About The Last Hunt
Our Hunting Background and Experience
The Last Hunt started in a wall tent at 11,000 feet in the Colorado Rockies during a 2018 elk hunt. After watching another hunter make easily avoidable mistakes with gear selection and shot placement, I realized how much misinformation floods the hunting world. YouTube videos show highlight reels, not the failed stalks and missed opportunities. Magazine articles push expensive gear without honest testing. Hunting forums repeat the same tired advice that worked in 1985 but ignores modern techniques and equipment.
I've spent 22 years hunting across 14 states and three Canadian provinces, pursuing everything from Alabama whitetails to Alaskan caribou. My background includes five years as an assistant guide in Montana, three seasons working for an outfitter in Wyoming, and countless DIY public land hunts where I learned through expensive mistakes. I've killed animals with archery equipment, muzzleloaders, and rifles. I've also blown far more opportunities than I've converted, which taught me more than any successful hunt.
This site shares real experience from the field, not recycled content from other websites. When I recommend a piece of gear, it's because I've used it for multiple seasons in actual hunting conditions. When I explain a technique, it's because I've tested it repeatedly and can describe both when it works and when it fails. The hunting industry sells dreams and hero stories, but hunters need practical information that helps them succeed in realistic situations with normal budgets.
My approach focuses on public land hunting because that's where 90% of hunters actually pursue game. Private land and guided hunts offer advantages that don't translate to most people's situations. I hunt the same crowded national forests, walk-in areas, and BLM lands that you do. The techniques shared here work when you're competing with other hunters, dealing with pressure, and operating without inside knowledge of where animals live. For specific gear recommendations that have proven themselves across multiple seasons, visit our main page where I break down equipment by species and terrain type.
| Species | Hunts Attempted | Animals Harvested | Success Rate | States/Provinces Hunted | Years Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitetail Deer | 87 | 34 | 39% | 8 | 22 |
| Mule Deer | 31 | 9 | 29% | 6 | 15 |
| Elk | 28 | 7 | 25% | 5 | 12 |
| Pronghorn | 12 | 5 | 42% | 4 | 8 |
| Black Bear | 8 | 2 | 25% | 3 | 6 |
| Wild Hog | 15 | 11 | 73% | 4 | 10 |
Our Philosophy on Ethical Hunting and Conservation
Hunting carries responsibilities that extend beyond legal compliance. Every hunter represents the entire hunting community in the eyes of non-hunters and anti-hunters. Poor behavior, unethical shots, and wasted game provide ammunition for those who want to end hunting altogether. The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, developed in the early 1900s, established that wildlife belongs to all citizens and must be managed sustainably through science-based regulations. Hunters fund this system through license fees and excise taxes on equipment.
The Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937 places an 11% excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment, generating over $1.1 billion annually for wildlife conservation. These funds restore habitat, conduct research, and maintain public hunting access. When you buy a box of ammunition or a new rifle, you're directly funding conservation work. According to the Congressional Research Service, hunters and anglers contribute $2.9 billion yearly to conservation through licenses, tags, and excise taxes - more than all environmental groups combined.
Ethical hunting means taking only high-percentage shots where clean kills are virtually certain. It means tracking wounded animals until you recover them or darkness makes continued searching dangerous. It means respecting property boundaries, following all regulations even when nobody's watching, and treating landowners with courtesy whether they allow access or not. I've passed on dozens of shots that were technically possible but not probable, and I've never regretted a shot I didn't take.
We support science-based wildlife management over emotional decision-making. Predator hunting, doe harvests, and youth seasons all serve biological purposes in maintaining healthy populations. Some people find hunting distasteful, which is their right, but the data shows that regulated hunting benefits wildlife populations. States like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin manage deer herds of 1.5+ million animals through hunter harvest, preventing overpopulation, starvation, and vehicle collisions. For more information on shot placement and ethical hunting practices, our FAQ section addresses common scenarios that test hunters' judgment.
| Funding Source | Annual Amount | Primary Uses | Percentage of Total Wildlife Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittman-Robertson Act | $1.1 billion | Habitat, Research, Access | 38% |
| Hunting Licenses/Tags | $900 million | Management, Enforcement | 31% |
| Duck Stamp Sales | $48 million | Wetlands Conservation | 2% |
| Dingell-Johnson Act | $700 million | Aquatic Habitat, Fishing | 24% |
| State Wildlife Grants | $150 million | Non-game Species | 5% |
What You'll Find on This Site
The Last Hunt provides practical hunting information organized around real-world situations. Instead of generic advice that applies to everything and nothing, content focuses on specific scenarios: hunting pressured public land whitetails, planning your first Western elk hunt, selecting optics for mountain hunting, or processing your own game meat. Each article draws from actual experience, including the mistakes and failures that taught valuable lessons.
Gear reviews reflect long-term testing across multiple seasons and conditions. A rifle scope that works perfectly on the range might fog up in mountain weather or lose zero after a fall. Boots that feel comfortable in the store might destroy your feet after five miles of steep terrain. I test equipment the way you'll actually use it - in rain, snow, heat, darkness, and exhaustion. Reviews include both strengths and weaknesses because no product excels at everything.
Technique articles explain not just how to do something, but why it works and when it fails. Understanding the principles behind a technique lets you adapt it to your specific situation rather than blindly following steps that might not apply. For example, calling elk works phenomenally during the September rut but rarely succeeds in October after bulls go silent. Knowing why bulls respond to calls helps you recognize when conditions are right and when you're wasting time.
The site also covers planning, logistics, and the business side of hunting that often gets ignored. How do you research public land hunting areas from home? What's the actual process for applying for out-of-state tags? How do you find a reputable guide or outfitter? These practical questions determine whether your hunt happens at all, yet most hunting content skips straight to hero shots and grip-and-grins. We believe the planning phase deserves as much attention as the hunting phase because poor planning guarantees poor results regardless of your skills.
| Content Category | Number of Articles | Update Frequency | Primary Focus | Experience Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gear Reviews | 45 | Monthly | Long-term testing | All levels |
| Species Guides | 18 | Annually | Biology and behavior | Intermediate |
| Technique Articles | 32 | Bi-monthly | Field methods | All levels |
| State Regulations | 12 | Annually | Licensing and access | Beginner |
| Processing & Cooking | 15 | Quarterly | Meat handling | All levels |
| Trip Planning | 22 | Bi-monthly | Logistics | Beginner/Intermediate |