Outdoor Activities

There are only so many waves fit to surf. And surfer dudes aren't always laid-back about amateurs hogging the swells. What happens when surf becomes turf?

By Charles W. Bryant

Steve Irwin was fatally stabbed in the heart by a stingray, which makes you wonder whether swimming with sea creatures is a good idea. Is it?

By Charles W. Bryant

The GPS gadget is so awesome, it'll make you want to chuck your compass and map. But should you? Which device is really your best friend in the forest?

By Debra Ronca

If you don't know what all the lines and symbols mean, trying to read a topographic map is like trying to read a foreign language. Not a good feeling when you're lost.

By Debra Ronca

Norman Bates of "Psycho" had an office full of dead animals mounted in frightening positions. How do taxidermists make dead creatures seem so lifelike?

By Charles W. Bryant

You're standing in a cool mountain stream, and the water looks so delicious. Should you cup your hand and pour your mouth a drink? Nope. Why?

By Amy Hunter

If you slather your entire body with insect repellent that reads "100 percent DEET" on the label, are you doing yourself harm? How much DEET do you really need to repel bugs?

By Debra Ronca

Your skis can be made into deck material. Your climbing rope can transform into clothes hangers. Your shoes can surface a playground. What else could your gear become in its second life?

By Debra Ronca

Usually when someone takes a dive, he or she plunges into water. Taking a dive into the land seems like a really bad idea. Who does this and how do they survive?

By Debra Ronca

An ATV can make a hunter's job a whole lot easier. And you can even buy one in camo to match your outfit.

By Richard Winter

Hunters and anglers often find themselves caught in the middle of endless battles between legislators, animal-rights groups and conservationists. The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance works to defend the rights of hunters, anglers and other sportsmen.

By Simon Shadow

If you select carefully, you may luck into one lone knife that meets all of your hunting needs. But which to choose -- folding or fixed, carbon steel or stainless steel?

By Amy Hunter

Without fishing quotas, we might reach a day when there's no surf in surf and turf. Overfishing is a huge problem and could lead some fish to extinction. How's fishing regulated?

By Charles W. Bryant

Are you an archery fanatic who can't get enough target practice or a hunter who longs for an extended hunting season? You just might find yourself interested in this nontraditional approach to catching fish.

By Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D.

Perhaps nothing is more frustrating to a hunter than being discovered by a target. One way to get an advantage over your prey is to use hunting blinds.

By Libby Little

If you want to get through a hunting trip without a hefty fine or jail time, you have to be properly licensed to hunt. Read up here to find out what you need to do.

By Vivien Bullen

Hunting is a controversial sport, and when you throw dogs into the mix the debate becomes even more heated. Is it unethical to hunt with dogs?

By Vivien Bullen

Bird populations are declining all over North America, and game birds are among the most threatened. Quail Unlimited works to restore the natural habitat of quail and allow the species to thrive.

By Andrew Aguecheek

Selective culling is population control by separating weak prey from the pack. Animals in the wild target the weak all the time, but things can get controversial when human hunters do.

By Vivien Bullen

Most hunters hunt for sport or trophies, but subsistence hunters hunt to survive. It's not as common as it once was, obviously, but if you live in Alaska, subsistence hunting is still a way of life.

By Sarah Siddons

With the help of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the wild turkey population in North America has exploded since the early 1970s. How do they do it?

By Olivia Page

One of the best parts of hunting is bringing your harvest home. But it can be a long journey from the woods to the wall, and there are things you need to know before you begin.

By Simon Shadow

Animal trapping has been a part of human culture for thousands of years. But if you're about to go out trapping with a cardboard box and a stick, you might want to read up here and get some tips.

By Sarah Siddons

Can you shoot a deer from more than a mile away? Why yes, yes you can. If you know how long-range hunting works, that is. Why do some people make a fuss about the sport?

By Vivien Bullen

Pheasants Forever is one of the largest conservation groups in North America and is dedicated to saving pheasant and other wildlife populations through habitat improvement and conservation efforts.

By Olivia Page