editor revisits the good times and bad of two legendary gunmakers who shaped the frontier and beyond: Remington and Winchester

5 old school trout flies on a beige background.
Trout Fishing

5 Overlooked, Old-School Trout Flies to Throw This Spring

These forgotten trout flies still catch plenty of fish

Side by side photos of a kid with giant catfish
Catfish Fishing

11-Year-Old Battles a 72-Pound Catfish and Just Misses Catching a State Record

“After a minute or so his arms straightened out … it was just too much for him”

An Idaho license plate.
Wildlife Management

Idaho Just Made It Much Harder to Get a Lifetime Hunting License After Nonresidents, Influencers Abuse It

The state passed a new law due to complaints of nonresidents who were moving briefly into the state to exploit the lifetime licensing system. It's now the second-longest requirement of its kind in the country

A sketchy illustration of a snake catcher
Animal Attacks

I Quit Fishing for the Addictive Thrill of Hunting Rattlesnakes — and Got Bit

Although I was experienced at catching live rattlers, it only took one small mistake for everything to go sideways

how to catch channel catfish
Catfish Fishing

How to Catch Channel Catfish — and Why You Should Target Them This Spring

There’s no better time than spring to catch big channel cats

We tested the best shooting rests.
Shooting Gear

The Best Shooting Rests of 2026

We tested a variety of top shooting rests for the field and the range

Idaho has declared hunting its state sport.
Hunting

Idaho Declares Hunting the Official State Sport, Asks for Help Choosing a State Gun

Voters will choose the official state gun via ballot measure in November. Idahoans who don't see their favorite make and model are advised to petition their lawmakers

A vintage photo of a turkey hunter in old-school camo.
Turkey Hunting

12 Old-School Tips for Tagging Wary Gobblers

Forget the most cutting-edge tactics or tech. This ironclad advice from a veteran turkey killer won't steer you wrong