Field guides for the game you hunt.
Honest, evidence-based profiles of big game and small game - habitat, seasons, methods, gear, and how to actually fill your tag. No fluff, no hype.
Fresh reads
All articles →The October Lull, Explained
The mid-October slump in whitetail sightings is real for many hunters, but GPS-collar research suggests deer do not stop moving - they move differently. What actually changes in early to mid October, and how hunters adjust instead of waiting it out.
Fixed vs Mechanical Broadheads
Fixed blades forgive less in flight and more on impact; mechanicals fly like field points and spend energy opening. How the choice actually depends on your setup speed, your shot distances and your game, plus the legality question you have to answer locally.
How to Make Mock Scrapes
A mock scrape is a hand-made copy of a buck's signpost - a pawed patch under a licking branch - used to inventory deer on camera and draw movement toward a spot you can hunt. Where to put one, when to make it, and the scent rules to check first.
Why You Missed That Deer
Blown opportunities on deer trace back to five causes - wind you ignored, movement it caught, a rushed shot, a range you guessed, and pressure you did not know you were applying. An honest post-mortem of each.
Blood Trailing A Wounded Deer
Most lost deer are lost in the first twenty minutes, by pushing too soon and by walking on the sign. Here is how experienced trackers read the hit, how long they wait, and what the rules actually allow.
Hunting Ethics and Conservation
Hunting is far more than a way to fill a freezer. At its best, it is a relationship with wild places and wild animals built on respect, responsibility, and…
Find your game
All 178 species →
Browse by type.
Every profile covers identification, habitat, seasons, methods, gear, shot placement, and where the species suits a hunter best.
Big Game
81 species · full guidesDetailed habitat, seasons, methods and gear for every big game animal.
Waterfowl
40 species · full guidesDetailed habitat, seasons, methods and gear for every waterfowl species.
Upland Birds
30 species · full guidesDetailed habitat, seasons, methods and gear for every upland game bird.
Predators & Varmints
10 species · full guidesDetailed habitat, seasons, methods and gear for every predator or varmint.
Small Game
17 species · full guidesDetailed habitat, seasons, methods and gear for every small game animal.
Frequently asked questions.
The things new hunters ask us most.
I'm new to hunting. Where should I start?
Start with your state's rules and a hunter-education course, then one species and one method. Our first deer season guide lays out the whole path for the most common starting point, and Start Here covers the groundwork.
Are Huntervale's guides free to read?
Yes. Every species profile and how-to on the site is free, with no login or paywall. The site is funded through clearly labelled affiliate links on gear recommendations, which never change the advice.
What cartridge or caliber should I use for a given animal?
Match the cartridge to the animal's size and the range you will actually shoot, and check what your state legally allows first. Our cartridge guide pairs game classes with ethical energy minimums and example loads, alongside the state regulations table.
How do I find the hunting regulations for my state?
Regulations change every year and are set by each state, so always confirm with the official agency. Our regulations directory links straight to all 50 state wildlife agencies in one place.
What do I do with an animal after a successful hunt?
Field care starts the moment the animal is down. Our shot to freezer guide walks the full path from recovery and field dressing through aging to the kitchen, so the meat is handled safely.