Outdoors Rambler with Ken Perrotte

HUNTING

This "Hunting" page has stories and videos about memorable trips, and links to articles published elsewhere. We also note outfitters we've come to respect and some of the great gear that makes adventuring a little more comfortable, safe or successful. Good Hunting!

Gravy Hunting Gone Wild - Stoking Grandson's Imagination with a Hammer, a Bag and some Rope

Note: A shorter variation of this tale about a Thanksgiving post-dinner expedition into the woods behind the author's house was published...

A Benelli LUPO, Steiner Predator 4 Scope and Hornady 200-Grain ELD-X Ammo a Sweet Trio

Ken Perrotte

Nov 13

A Benelli LUPO, Steiner Predator 4 Scope and Hornady 200-Grain ELD-X Ammo a Sweet Trio

When three shooters can pick up a previously unfamiliar firearm and, except for minimal diopter tweaks to focus eyes to the scope’s...

Virginia Fish & Game Chief Takes a Shine to Daughter's Hunting Rifle - Get Your Own Dad!

Ken Perrotte

Oct 14

Virginia Fish & Game Chief Takes a Shine to Daughter's Hunting Rifle - Get Your Own Dad!

Note: This article appeared in Whitetails Unlimited with a shorter version also in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star. Virginia teenager...

'Bufftail Soup' -- Who Knew an Old Cape Buffalo Could Taste So Good! - Recipe and Video

Ken Perrotte

Aug 27

'Bufftail Soup' -- Who Knew an Old Cape Buffalo Could Taste So Good! - Recipe and Video

No matter what type of hunting adventure I go one, eating the local foods and, especially, any wild fish or game taken, is always high on...

Ancient Bull Sable, Iconic Gemsbok & Impressive Blesbok Round Out Incredible South African Hunt

Ken Perrotte

Aug 16

Ancient Bull Sable, Iconic Gemsbok & Impressive Blesbok Round Out Incredible South African Hunt

Note: This article originally appeared in The Hunting Wire, a great publication and news delivery service. We were minutes from calling...

Virginia Black Bears Suffering Second Consecutive Year With High Levels of Sarcoptic Mange

Ken Perrotte

Aug 14

Virginia Black Bears Suffering Second Consecutive Year With High Levels of Sarcoptic Mange

Few things cause more intense, persistent discomfort than coping with chiggers, those miniscule mites that attach to your skin and bite,...

'Dugga Boy' Cape Buffalo Crossed Off Bucket List; Mossberg Patriot .375 Ruger, GPO Optic, Hornady

Ken Perrotte

Aug 2

'Dugga Boy' Cape Buffalo Crossed Off Bucket List; Mossberg Patriot .375 Ruger, GPO Optic, Hornady

Hunting African buffalo has been on list for more than four decades, ever since the author read tales by Roosevelt, Hemingway, Ruark and...

Preparing for a South African Safari Involves Planning and Gearing Up - Here's the Lowdown

Ken Perrotte

Jul 21

Preparing for a South African Safari Involves Planning and Gearing Up - Here's the Lowdown

Post-COVID-19 Travel Hurdles, Gear Choices, Practice & Perspectives Note, much of this content in this ultimate safari preparation guide...

Tagging Merriam's Gobbler with Mossberg .410 Prompts Discussion about the Toughest Turkeys

Ken Perrotte

May 30

Tagging Merriam's Gobbler with Mossberg .410 Prompts Discussion about the Toughest Turkeys

Note: a version of this article appeared in The Hunting Wire. Blog includes a video. Concluding any quest is often, at once, joyous and...

'Highly Virulent' Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease has State Wildlife and Agriculture Agencies Scrambling

Ken Perrotte

May 7

'Highly Virulent' Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease has State Wildlife and Agriculture Agencies Scrambling

A deadly and highly virulent disease that devastated rabbit populations in some countries is now in the United States -- mainly the West,...

New Weatherby 18i Shotgun - Tested in Virginia Waterfowl Hunts: Marsh, Mud, Snow & Sleet

Ken Perrotte

Mar 6

New Weatherby 18i Shotgun - Tested in Virginia Waterfowl Hunts: Marsh, Mud, Snow & Sleet

Note: This review also appeared The Hunting Wire of March 1, 2021 There is something special about being in a duck blind during the...

Special Youth & Veteran Hunting Days Create Conservationists and Promote 'Giving Back'

Ken Perrotte

Feb 11

Special Youth & Veteran Hunting Days Create Conservationists and Promote 'Giving Back'

Note: This article also appeared in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star. Some photos provided courtesy of Chip Watkins, Monquin Creek...

Sunday Hunting on Public Land Again Defeated; Flip-Flop Politicians & Archaic Virginia Blue Law

Ken Perrotte

Jan 21

Sunday Hunting on Public Land Again Defeated; Flip-Flop Politicians & Archaic Virginia Blue Law

Hunting on Sunday remains curiously contentious in Virginia. After nearly a decade of acrimonious debate, it was finally allowed on...

Duck Cannons of the Chesapeake – When Punt Guns Spoke, Waterfowl Markets Sang

Ken Perrotte

Nov 18, 2020

Duck Cannons of the Chesapeake – When Punt Guns Spoke, Waterfowl Markets Sang

Imagine a time when nighttime duck assassins stealthily maneuvered low-profile skiffs toward vast rafts of dozing ducks and geese,...

Soggy Early Season Turkey Hunt in New York Vineyards Yields No Birds, But Offers Insights

Ken Perrotte

Oct 29, 2020

Soggy Early Season Turkey Hunt in New York Vineyards Yields No Birds, But Offers Insights

Click on photo for article in NWTF Turkey Country magazine An early May excursion to Chautauqua County in far northwestern New York along...

Virginia Nabs $3M Grant to Boost Private Land Access; Much Going to 'Watchable Wildlife' Efforts

Ken Perrotte

Oct 22, 2020

Virginia Nabs $3M Grant to Boost Private Land Access; Much Going to 'Watchable Wildlife' Efforts

Note: A newspaper column about this issue ran in the Oct. 22, 2020 issue of the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star. Be sure to read the full...

The 'Fabio of Hunting Dogs' Finds His Luxurious Locks are Magnets for Burrs & Other Fur Foulers

Ken Perrotte

Oct 13, 2020

The 'Fabio of Hunting Dogs' Finds His Luxurious Locks are Magnets for Burrs & Other Fur Foulers

Jameson, our Boykin Spaniel, loves bird hunting. His luxurious fur, though, is a magnet for every sticky piece of vegetation in the field.

'Blast From the Past' - Old, Souvenir Video Revisits an Epic Morning in an Eastern Shore Duck Blind

Ken Perrotte

Aug 24, 2020

'Blast From the Past' - Old, Souvenir Video Revisits an Epic Morning in an Eastern Shore Duck Blind

Sometimes it is fun to go through old video footage that you shot for fun, never intending to record any finished product but instead...

Get Me Moose! Save the Rib Section and Create Eye-Catching, Thick, Tasty Tomahawk Steaks

Ken Perrotte

Aug 15, 2020

Get Me Moose! Save the Rib Section and Create Eye-Catching, Thick, Tasty Tomahawk Steaks

We demonstrate how to cut a thick, tasty tomahawk steak from a Newfoundland moose carcass.

Story about Novice's First Deer Hunt Wins Prestigious Outdoor Media Group's Pinnacle Award

Ken Perrotte

Aug 12, 2020

Story about Novice's First Deer Hunt Wins Prestigious Outdoor Media Group's Pinnacle Award

“Do you think you made a good shot?” I asked. “Yes. I think so,” she responded, somewhat hesitantly.

'A Burning Issue' - Check Out Article in USA Today Hunt & Fish about Need for Fire in the Forests

Ken Perrotte

Aug 11, 2020

'A Burning Issue' - Check Out Article in USA Today Hunt & Fish about Need for Fire in the Forests

Link to Full USA Today Hunt & Fish 2020 Magazine Conservation and land management issues are among my favorite things to cover. In my...

Pandemic Results in Big Increases in Wild Turkey Harvest Across Multiple States - Prompts Concern

Ken Perrotte

May 28, 2020

Pandemic Results in Big Increases in Wild Turkey Harvest Across Multiple States - Prompts Concern

Most turkey hunters hunt hard. When they achieve success, it's a sweet moment to be savored and celebrated. This year, many hunters were...

Jolly's Book 'Memories of Spring' Chronicles the Good, the Bad & the Crazy about Turkey Hunting

Ken Perrotte

Apr 28, 2020

Jolly's Book 'Memories of Spring' Chronicles the Good, the Bad & the Crazy about Turkey Hunting

I don't know if it's good or bad luck to publish a book just as America was a month away from "lockdown" as a means of slowing the...

Turkey Hunter Survives Being Shot in Face; Virginia Game & Inland Fisheries Investigating

Ken Perrotte

Apr 23, 2020

Turkey Hunter Survives Being Shot in Face; Virginia Game & Inland Fisheries Investigating

Note: A shorter version of this story ran in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star on April 23, 2020. Most turkey hunters with Facebook...

Teachable Moments about the Nature of Life Abound when Hunting or Fishing with Children

Ken Perrotte

Apr 21, 2020

Teachable Moments about the Nature of Life Abound when Hunting or Fishing with Children

Note: This article was also published in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star daily newspaper. Young William Martel is no stranger to...

First Place, 2018, 2019 & 2020 Realtree Website Excellence Award

HUNTING

FEATURED STORIES

Gravy Hunting Gone Wild - Stoking Grandson's Imagination with a Hammer, a Bag and some Rope

A Benelli LUPO, Steiner Predator 4 Scope and Hornady 200-Grain ELD-X Ammo a Sweet Trio

Virginia Fish & Game Chief Takes a Shine to Daughter's Hunting Rifle - Get Your Own Dad!

'Bufftail Soup' -- Who Knew an Old Cape Buffalo Could Taste So Good! - Recipe and Video

Ancient Bull Sable, Iconic Gemsbok & Impressive Blesbok Round Out Incredible South African Hunt

Virginia Black Bears Suffering Second Consecutive Year With High Levels of Sarcoptic Mange

'Dugga Boy' Cape Buffalo Crossed Off Bucket List; Mossberg Patriot .375 Ruger, GPO Optic, Hornady

Preparing for a South African Safari Involves Planning and Gearing Up - Here's the Lowdown

Tagging Merriam's Gobbler with Mossberg .410 Prompts Discussion about the Toughest Turkeys

'Highly Virulent' Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease has State Wildlife and Agriculture Agencies Scrambling

New Weatherby 18i Shotgun - Tested in Virginia Waterfowl Hunts: Marsh, Mud, Snow & Sleet

Special Youth & Veteran Hunting Days Create Conservationists and Promote 'Giving Back'

Sunday Hunting on Public Land Again Defeated; Flip-Flop Politicians & Archaic Virginia Blue Law

Duck Cannons of the Chesapeake – When Punt Guns Spoke, Waterfowl Markets Sang

Soggy Early Season Turkey Hunt in New York Vineyards Yields No Birds, But Offers Insights

Virginia Nabs $3M Grant to Boost Private Land Access; Much Going to 'Watchable Wildlife' Efforts

The 'Fabio of Hunting Dogs' Finds His Luxurious Locks are Magnets for Burrs & Other Fur Foulers

'Blast From the Past' - Old, Souvenir Video Revisits an Epic Morning in an Eastern Shore Duck Blind

Get Me Moose! Save the Rib Section and Create Eye-Catching, Thick, Tasty Tomahawk Steaks

Story about Novice's First Deer Hunt Wins Prestigious Outdoor Media Group's Pinnacle Award

'A Burning Issue' - Check Out Article in USA Today Hunt & Fish about Need for Fire in the Forests

Pandemic Results in Big Increases in Wild Turkey Harvest Across Multiple States - Prompts Concern

Jolly's Book 'Memories of Spring' Chronicles the Good, the Bad & the Crazy about Turkey Hunting

Turkey Hunter Survives Being Shot in Face; Virginia Game & Inland Fisheries Investigating

Teachable Moments about the Nature of Life Abound when Hunting or Fishing with Children

Newfoundland Moose Hunt Affords Ample Opportunity to Test Guns & Gear

Don't Fall - But Don't Leave Yourself Hanging When It Comes to Safety and Treestands

Uruguay Mixed Bag Hunt Delivers Hot-Barrel Shooting, Exquisite Food & Ambiance

Presley Brothers Know How to Talk Turkey, Garner Repeat Intermediate and Open Wins

Virginia Turkey Hunters Tag 17.9K Gobblers; But 2020 Looking Like a Tough Year

The Land of 1,000 Gobbles -- Central Kentucky Turkeys Have Hillsides Ringing; Get Some!

Virginia's Newest Wildlife Management Areas are Shining Examples of How/Where to Buy

Tagging Hoosier Toms with American Hero -- On the Hunt with Clinton Romesha

Setting Up Mossberg 535 with Crimson Trace Red Dot Optic -- Ol' Dog Learns New Tricks

Get those Turkey Guns Patterned & Ready

Hunt Test: Bergara Rifle and Zeiss Optics in Africa & Kansas - a Keeper Kudu & a Ken Uh-Oh

Sundance Head -- the Soulful Country Artist with a Passion for Everything Outdoors

Boykin Boys Having a Blast Flushing and Fetching Chukars in Their First Field Foray

Here's to the Majestic White-Tailed Deer, One of the Crown Jewels of American Hunting

A Hunter's Never-Ending Dilemma - Should I Stay or Go? Hearing Voices Inside Your Head

Flushing Pheasants & Sweet-Handling Shotguns: South Dakota is for the Birds!

Grow Next Generation of Conservationists

Hey, Old School - Teach a Wannabe Hunter the Ropes. Invest in Conservation's Future

Virginia's Hunters Restricted from Millions of Acres of Public Land -- Even Their Own!

Virginia Among States Stepping Up Efforts to Contain & Prevent Chronic Wasting Disease

Duck Factory Lives Up to Its Reputation Saskatchewan Hunt Delivers - Big Time!

Family, Friends, Fun and FOOD -- lots of it -- at Annual Dove Shoot for Cedar Mounta

Treestands: Favored Hunting Tool is Also Among the Most Dangerous

Talking Turkey - NWTF Virginia Calling Contest Competitors Have Richmond Rockin'

There's Gould's in Them Thar Hills! The Feathered Treasures of the Sierra Madres