Western Hunter Magazine

09/09/2026

“As I held my binoculars to my eyes, my heart reminded me I was alive and well. Each thud drew further apart as I attempted to relax. I felt the air on my lips fill my lungs, and for a moment, life was still. I was at such peace that the sound of Kelly’s gun surprised me. The bull stood slowly, and Kelly fired another shot, solidifying his last breath. He fell to the tundra, and we rushed to embrace her. Lowering her gun, she looked up at us with genuine happiness, and tears started to swell in her eyes. I hugged Tori and relished the moment before us.

My fingers ran across his dark, hazel brown coat with the start of white under the bull’s chin. In his eyes, I found traces of wisdom and knowledge that I knew only a lifetime could possess. With minimal service, Kelly FaceTimed her dad with tears on her cheeks, and he greeted her with love. This moment is the reason I am writing this. This moment is the reason I go hunting. This is the story told time and time again, but one I wish to never end…”

You can read the full story of Kelly’s Alaskan caribou hunt, Proven, in Issue 5 of 2026. Last days to subscribe to receive this issue.

09/08/2026

“Sometimes hunts don’t go as planned. Well, a lot of times hunts don’t go as planned, but they rarely get completely thrown upside down. As I think back on my hunts, one hunt more than any other stands out for getting completely rocked right from the beginning. It’s the sort of thing that sends most guys home with tag soup, but staying flexible and pivoting our approach led to me killing one of the biggest critters of my life...”

You can read the full article, Pivot, by James Yates in Issue 5 of 2026. Link to become a subscriber is in our bio, but only two days left to get this issue.

09/08/2026

“Most boot wearers and purchasers have developed a preference, often through purchase trial and error, for a level of stiffness they like in a boot. For some, a stiffer boot with a mountaineering-type platform is just fine because they can comfortably wear that type of boot in any terrain. Then, there are folks like me. I prefer a more flexible boot, as a stiffer boot tends to give me heel blisters and toe pain because of my high arch, narrow foot, and very prominent heel bone. Every foot is different and unique to that individual, so having a variety of flex ratings and builds in different models allows customers great choices to pick the right boot for themselves…”

You can read the full review by Mike Duplan below:

Explore Finding Your Fit with Crispi's Flex Rating System to choose the best hunting boots for your unique needs.

09/07/2026

“Morning brought anxiety. The sun was already warming the air, and we worried about spoilage… and bears. We split the load between our rafts and pushed off around noon, leaving most of our camp gear behind to lighten the weight. After the second bend, disaster struck. Graham hit a sweeper, went overboard, and was dangling, holding on to the raft with one hand, and waving me down with the other. My stomach dropped. I paddled frantically to shore, yelling his name, until I finally saw him back onto his raft, soaked but alive. Relief flooded over me.

We lightened his raft and kept going, but the river only grew stronger. By the time we neared the river confluence, it was chaos. Sweepers left, rapids right. I turned to shout to Graham, “Don’t come this way!” When I faced forward again, a dead birch reached out and caught me. The raft pinballed and stuck broadside. Water poured in, and the floor buckled under my boots. I tried to muscle it back and felt the futility like a hand on the back of my neck. The boat went under…”

You can read this full story, Rookie Mistake, by Jonny Buchanan in Issue 5 of 2026. Link to subscribe is in our bio.

09/06/2026

This, and a tag to fill.

Issue 5 of 2026 is arguably one of our best yet, and there’s only a few days left to get it in your mailbox. Link to become a subscriber is in our bio.

09/04/2026

“I just sat down in the grass beside the fallen monarch. I thanked him without words and then thought of broken curses, the value of a big bull elk, and what is truly both lost and earned…”

You can read the full article, Curse Breaker, by Kubie Brown in Issue 5 of 2026. Link to become a subscriber is in our bio.

09/02/2026

“He was big enough to tell my friend on the phone that I was staring at one of the biggest bucks I may have ever seen, and I had to go…”

Unofficial: 197” frame + 20” of extras = 217 ⅞”

You can read the full story, Chasing Rumors, by Mac Milne in Issue 5 of 2026. Link to become a subscriber is in our bio.

09/01/2026

“This spring had been especially unpredictable. March gave us summertime temps, and I was really starting to sweat my upcoming turkey hunt. Once April rolled around, our weather normalized a bit, and I was able to gain more accurate insight into what I could expect while chasing gobbles in chaparral country.

I would be looking at cold nighttime temps in the 40s with mornings and evenings in the low to mid 50s. Gorgeous. The problem: midday temps would be in the mid-high 70s. That’s simply a lot of temperature swing. Not many kits can adequately handle that. But mine did; exceptionally well…”

Read the full gear review by Joe Mannino below:

Navigate Arizona's spring weather swings with the First Lite Layering System. Perfect for early morning and midday hunts.

09/01/2026

“The sheep meat sizzled on the rock. Sparks drifted into a cobalt sky. A sip of dark rum from a collapsible silicone cup warmed me against the September chill. That’s the thing about sheep hunting after enough years. The hunt almost becomes the excuse. What keeps pulling you back are the places and the people who somehow understand why those places matter. For me, the Mackenzie Mountains have always had that pull.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to chase mountain game across North America and beyond. There are only a handful of places where, before you’ve even climbed back into the airplane to go home, you’re already wondering how you’ll get back.

The Mackenzies are one of them.

Maybe it’s the scale. The wildlife. The feeling that you’re stepping into one of the last intact wilderness systems left on the continent. Maybe it’s the gratitude you feel that you get to wander here….”

You can read the full article, North of Everything, by Adam Foss in Issue 5 of 2026. Link to become a subscriber is in our bio.

08/31/2026

Issue 5 of 2026 is here, and it’s beautiful.

Become a subscriber, and see what all the hype is about for yourself.