Twenty years is a long time ! Back when Floyd
Green had the vision of starting Western Hunter ( then called Western Optics Hunter ), the internet was still in its infancy with dial-up networks and 56k download speeds . Websites were clumsy at best with no way to safely pay for products . Western Hunter was built to bridge that gap and bring the best hunting gear to the most prolific hunters .
Back then we called ourselves a “ matalog ” – half magazine , half catalog . Over time , we evolved from just gear to add tactics , information , and adventure . This current issue is a classic example of that transformation .
We are gear heads , and the vast majority of our hunters share our interest in new products . In this issue , we are introducing the new 6.8 Western cartridge from Winchester and Browning along with a rifle chambered in this exciting new load . The new EL Range from Swarovski , new archery equipment , and our editor ’ s favorite jackets are all covered within these pages .
Kyle Greene takes a short break from hound hunting to teach us a little bit about western turkey hunting . At first , I was a little skeptical about talking turkey , but I have now read his article three times and am already planning a spring bird hunt . George Bettas goes deep into the tactics of preparing and packing into the backcountry .
I am always amazed at Remi Warren ’ s creative thinking and ability to bring abstract analogies to life . In this issue , he takes the principles from The Karate Kid and the new hit series Cobra Kai and applies them to hunting techniques in a stroke of pure genius !
The one thing you will not find in this issue is hunting application information . There are dozens of great resources for this information and we just don ’ t feel a need to duplicate information that you are already paying for from another source . I have used Epic Outdoors , Huntin ’ Fool , GoHunt , and Eastman ’ s Tag Hub and would endorse all of them . Just don ’ t forget to apply !
Normally , I would be writing this letter in a two-day window between trade shows . Unfortunately , all trade and consumer shows were canceled this year . The good news is that January is the best time to be a bowhunter in Arizona . The deer are rutting , javelina season is open and the quail hunting is spectacular .
For my entire adult life , January and February have been consumed by trade shows , but this year I finally got to hunt without the stress of travel . It paid off when I harvested my first Coues deer with a bow . Now that it is over , I do admit that I miss the consumer shows . I seriously do enjoy interacting with many of our subscribers from around the country . I hope you feel the same way I do and plan to attend a show next year , as these awesome organizations need our support .
I know I ’ ve said this multiple times in this issue and on social media , but thank you for subscribing and supporting Western Hunter . We wouldn ’ t have made it over 20 years without your support !
MOUNTAIN HUNTING
IS WHAT WE DO
RAISE AND DIRECT FUNDS FOR WILD SHEEP RESTORATION , CONSERVATION , ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION ... WE DO THAT TOO
OVER $ 25.7 MILLION IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS
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RESPECT CAN BE HARD TO EXPLAIN , BUT YOU KNOW IT WHEN YOU LIVE IT
ANNULI COLLECTIVE | STEVEN DRAKE
6 WESTERN HUNTER www . westernhunter . net