Hunters' Top 5 New Year's Eve Party Conversations

by
posted on December 26, 2015
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
mehall_ah2015_fs.jpg (8)

All in all, if you’re a hunter, it has been a good year. Maybe you got that big whitetail you were chasing, maybe you didn’t. It’s all good when we spend time outdoors with family and friends. Plus, there’s always next season. So as we get set to gather with family and friends one last time in 2015, here are the top five chats I’ll be having. Happy New Year!

Favorite Hunting Gifts: Who got what? Maybe you got a new shotgun or rifle. Or maybe your stocking contained a unique piece of gear. Or, whether you missed your big buck and want to hone your skills come Jan. 2 or you just want to block out the party’s background noise to focus on hunting conversations, maybe that new Walker’s Game Ear hearing protection and enhancement muff will come in handy sooner than expected!

2016 Western Big Game Application Deadlines: It’s never too early to start planning for next season. Who wants to go where, and when, and for what species? And which hunting method will be the ticket?

Trail-Camera Images and Trophy Shots: Do you have before and after big-buck or elk photos to share in the form of trail-cam pics and trophy shots? Or, if your buck outsmarted you this season, flashing that handy trail-cam pic no doubt will lead to a chat about winter scouting—especially if you’re strategically placed cameras indicate he’s still there!

Getting Kids Involved in Hunting: Is it time to get the young person in your life into hunting? Who in the room is aware of NRA’s Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC)? The most comprehensive youth hunting program in North America, YHEC is open to anyone who has completed hunter-safety training at the state or provincial level. Conducted under simulated hunting conditions, it provides the best practical environment for reinforcing and testing a young hunter's skills in eight events, including rifle, bow and muzzleloader activities and map-and-compass orienteering. Visit yhec.nra.org for a copy of the YHEC Guidebook and official rules and regulations or contact NRA Hunter Services: 800-492-4868 (option 3); [email protected].

2016 Elections: Last but never least, with the approach of Election Day 2016, we hunters and shooters must get set to harness our collective power and get out the pro-Second Amendment votes. Anti-gunners and anti-hunters are using mass media and social media as weapons in a cultural war aimed at outlawing our rights. Help NRA-ILA to elect NRA-endorsed candidates on Nov. 8 by visiting nraila.org/take-action.

Latest

Massaro Cleaning
Massaro Cleaning

Clean 'em Up—Gun Cleaning 101 for Hunters

Ever wonder how often to clean your gun? How about what to clean it with? How about what to clean it with if you're hunting at 40-below? Phil Massaro answers all these questions and more, in this clean-freaks primer.

Hunting Show Attendance Shattering Records

Attendance records have been shattered at this year’s major hunting shows. The latest, Ducks Unlimited’s DUX (Ducks Unlimited Expo), set a new high-water mark in Memphis, Tenn. According to the Commercial Appeal, the July to Aug. 2 event attracted roughly 30,000 attendees. The 2025 event, also held in Memphis, drew a crowd that numbered nearly 20,000.

The Colonel’s Caliber in an Interesting Rifle—.35 Whelen

“Only accurate rifles are interesting.” Townsend Whelen

New for 2026: Beretta A400 Solo

Beretta USA has launched the A400 Solo, a new semi-automatic shotgun engineered for hunters who demand performance in the harshest conditions. Built on Beretta's A400 platform and packed with the company's latest advancements, the A400 Solo combines Beretta's B-Link Pro gas-operating system, Steelium barrel technology and Kick-Off Plus recoil reduction system into one dependable platform.

Know How: Find Your Long-Range Limit

Curious where your ethical limit is in the field? Mark Kayser shows you exactly how to find it.

Smith & Wesson Honors America's 250th Anniversary with Limited-Edition Model 1854

Smith & Wesson has announced the launch of its America 250 Limited Edition Model 1854 rifle, created to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.