Field guides for the game you hunt.
Profiles of big game and small game: habitat, seasons, methods, gear and what it takes to fill your tag.
178 game species profiles and 102 how-to guides so far.
Fresh reads
All articles
Muzzleloader Hunting: A Beginner's Guide
A reading guide for hunters new to muzzleloader seasons: how flintlock, percussion and in-line guns differ, what your state's regulations decide, and what the hunter education course says about loading, misfires, unloading and carrying a muzzleloader.
Best Binoculars for Wildlife Viewing
Four binoculars for watching wildlife compared from their makers' specs (field of view, close focus, weight and glass), 8x or 10x, and what to pack for Yellowstone or a safari, where you watch from a distance.
Reading Topo Maps for Hunting
How to read contour lines on a topographic map to find the ridges, saddles, benches and draws that deer and elk use, then check those marks against aerial photos, the wind and a walk on the ground.
How to Care for Hunting Boots
Hunting boots last longer when they are cleaned, dried slowly at room temperature, conditioned or re-proofed with the right product for their leather, and stored somewhere stable. The routine for leather, membrane and rubber boots, following REI's leather-boot care guide and the Alaska Bowhunter Safety Course.
Reaching Your Stand Before Dawn
Getting to a morning setup in the dark: why hunter education recommends tree stands only in daylight, ground-level alternatives, planning and marking the route, leaving a hunting plan, a haul line and a fall-arrest system attached from the ground, and the rules to check on markers and legal hours.
Best Chicken Coops With Runs
How much coop and run space hens need, from extension services, then four chicken coops with runs compared from their makers' specs, with the makers' hen counts checked against that space.
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.