Duck hunting is demanding work. Early mornings, gear maintenance, and a long to-do list to execute a perfect hunt are all part of the deal. Usually, youre doing it in frigid, wet conditions. Sometimes it all comes together, and other times its a complete bust. Yes, its fun, but anyone saying its not work clearly hasnt spent much time doing...

　　As I stood on the doorstep of the South Fork Lodge with the sun on the Eastern horizon, there was a slight bite to the air. Fall was just around the corner, and early mornings were no longer warm and toasty. I threw on the Free Fly Gridback Fleece Anorak Hoodie and sipped coffee while patiently waiting for the guide...

　　For decades, it was Americas family hauler of choice. Now, is the station wagon dead in the U.S.? Volvo, a brand that has championed the longroof for almost its entire existence, is now out of the game. And that cant be a good sign for the cargo-friendly car. 　　73 Years of Swedish Wagons 　　 　　Seven generations of Volvo wagons; (photo/Volvo)...

　　If your 2026 New Years resolution is to spend more time outside during the winter, this weeks Emerging Gear is for you. A bunch of brands put out fresh new gear to help you conquer the cold. 　　Arcteryxs slick new trail runner with built-in gaiter promises to be snow-proof, and Ortovox innovated the classic hardshell by adding merino wool inserts....

　　Colorado Parks and Wildlife is investigating a suspected fatal mountain lion attack on the Crosier Mountain Trail in unincorporated Larimer County. At around 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1, hikers reported seeing a mountain lion near an adult woman lying unresponsive on the trail. When they approached, they scared off the animal by throwing rocks and found the woman without...

　　If I asked you to think of what a flannel is, most would likely think of a soft, chunky cotton shirt with a bold plaid pattern. No snaps. No eccentric trim. No handcrafted embroidery. It’s a white Ford truck with heated seats. It’s not going to blow any doors off. It just “is.” Durable. Capable. Dependable. 　　When conjuring up the...

　　I’ve slept for many nights at a time on a mattress only a couple of inches thick. Sometimes all summer long. Sometimes, I arrive after the sun has gone down, and I throw down camp on whatever approximates flat. 　　If I have spare natural light, I might manage the landscape a bit (pack wedged here; rope coiled there), but more...

　　The price of duck hunting waders is getting out of hand. When SITKA entered the game with a premium wader, it seemed like every manufacturer followed suit with price hikes. 　　Unfortunately, unlike SITKA, most manufacturers werent creating a product that justified higher prices. In fact, Ive been saying for years that outside of the Delta Pros, duck hunting wader manufacturers...

　　Coming from someone who has spent decades wearing waterproof gear, I was surprised to find the FORLOH AllClima Soft Shell Jacket incredibly waterproof and wind-resistant, yet still silent as I tramped all over Montana, field-testing it and trying to find this year’s muley. 　　This jacket ran the gamut of weather with me — sun and sweat, rain, hail, snow —...

　　Ive burned through over a dozen pairs of upland bird-hunting pants over the last 6 years. You really ask a lot from a set of chap-style pants like the Kings Camo XKG Field Pants. 　　They need to be the most durable pants in your closet, capable of withstanding miles of briar patches, taking a beating from cattail sloughs, and protecting...

　　In a potentially unprecedented accident, a helicopter crashed this weekend after flying into a slackline in Arizona, resulting in the deaths of all four people on board. 　　On Jan. 2, emergency services received reports of a helicopter crash in Telegraph Canyon, a popular hiking and OHV area, according to a statement from the Pinal County Sheriffs Office. First responders to...

　　This year marks the official 20th anniversary of King of the Hammers (KoH), an off-road racing extravaganza that takes place each year in Johnson Valley, Calif. Perhaps most famous for spawning Ultra4 vehicles built for the gnarliest four-wheeling. KoH also includes high-speed desert running in trophy trucks, UTVs, and motorcycles — but rocks are always part of the equation. 　　Every...