Ethan Caldwell

Picture this: you are 22 feet up in a treestand, the morning light is just starting to filter through the hardwoods, and a mature buck is working his way along the ridge below you. You range him at what looks like 30 yards, draw back, settle your pin, and release. The arrow sails over his … Read more

Predator hunting after dark used to mean relying on moonlight, red lamps, or a good set of night vision goggles. But when a coyote is skulking through tall grass at 200 yards in pitch black, those tools fall short. That is exactly where thermal scopes for predator hunting change the entire game. I have spent … Read more

Feral hogs cause over $2.5 billion in agricultural damage every year in the United States alone. If you live in Texas, Arkansas, Florida, or any of the other states where wild pigs have taken over, you already know the destruction a sounder of hogs can do to a property in a single night. You also … Read more

Finding the right riflescope for deer hunting can be the difference between filling your tag and watching a buck walk away at last light. I have spent countless hours in tree stands, ground blinds, and still-hunting through thick timber testing optics in every condition Mother Nature throws at you during deer season. The best rifle … Read more

Elk hunting pushed me to think harder about my optics than almost any other pursuit. When you are crawling up a ridge at 5:30 in the morning, barely able to see your hand in front of your face, and a bull bugles 300 yards away across a drainage, your scope either gives you a shot … Read more

Mounting a red dot sight on a pistol used to be something only competitive shooters did. That changed fast. Over the past few years, red dot technology has gotten smaller, tougher, and more affordable, making it practical for everyday carry, duty use, and home defense. I have spent months testing and comparing the best red … Read more

If you have ever squinted downrange trying to figure out whether that last shot was an X-ring hit or a flyer, you already know why a good spotting scope matters. The best spotting scopes for target shooting let you see bullet holes at 100, 200, even 500 yards without budging from your bench. That saves … Read more

If you have ever squinted downrange at 600 yards trying to figure out whether your last shot was an X-ring hit or a flyer, you already know why a quality spotting scope matters. I have spent the last several months testing different spotters at my local 1,000-yard range, and the difference between a good spotting … Read more

Spotting game across a wide valley at first light is one of the most demanding tests for any optic. I have spent countless mornings on ridgelines in the West, glassing for elk and mule deer with scopes that ranged from impressive to borderline useless. The difference between filling a tag and going home empty often … Read more

If you have ever stood over a 150-yard approach shot wondering whether to hit a smooth 7-iron or a hard 8, you already know why golfers everywhere are searching for the best rangefinders for golf. Bushnell estimates that 99.3% of PGA Tour professionals carry a laser rangefinder during practice rounds, and for good reason. Knowing … Read more