Field Notes
Free Field Guides
No dates to memorize, no numbers that change every year — just the systems behind how hunting and fishing actually work, explained straight. Read them free.
WhitetailWhen Is the Rut? How Whitetail Breeding Season Timing Actually Works
It isn't cold fronts or the moon — it's photoperiod, which makes the rut one of the most predictable events in the woods. Here's how the timing really works.
Read the guide →
WaterfowlWhy Does Duck Season Open on a Different Date?
There's no single national opening day for ducks — there are four flyways and fifty states each making their own call. Here's the system behind the dates.
Read the guide →
Big GamePreference Points, Bonus Points, OTC — How Western Big Game Tags Work
Every western state runs its own tag system, and the terminology alone stops most first-timers cold. Here's what each one actually means before you apply.
Read the guide →
FreshwaterWhy Fish Move Where They Move
The spot that was lights-out in July can go dead by September. One variable explains most of it: water temperature. Here's the seasonal pattern.
Read the guide →
TurkeyThe Wild Turkey Grand Slam: How the Five Subspecies Differ
Eastern, Osceola, Rio Grande, Merriam's, Gould's — how the five subspecies differ, where each one lives, and what “the slam” really means.
Read the guide →
Upland & PredatorWhy September 1 Is the Unofficial Kickoff to Hunting Season
For a lot of hunters, September 1 is circled in red — the unofficial start of fall. Why the dove opener became the busiest day on the calendar.
Read the guide →
SaltwaterWhy Moving Water Matters More Than High or Low Tide
High tide or low tide is the wrong question. What flips the feeding switch inshore isn't the water's height — it's whether the water is moving.
Read the guide →These cover the basics. For the specifics — live conditions, your state, your setup — that’s what Gus is for. Meet Gus.