How often do you stop and think about what an animal has to survive just to make it through another day?
A 5 ½ year old, 200-inch whitetail has already beaten the odds countless times just to reach that age and size. A mallard banded in 1981 made it an incredible 27 years before it met its maker, despite the average lifespan of a wild mallard being just 2 to 3 years.
Then there are the fawns, poults and ducklings just trying to make it through their first few weeks of life. For a turkey poult, only about 10% to 15% make it through those first few weeks. For a whitetail fawn, it’s roughly 25% to 50%. Ducklings fare a little better, but only about 30% to 50% make it to the point where they can fly.
Cold weather. Predators. Disease. Finding food. Finding water. Avoiding danger. Every day brings another challenge.
It’s pretty incredible when you stop and think about what wildlife withstands just to roam this earth.
— The Hook & Barrel Family
Here’s the rundown of today’s email:
➤ The Biggest Typical Whitetail in U.S. History
➤ Jessica Taylor Byers | Bowhunting, Elk & Mentoring Women
➤ Your Next Hunting Boot Might Feel More Like a Running Shoe
➤ The Early-Season Whitetail Moves You Need to Make
➤ Fishing Apps Worth Having on Your Phone
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Now, here’s the latest from hookandbarrel.com:
A massive Illinois buck killed by Sam Aiuppa in 1991 and stored in a basement for 32 years has officially become the largest typical whitetail ever taken in the United States.
Jessica Taylor Byers talks bowhunting elk, missing a bull at five yards, training for an Alaska mountain goat hunt, joining Montana Knife Company, and mentoring women in the outdoors.
What happens when you start asking yourself what’s possible instead of where the limit lies? You stop looking for the stopping point and start looking for the next challenge. That idea runs through every page of this issue.
LaCrosse is taking its Alphaburly rubber boot line in a lighter, more athletic direction with the new Alphaburly Aero. Debuting in Fall 2026, the boot adds AeroForm cushioning, a new traction system and multiple Solarcore insulated options.
Early-season whitetail bucks can be remarkably predictable—until weather, food or hunting pressure changes the pattern. This playbook shows how to adjust your setup around water, feeding routes, changing conditions and access.
From detailed lake maps and bite forecasts to tournament scoring and catch logs, these nine fishing apps take very different approaches to helping anglers make the most of their time on the water.
🗓️ UP NEXT: This Thursday, dial it in for our weekly INSIDER email, full of the latest guns and gear from the industry’s top manufacturers.
OH, and before you go.. 👇
