Nathan Ratchford

2 months ago | themeateater.com | Matthew Every |Ryan Callaghan |Steven Rinella |Nathan Ratchford

Shooting birds is a perishable skill. It’s not like riding a bike, and I’m reminded of that opening day of duck season every year. So what is a bird hunter to do during the months between one hunting season and the next. Sure, you can shoot clays, but clays don’t juke and dive and speed up when you least expect it. And, besides, you can’t eat clay pigeons. Here’s the good news. You don’t have to stop hunting birds just because the fall is over.

Jan 14, 2025 | themeateater.com | Nathan Ratchford |Ryan Callaghan |Noah Davis |Steven Rinella

There is an innate curiosity in us all, hunters especially. We are driven by the same question that drove early settlers deeper into the wilderness, just beyond that next ridgeline, to carve out their own place on the land. But having room to roam is increasingly challenging these days, as cities overfill and the hills that were once unspoiled succumb to blaze orange.

Nov 12, 2024 | ducks.org | Nathan Ratchford

By Nathan RatchfordAnticipation is building across the Mid-South as hunters prepare for the start of 2024–25 duck seasons across the region. Recent rains have helped alleviate drought, refilling wetlands and drawing early arriving waterfowl. Habitat conditions across Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and southeast Missouri are much improved, setting the stage for a promising opening day.

Nov 7, 2024 | themeateater.com | Nathan Ratchford |Ryan Callaghan |Noah Davis |Ben Long

There is simply nothing like the grouse woods in the fall. The fire of color, the explosion from thick cover, and the taste—ah, the taste—ruffed grouse rivals that of all game birds. But bringing the king of game birds to the table is no easy task. Ruffed grouse have spent thousands of years evolving to avoid every predator, us included. To hunt them successfully, especially in the eastern and midwestern parts of the country, you need to be smart, skilled, and a tad bit lucky.

Oct 9, 2024 | gundogmag.com | Nathan Ratchford

This new tailored-fit field jacket from Beckbe is an update on the 6oz Tensaw jacket of yesterday and is designed for early to mid-season fall hunting. It is as light as can be but holds up against the elements and brush of quail country. It wears beautifully and is just at home in the pine woods as it is in town. Beckbe also has many waxed canvas jacket options for female hunters, such as the Blakeley, which offers a tailored fit without sacrificing functionality.