She had never fired a rifle before this mule deer hunt. In 2004, writer Kimberly Hiss traded the streets of New York for the high desert of New Mexico with almost no hunting experience. Under the guidance of legendary Field & Stream shooting editor David Petzal, she learned to shoot, stalk, and prepare for her first mule deer hunt. But the hardest lesson wasn’t squeezing the trigger—it was deciding how she felt about taking an animal’s life. What followed became one of the magazine’s most honest stories about becoming a hunter.

Originally published as “Zero to Deer” by Kimberly Hiss in the August 2004 issue of Field & Stream. Join the 1871 Club to unlock stories like this from the Field & Stream archives. ...

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In August 2005, Field & Stream’s David E. Petzal put the era’s most respected premium hunting bullets through extensive testing to answer a question every big-game hunter eventually asks: Which bullet should I trust when it really matters?

From Nosler Partitions and Swift A-Frames to Barnes Triple-Shocks, AccuBonds, Ballistic Tips, and Winchester Fail Safes, Petzal broke down exactly where each design excelled, where it fell short, and how bullet construction—not just caliber—can make all the difference once the trigger breaks.

This story comes straight from the Field & Stream archives, where decades of America’s best hunting and fishing writing are preserved.

Join the 1871 Club to unlock the complete Field & Stream archive and thousands of stories that shaped the outdoors. ...

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The proposal does not remove grizzly bears from the Endangered Species Act, and it would not open grizzly hunting seasons in the Lower 48. Instead, it changes how states can respond to human-bear conflicts while federal protections remain in place.

The proposal is now entering a 30-day public comment period, and the outcome could shape how grizzly bears are managed across the Northern Rockies for years to come. Field & Stream will continue following the story.

(full story by @travishallmedia) ...

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The best outdoor stories don’t get old. They get better. Every one of these photos earned its place. Giant gar. Beat-up boats. River guides. Proud anglers. They’re pulled from Keith Sutton’s Field & Stream story “Slaying Dragons,” and they remind us that the best hunting and fishing stories have always been about the people who lived them.

Every Sunday, Yuengling and Field & Stream are digging through the archives to bring America’s greatest outdoor stories back into the light. #OldSchoolSunday ...

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While everyone’s fishing, he’s scouting because he believes 97% of buck beds are distractions.

In a GPS-collar study highlighted by Field & Stream contributor Adam Lewis, the average buck used 31 different beds, but only about 3% became high-fidelity “bedrooms” they returned to again and again. Lewis breaks down what separates those locations and how hunters can use the research to scout smarter this season.

Adam Lewis is a teacher, award-winning outdoor writer, and host of the Deer IQ podcast. He specializes in applying science to practical strategies for public and private land whitetail hunters. Drop a “BUCK” comment and we’ll DM you Adam Lewis’ full Field & Stream story. ...

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Good hunting and fishing start with good habitat.

A 40-year-old interpretation of the Endangered Species Act just changed. For decades, federal agencies could treat significant destruction of critical habitat as a form of “harm” to endangered wildlife. A newly finalized rule removes that interpretation. Supporters say the change brings the law back to what Congress originally wrote. Opponents argue it weakens protections for species that depend on habitat to survive.

This doesn’t change hunting seasons, fishing regulations, or public land access. It could change how future federal reviews evaluate projects involving habitat used by endangered wildlife, and it’s already facing legal challenges. We’ll keep following the story—and what it means for hunters, anglers, and the places we all rely on. ...

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This happened in 60 seconds 🌽

One trail cam photo shows a hog helping itself to a pile of corn. The next was captured exactly one minute later after the hunter says it was taken with a 22 ARC at 40 yards.

Introduced by Hornady in 2024, the 22 ARC was built to launch high ballistic coefficient .22-caliber bullets from the AR-15 platform, delivering flatter trajectories and better wind performance than many traditional .223-class cartridges. Our own testing found it to be one of the most capable long-range .22 centerfire cartridges available—and this hunter says it didn’t need long to prove itself.

Trail cam sequence via u/astrocavediver
22 ARC photos: Richard Mann / Field & Stream ...

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New boundary maps reveal how much Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante could shrink if the proposal moves forward. Swipe through, then tell us what you think.

Story by @travishallmedia | Maps by @wildernesssociety sourced from @mypubliclands July 2026. ...

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