Western Hunter Magazine

09/24/2025

The kind of gear reviews you tell your friends about.

We guarantee Issue 5 has something (a lot of things) you’re going to want to add to your hunt’s checklist.

Link to become a subscriber or get the single issue is in our BIO.

09/18/2025

“Eberlestock’s tried and true Mainframe set the bar. The new Modframe takes it further. It’s leaner in weight, stronger in build, and smarter in design...”

Watch the full overview in the link below:

Eberlestock’s tried and true Mainframe set the bar. The new Modframe takes it further. It’s leaner in weight, stronger in […]

09/15/2025

Our gear highlights are short, sweet, and right to the point. Check out our latest batch of must-haves below:

Discover essential Gear Highlights, featuring lightweight sleeping bags and affordable binoculars that enhance outdoor experiences.

09/15/2025

“You can tell a lot about a knife before it ever makes a cut. First with the ocular pat down - does the blade have the right angles, point, length, belly, for the way you like to break down game? Then the grip test - does it seat well in your hand? Is it nimble? Does it tuck clean into your kit? Most importantly, is it going to stay put once your hands are slick with blood?…”

You can read the full review of Montana Knife Company’s Elkhorn Skinner below:

Uncover the features of the MKC Elkhorn Skinner. This review highlights its blade, grip, and overall usability for game processing.

09/12/2025

It’s a special thing when art meets function. These stick bows made by our featured maker, South Cox, are the kind of heirlooms that are worthy of being on a mantel, but designed with the purpose of killing big animals.

You can read about and his story in Issue 5, and one lucky subscriber gets to win a credit towards a custom bow. You’ll pass it down to the next generation, but you’ll need to put it to work first…

Link to become a subscriber is in our BIO. Last day to subscribe by to enter is this Sunday.

09/08/2025

“When it comes to shooting, the most overlooked piece of equipment is often the one that could save you from a lifetime of regret: quality hearing protection.

I’ve seen it all - fingers stuffed in ears, makeshift earplugs fashioned out of crumpled tissue, and cheap foam plugs from the nearest gas station. Sure, they’re better than nothing, but if you’re running top-tier gear - expensive rifles, upgraded triggers, and premium optics that cost more than your first car, and still relying on $2 foam plugs… then you're doing it wrong.

Whether you're out hunting, dialing in your shot at a local range, attending a long-range shooting course, or competing in an NRL Hunter or PRS match - your hearing is one of your most valuable assets. And once it's gone, you can't just go to the nearest Bass Pro Shops and pick up a new set of ears. That ringing in your ears after a day of unprotected shooting? That’s your hearing cashing out early, and the truth is, tinnitus - that constant ringing you’ll never escape - isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a thief that steals from your quality of life, often in ways you don’t fully realize until it’s too late….”

You can read the full Safariland Liberator HP 2.0 hearing protection review below:

Do not compromise on quality. Learn why Safariland Liberator HP 2.0 Hearing Protection is essential for every shooting enthusiast.

09/05/2025

“At sunrise, we emptied our packs and left camp light, climbing another 1,200 feet. The higher we went, the sketchier it got, especially for someone like me who doesn’t do well with heights. We traversed around a bluff that made my knees wobble. I was grateful to have Mark and Justin there for encouragement as I picked my way across.

Eventually, our guide Mark stopped and whispered, “Goats.”

Two billies, standing about 300 yards away, skylined against the slope. Justin set up the camera and confirmed what we suspected – Roman noses, thick horns, large scent glands. No doubt. Billies.

We quickly discussed options. Should we try to shoot both, or take one and hold off? Weather was coming in, and our guide was concerned the river could drop too low for extraction. We never made a firm decision. We just dropped our packs and got into position….”

You can read “Out of My Comfort Zone” by Jake Havlicek in Issue 5. Link to become a subscriber is in our BIO.

09/01/2025

Chris shares the reasons for choosing the various models of Kenetrek boots that he, Nate, and Mark swear by when hunting and filming The Western Hunter. The Mountain Extreme, Hardscrabble, Corrie II, and Bridger High are all great choices.

You can watch the full video overview, and also check out Kenetrek’s 25% off Labor Day Sale in the link below.

Chris shares the reasons for choosing the various models of Kenetrek boots that he, Nate, and Mark swear by when […]

08/29/2025

You can find the full rundown of Chris and Nate’s trusted boot choices from on our YouTube channel.

Luckily, Kenetrek is having a huge Labor Day Sale on all of these until September 3rd! 25% off a high quality boot like this is hard to beat, so if you’ve been waiting for a good time to pull the trigger on an upgrade - this is it!

Head over to the link in the comments below to check it out for yourself, and good luck this season!

08/27/2025

“There are many beautiful things in the anatomy of a rifle. Its tapered and elegant barrel. The crisp and precise break of its trigger. The fluid repeatability and strength of its action. Its balance, its weight, its sound. And its stock–the component that is both skin and skeleton of a rifle, bringing everything together, turning machined aluminum and steel into a functional instrument of art. Viewing a rifle in this way stems from a handcrafted approach to manufacturing, one that began with Gale McMillan building his first stock in 1970.

During my visit to the McMillan facility in North Phoenix, I could see the same attention to detail and handcrafted perfectionism alive and well today in their commitment to American-made precision rifle stocks. In a world of shortcuts, McMillan still does it the hard way, and that’s why their stocks are trusted from PRS podiums and NRL Hunter matches to combat zones.

The story of McMillan begins the way many great things do–at a workbench, in pursuit of something better. In the early 1970s, Gale McMillan, a benchrest competitor with a relentless eye for precision, began layering fiberglass to build a rifle stock that could meet the exacting demands of his sport. By 1973, he had crafted his first competition stock. A year later, McMillan Stocks was born….”

You can read the full Made In America: McMillan Stocks article by Kevin Guillen in Issue 5. Link to become a subscriber is in our BIO.

08/25/2025

“At the time, I had been using a Garmin Instinct Solar, which could run for nearly a month with its built-in solar charger. By comparison, the Apple Watch only lasted 36 hours between charges. That just didn’t cut it, especially during hunting season.

Then, Garmin introduced the tactix 8. It solved every problem I’d had and added even more functionality, all wrapped in a rugged, great-looking design…”

You can read the full Garmin tactix 8 review below:

Uncover the potential of the Garmin Tactix 8, a powerful digital watch for fitness enthusiasts and adventurers alike.

08/21/2025

“I had been on hundreds, if not close to a thousand, elk kills in my 21 years of professional elk guiding and have also taken many incredible bulls myself with both a gun and a bow. None of those were quite like what I was feeling when I watched the fletching of my wife’s arrow bury itself just behind the shoulder of the bull standing before us.

It was a long stare-down as we waited, frozen, for what seemed like an eternity in the open, legs cramping and shaking as she waited for an opportunity to draw. Her smooth draw and steady aim were followed by a perfect shot. After a few years of trying, it was her first successful archery elk hunt. Although it was an incredible elk and an amazing day, it was not just that. It was more. It was the culmination of life up to that moment–our family and my wife’s journey into hunting capped off the whole experience. The memories of when we started dating and I took her on her first hunting trip, the moments we have shared in between, and the family we had waiting for that call that mom got her elk. The fact that it was also one of the best elk hunting days you could ask for just topped it off.

I always used to think that my best hunting memories would be those days when I checked something off my bucket list, tagged that next big buck or bull, or snuck in on that animal with a once-in-a-lifetime tag. While those things are great, as my wife and I have started our own family, I think back to those moments with my dad when I grew up hunting and the opportunities that he gave me. I know that these experiences with my own family far outweigh what I have done on my own. The days in the field with my wife, my daughter, and my son are the ones that hit just a little differently, and my hope is that they, in some way, will enjoy this lifestyle the way that I have my whole life…”

You can read “If Given the Opportunity” by in its entirety in Issue 5. Link to become a subscriber is in our BIO.