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 โ
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, andโฆ
Cooking Wild Game: A Beginner's Guide
Cooking the animals you harvest is the natural conclusion of the hunt - and one of its greatest pleasures. Wild game is lean, flavorful, and free of additives,โฆ
Processing Your Own Game Meat
Processing your own game meat is one of the most rewarding parts of hunting. It connects you fully to the food you harvest, saves money, and gives you completeโฆ
How to Field Dress a Deer
Field dressing - removing the internal organs from a harvested deer - is one of the most important skills a hunter can learn. Done promptly and correctly, itโฆ
Squirrel and Rabbit Hunting
If you want to become a better hunter, start with small game. Squirrels and rabbits are abundant, widely distributed, and pursued with simple, affordable gear.โฆ
Duck Hunting: Setup and Strategy
Few hunting experiences match a frosty morning in a duck blind - the whistle of wings overhead, decoys riding the chop, and a Lab quivering with anticipation.โฆ
Find your game
All 166 species โBrowse by type.
Every profile covers identification, habitat, seasons, methods, gear, shot placement, and where the species suits a hunter best.
Big Game
81 species ยท full guidesDetailed habitat, seasons, methods and gear for every big game animal.
Waterfowl
37 species ยท full guidesDetailed habitat, seasons, methods and gear for every waterfowl species.
Upland Birds
26 species ยท full guidesDetailed habitat, seasons, methods and gear for every upland game bird.
Predators & Varmints
10 species ยท full guidesDetailed habitat, seasons, methods and gear for every predator or varmint.
Small Game
12 species ยท 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.