Game & Fish Midwest

Every month in Game & Fish, you'll discover the best hotspots throughout your region for hunting and fishing. We'll also bring you your state's latest outdoor news, plus plenty of how-to tactics and special strategies designed to make you a more successful hunter and angler.

IN MEMORIAM: CHUCK SMOCK (1964-2023)

Game & Fish Midwest

TRENDING NOW AT GAME & FISH ONLINE • GET TIPS, SEE GEAR AND CELEBRATE THE LIFESTYLE AT GAFMAG.COM

MOON TIMES

STRAIGHT-WALL STRAIGHT TALK • WITH HISTORICALLY RESTRICTIVE SHOTGUN-ONLY STATES CHANGING THEIR DEER HUNTING REGULATIONS, STRAIGHT-WALL CARTRIDGES ARE EXPERIENCING A TRENDY RESURGENCE.

CHANGE OF PLANS • FOCUSING YOUR ATTENTION ON OCTOBER MAY HELP YOU ARROW THAT TROPHY.

DIY DUMMIES • MAKE YOUR OWN REALISTIC DEAD-BIRD ANALOGS TO GET YOUR DOG READY TO RETRIEVE THE REAL THING.

Reconsidering THE LIST • THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT TURNS 50 THIS YEAR, AND AGE HAS BROUGHT IT SOME UNEXPECTED FLEXIBILITY EVEN AS IT REMAINS AS POLITICAL AS EVER.

A Matter of PERSPECTIVE • THE SHIRAS MAY BE THE SMALLEST OF NORTH AMERICA’S MOOSE SPECIES, BUT HUNTING THEM IS STILL A BIG DEAL.

MOOSE MEDICINE • Choose tough, heavy bullets and bright scopes.

AROUND THE MIDWEST • A SAMPLING OF THE REGION’S BEST HUNTING AND FISHING OPPORTUNITIES THIS MONTH

FLIP THE SWITCH • BRING A TACTICAL MINDSET AND TECHNIQUES TO YOUR UPLAND HUNTING.

GETTING SKINNY • LAKES AND MARSHES RECEIVE MUCH OF THE ATTENTION FROM WATERFOWL HUNTERS, BUT SHALLOW RIVERS CAN BE JUST AS PRODUCTIVE—IF YOU CAN ACCESS THEM.

SHALLOW RUNNER • How one diehard waterfowler built a specialized duck boat for shallow rivers

FOOD FOR THOUGHT • IT’S BEEN SAID THAT THE WAY TO A MAN’S HEART IS THROUGH HIS STOMACH. UPLAND HUNTERS SHOULD HEED THIS SAME ADAGE WHEN SEARCHING FOR RUFFED GROUSE.

GROUSE GETTERS • Gun and load pairings, as well as other gear, to bag more ruffies this season

A Tale of TWO OCTOBERS • IN ORDER TO PUNCH A TAG THIS MONTH, YOU MUST BE PREPARED TO ALTER YOUR HUNTING STRATEGY AS BUCK BEHAVIOR CHANGES.

ROLLING ON THE RIVERS • EVEN AS TEMPERATURES COOL ACROSS THE MIDWEST, THE ACTION FOR RIVER WALLEYES AND SAUGERS HEATS UP. LUCKILY, THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO CATCH THESE FIRED-UP FISH.

PITCH PERFECT • Essential setups for pitching baits to river walleyes and saugers on key structures

PHEASANT PARADISE • SOUTH DAKOTA IS THE MIDWEST’S UNDISPUTED RINGNECK MECCA, AND IT SEES LOTS OF HUNTING PRESSURE AS A RESULT. THOSE WHO PUSH FARTHER WEST IN THE STATE CAN FIND FIELDS TO THEMSELVES AND PLENTY OF BIRDS.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO • Tips for planning a SoDak pheasant adventure

KODIAK on my BACK • HUNTING ALASKA’S KODIAK ISLAND FOR CARIBOU AND BLACKTAIL DEER IS PART ADVENTURE, PART WORKOUT.

PH PRECISION • The Burris Veracity PH enables heads-up elevation corrections.

PRECISION BOAT PERFORMANCE MADE EASY • THE ZIPWAKE DYNAMIC TRIM-CONTROL SYSTEM OPTIMIZES A BOAT’S RIDE AND EFFICIENCY.

THE ART OF THE ZERO • EXPERT SHOOTING ADVICE DEPENDS ON THE EXPERT.