Earthquakes are one of the most common natural disasters. And though nearly everyone is familiar with them, very few people have experienced one. And even fewer still understand how cataclysmic and biblically destructive a severe earthquake really is. Earthquakes are events that are not encountered evenly around the world. They occur most often in specific regions where tectonic activity is high and volatile. How to Survive an Earthquake Earthquakes are survivable, but the biggest threat they present is in the literal toppling of society. Only the strongest buildings will make it through a powerful earthquake unharmed. Virtually no structure will make it through one that is of apocalyptic magnitude. An understated but no less grave danger presented by earthquakes is that the shaking and rippling of the very ground or floor beneath your feet will make escaping to safer terrain or just improving your position inside a building very difficult. …

How to Survive an Earthquake Read More »

Have you ever seen a tornado? I paired up with a group of storm chasers for a week and have a newfound appreciation for them. We pulled off at a Kum and Go gas station to fill up the tank. Road rule: pee at every stop. Mike recalled how his best tornado video was ruined by someone chanting, “I’ve gotta pee,” like a mantra. Fortunately, I have a capacious bladder, but Dean keeps a roll of toilet paper in his glove box, just in case. Back in the car, Dean was refining our target area near Gotebo, checking RadarScope and the real-time Doppler radar, which tracks the location and velocity of storms, and referring to GRLevelX, a data-processing, and display program. His cell phone pinged with text messages from chaser friends in the area. By midafternoon, the National Weather Service had issued a severe weather warning on NOAA Weather Radio, and our …

My Week Shadowing Storm Chasers in Oklahoma Read More »

Oh, when the weather outside is frightful, but the tree stand is so delightful… For almost all of us, it doesn’t really matter what the weather is doing, we’re going to go hunting regardless. This includes when the temperature drops down into frigid levels. What do we do? We gear up and go! Sometimes the weather catches us off guard and we have to regroup a little. No worries, just remember these five cold-weather hunting gear pieces every hunter absolutely needs to enjoy the hunting season to its fullest. Editor’s Pick – Baselayers It’s kind of funny. Before the hunting community got all technical, base layers were just referred to as long underwear. The thing is, base layers have become far more technical than your plain, old long underwear. Comfort levels have increased, as have warmth and scent prevention. After all, your layer of clothing closest to your skin is …

Cold Weather Hunting Gear You Absolutely Need Read More »

Have you thought about taking your AR 15 hunting? The AR-15 remains the rifle of choice for the modern era and can be found in any shooting discipline, in any shooting activity. From competition to home defense and law enforcement to military service, the AR-15 family of rifles remains completely dominant, the total choice for the discerning shooter. But there is still one area where the AR is meeting a little resistance, and that is hunting. Now you will find no shortage of AR-15s and their many variants roaming the woods and fields and mountains of America carried by hunters in search of game, but despite the emergence of Gun Culture 2.0, and an increasingly performance-driven shooting public that has been forced to acknowledge the supremacy of the AR and all its many guises, the AR lags behind more traditional choices when it comes time to put meat in the …

AR 15 Hunting – What Can You Hunt? Read More »

A pocket knife is a popular outdoor tool. These multifunctional knives can be used nearly every day whether you’re camping or working. Caring for your pocket knife is as important as knowing how to effectively use it. Part of that care is being able to close it. Knowing how to properly and safely close your pocket knife can help maintain the quality of the knife and ensure it lasts a long time. Plus, closing the knife and storing it safely is important for your safety and to avoid any potential accidents. There are several different types of pocket knives, and each one requires a slightly different process to close it. The four different types of pocket knives we focus on here are the slip joint, frame lock, liner lock, and lockback. Read on for our how-to guide for closing a pocket knife! How to Close a Pocket Knife Slip Joint …

How to Safely Close a Pocket Knife Read More »

Michigan-based Trijicon chose September 01 to announce a long-awaited product. It’s a concealed carry optic, which they call the RMRcc. The company’s landmark RMR product line is so popular, the model name is often conflated with any brand’s reflex optic. Despite that, the company lagged behind many competitors in rolling out a compact edition appropriate for concealment-size guns. Tough and Durable Lightweight and low-profile aims were met with the new optic. It weighs just an ounce, battery included, with its 7075-T6 aluminum frame. Its dimensions come in at just under one inch in height and width. It’s also thinner overall than the original RMR. This new release has a black finish; the finish treatment is not yet disclosed. Recoil is not an issue Though the construction is lightweight, Trijicon says the RMRcc will stand up to the stoutest recoil from even 45 ACP and 10mm. With one of the available …

Trijicon Rolls Out New Concealed Carry Reflex Optic Read More »

We don’t need to extol the value of everyday preparedness — if you’re reading this article, you already know its importance. But being prepared without looking prepared is a much more daunting task, and requires a conscious decision to blend into the environment. It offers the ability to go about your daily routine without being noticed or drawing attention. Some call this the gray man principle, others call it simply maintaining normality. The element of surprise can be paramount when it comes to addressing threats or other dangerous situations you may encounter. Alternatively, blending in can also help reduce the likelihood of being a target in the first place. In any environment, threat perception is key.  Threat Identification – Situational Awareness One of the elements often discussed when referencing this philosophy is situational awareness — the ability to pay attention to your environment in a way that helps you decipher …

Threat Perception – Refuse to be a Victim Read More »

No one ever wants to get sick or come down with a condition that is uncomfortable and/or unhealthy. It’s worse when it happens during the hunting season. This is the time of year when we want to take time off TO hunt, not BECAUSE we went hunting. There are so many illnesses, diseases, and conditions we can come down within our regular lives, let’s not add something we can get from going into the woods to the list. Not all of the diseases you can pick up in the woods can kill you, although some can. One thing is certain, one of them can definitely ruin your hunting season, so let’s try to avoid that. Please note that information on these conditions comes from the CDC and the U.S. Forest Service. Find out more information on the CDC website. Lyme Disease For comparison, the one on the right is a …

Five Diseases That Can Ruin Your Hunting Season Read More »

When it comes to hunting, we as humans feel as if we are the Alpha predator. However, every now and then a tragic incident occurs that keeps us grounded. Recently an archery hunter was killed by an elk that he thought he killed. When he approached the elk the next day, to his surprise, the animal wasn’t dead and had one last fight left in him. Unfortunately, this cost the hunter his life. This is a stark reminder that hunting safety and extreme caution must be taken when approaching your game. (Image by Oregon State Police) Police Report Oregon State Police (OSP) recently reported that on Sunday, August 30, 2020, a hunter was killed by an elk he shot with an arrow the day before. Here’s the news release from OSP: “On Saturday, August 29, 2020 Mark David (66) from Hillsboro was archery hunting on private property in the area …

Hunting Safety: Archery Hunter Killed by Elk Read More »

It is no secret that one of the best and cheapest ways of maintaining good health, strength, vitality, and even clear skin is by staying hydrated. As humans, a large percentage of our composition is water. Therefore, it is very important to drink water regularly. If you are going hiking or camping, it is very important to always stay hydrated. However, after drinking plenty of water on your trip, you might get bored by the lack of flavor. This is where the best water flavor enhancers come in. These enhancers add taste to the water, making it more pleasurable to drink. There are many types of water flavor enhancers on the market, and sadly, many of them are not good for your health. They might come with plenty of sugar and calories. How can you choose the best water flavor enhancers? That is the aim of this post. We have reviewed …

Best Water Flavor Enhancers For 2020 Read More »

A wise man once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In other words, taking the proper precautions is better than dealing with the aftermath of a disaster. When it comes to turkey hunting in dangerous, snake-infested territory, that “pound of cure” is a $20,000 helicopter ride to the nearest hospital with antivenom after getting clipped in the calf by a cottonmouth…all because you weren’t wearing snake boots. Taking the Right Precautions That’s why we recommend the Guide Gear Country Pursuit 16″ Waterproof Side-zip Snake Boots. They offer top-to-bottom bite protection thanks to the Snake Guard fabric, which prevents penetration by most North American snake species. Furthermore, the Snake Guard is nearly impenetrable and super tough, but still flexible enough to cover more ground. Of course, snake protection is only half the battle. What good are snake boots if they aren’t comfortable? It’s simple. They’re no …

The Perfect Snake Boots for Turkey Season Read More »

Visiting Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada is like teleporting from the arid desert to the high alpine in a matter of minutes. After a six-hour drive along Highway 50, dubbed “the loneliest road in America,” I cruised through the tiny town of Baker, then found myself transported into a lush pine forest. Beautiful Scenic Drive to Great Basin National Park I took a sharp right onto Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive and parked among the bright marigold-colored balsamroot blooms near Upper Lehman Creek Campground. A brisk wind occasionally tussled my hair as I packed up my things to hike. It was going to be a long day. Not five minutes after I started on the trail, I passed a ranger doing maintenance work. “You going up?” he hollered. “Not all the way,” I replied, “Just hiking to the bristlecones.” “That’s like 5.5 miles each way!” he said. “I know! It’s gonna be …

See Some of the World’s Oldest Trees at Great Basin Read More »