Author: Braxton Taylor
Every hunter dreams of seeing his dog following a line on a 250-yard blind retrieve, responding to hand signals to perfection, and delivering it to hand. Witnessing that fills you with pride, knowing all the training that went into it, and just what a big accomplishment it is.But to get to that level, it’s important to take it one small step at a time, being careful not to throw too much, too fast. For a good portion of the training, the blinds need to be less hidden and placed where he will see them once he gets close.Building TrustYou want…
Almost 20 years ago, I brought home my first Spaniel. I’d just graduated from school and was eager to bring home a “hunting buddy.” My intentions were good, and my enthusiasm was high, so I immediately got to work “training” that puppy.I had a very basic understanding of dog training at the time, and assumed it was a simple process: make the puppy do a behavior, then say “good dog,” then repeat over and over until it was an automatic response. I stuck with this process for quite some time, and I have to say, the results were not nearly…
President Donald Trump’s plan to use a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar as an interim Air Force One would produce massive security risks since the administration will likely forgo needed modifications to make the jet secure, according to former defense officials. Overhauling the Qatari royal family’s Boeing 747-8 to meet the rigorous standards required of a U.S. presidential aircraft would take years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars. But Trump wants the jet by the end of this year, according to the New York Times—a timeline former defense officials say is unrealistic.“There are going to be huge security risks…
As someone who can barely be in the same house as a cat, I understand the frustration of an allergy to pets. While I’m no Steven Rinella, who is widely known as a cat guy, I wouldn’t be opposed to a tabby in the house, especially because it would make one of my daughters very, very happy.I just don’t want to have to take an antihistamine every day, or suffer the stuffy nose, itchy eyes, and general misery of being with something that my body rejects. People who are allergic to dogs feel the same way, and they have options.Some…
President Donald Trump is embarking on a trip this week to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, where his agenda includes Air Force One replacements, crypto deals, and the Gulf states’ desires for U.S. concessions on nuclear and microchip security restrictions. Yet lying in the background of this trip is a new strategic and technological reality: the Persian Gulf is quickly turning into China’s favorite testbed for the next-generation of digital infrastructure.As a key part of China’s “Digital Silk Road 2.0,” the region’s richest capitals have signed a cascade of contracts with Chinese companies over the past two years that promise to deliver everything required for…
X Vision Optics has just unveiled its new Shadow 100 Digital Night Vision Mini Viewer. This newer and updated pocket-size night-vision viewing device features an extended night-vision viewing range of 400 yards and an upgraded high-resolution IPS (In Plane Switching) display. The Shadow 100 Mini Night Vision Viewer is also equipped with an 8X digital zoom and seven different IR intensity/brightness settings. Its size makes it useful for hunters, campers, hikers, tactical professionals or general outdoor enthusiasts. Unlike the Shadow 100’s predecessor, which used thin film-transistor technology, the upgraded IPS display in this new model makes for a better end…
TAMPA, Florida–Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth has satellite imagery for virtually every corner of the globe. But what keeps him awake at night are not the threats he knows about. It’s the ones he or the intelligence analysts under him might miss. “Warning is the big behemoth for us,” the head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency told Defense One on the sidelines of the Global SOF event here, “When you’re talking, ‘Are we keeping an eye on all these complexities in the world? Have you established a baseline everywhere? Will you be able to warn that something is anomalous and prevent surprise?’…
Behind Trump’s Yemen retreat: The U.S. military nearly lost “several” F-16s and an F-35 fighter jet to air defense systems during Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s aborted Operation Rough Rider, U.S. officials told the New York Times. The air campaign ran from March 15 to May 5, when President Trump decided he “had had enough,” according to the Times.Trump ordered a halt to those U.S. airstrikes on May 5. The following day he informed reporters at the White House, “We will stop the bombings and they have capitulated. But more importantly, we will take their word: they say they will not be…
Hornady is introducing the new 25 Creedmoor cartridge. Recently accepted by Sporting Arms and Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI), the 25 Creedmoor continues the legacy and performance of the Creedmoor family of cartridges. Consumer ammunition offerings will feature bullets selected to deliver the shot, no matter if it is for hunting, competition shooting or other long-range-shooting applications. “The 25 Creedmoor is the end result of our constant pursuit of maximizing ballistic potential.” said Jayden Quinlan, senior ballistician at Hornady. “This cartridge fills that competitive niche between 6mm and 6.5mm—providing shooters the absolute best blend of moderate recoil, flat trajectory, and superior wind…
Why are lever guns so popular all of a sudden? Maybe it’s because more and more Americans are living in restrictive states which drastically curtail the right to keep and bear some sort of arms. Or maybe it’s because of recent popular TV shows which show off lever-action guns left, right and center. To be honest, we think it’s because they’re outrageously fun to shoot. Whatever the reason is, there’s never been a better time to own a lever-action firearm. Fightlite | Herring Model 2024A lever-action rifle that uses a rotating bolt like an AR-pattern firearm, the Model 2024 uses…