Read the latest articles from Outdoor Life (Page 172)

Wildlife Management

Montana Police Chief Faces Felony Charges for Illegally Hunting on Tribal Lands and Tampering with Witnesses

Chief Jeremy Swisher hung three mule deer racks in the Glendive police department. Court documents say those deer were illegally taken on the Fort Peck Reservation

Wildlife Management

CJ Alexander Pleads Not Guilty to 23 Criminal Charges as Poaching Trial Begins in Ohio

Among other charges, the state alleges that Alexander killed a 200-plus-inch buck illegally without permission, and then staged a cover-up at his sister's property to make it seem like a legal hunt

Camping Gear

The Best Water Shoes for Hiking

Submerge your feet confidently with one of these protective and fast-drying options

Wildlife Management

The Wake Surfing Problem: Big Waves and Big Controversy Are Coming to a Lake Near You

In the Midwest where there are countless lakes of all sizes, massive wake boats and the waves they create are causing potential habitat damage and new regulations

Camping Gear

The Best Sunscreens of 2026, Tested and Ingredients Inspected

I looked at the ingredients, ease of use, and skin feel of 15 of the most popular sunscreens. Here are the ones I’ll keep using

Survival Skills

Crappie Fishermen Save 38 Dogs from Drowning in Mississippi’s Grenada Lake

The dogs were at least a mile offshore and struggling to tread water by the time the anglers arrived

Fishing Reels

The Best Catfish Rod and Reel Combos of 2026, Tested

These rod and reel combos are affordable and perfect for catfish

Opinion

Here’s What National Water Access Issues Can Teach Us About Losing Our Favorite Fishing Spots

Sometimes it's the small waters that we love the most — and they're the ones that hurt the most to lose

Leatherman: The Right Tool Always Right at Hand

Take on whatever the day throws your way.

Freshwater

Arkansas Fisherman Catches New State-Record Paddlefish by Accident

The angler was trolling Beaver Lake for striped bass when he hooked something much larger

Hunting

Public Approval for Hunting and Recreational Shooting Continues to Decline in the U.S.

A survey released Wednesday indicates three-quarters of Americans support both activities

Duck Hunting

During Australia’s Duck Season ‘Circus’ Anti-Hunting Activists Will Steal Your Birds, Paddle Through Your Decoys, and Film Your Kids

This backlash against hunting may be happening on the other side of the world, but it’s not as far away as American hunters might think

Conservation

Fossil Hunters in India Found What Could Be the Biggest Snake Ever Discovered

The biologists who uncovered the fossilized vertebrae of a 50-million-year-old snake estimate the critter was about 45 feet long

Survival

Fisherman Drowns While Trying to Retrieve His Keys on a Father’s Day Trip

Another fisherman who tried to rescue him remains hospitalized

Largemouth Bass

Throw Big Rat Baits to Catch Bigger Bass

The savage eats that these baits produce put a frog bite to shame

Whitetail Deer Hunting

Is Public Land Deer Hunting Ruined Forever? Dan Infalt, the Big Buck Serial Killer, Weighs In

Dan Infalt, the veteran whitetail hunter and Hunting Beast, has some advice for anyone complaining about pressure on public lands

Fishing Gear

The Best Fish Scales of 2026

How to choose the best fish scale—digital scale, mechanical scale, or pocket scale—to accurately weigh your catch.

Wildlife Management

Colorado Green-Lights Lethal Management of Gray Wolves, Under Certain Conditions

Ranchers in Colorado have long sought a lethal management option for wolves that repeatedly kill livestock. They will have that option starting in August, with some strings attached

Elk Hunting

Colorado Eliminates Over-the-Counter Archery Elk Tags for Nonresidents

After complaints of overcrowding and more nonresidents bowhunting elk than residents, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission overwhelmingly voted to restrict out-of-state elk tags

Carp Fishing

How to Catch Carp: Tips and Tactics for Beginners

These undervalued bottom feeders are more challenging (and fun) to hook than you might think. Here's how to do it