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Research shows that scent evokes memories and past emotions with more potency than any other sense. A psychologist would say that is why the scent of leather makes me think of football; why fresh-cut grass evokes memories of summer; and why one whiff of my mother-in-law's perfume terrifies the hell out of me.
It also probably explains the decades-old love affair sportsmen have shared with Hoppe's No. 9. Not only does it have a naturally appealing smell, but it stirs memories of times spent afield, a favorite over/under and maybe even the first time Dad showed us how to clean a gun. I love the stuff and, when I'm not trying to dab it behind my significant other's ears, I'm applying it to my guns. Problem is I only get to enjoy its scent wafting through my gun room for an hour or two before it's gone. Finally, though, Hoppe's has created the product sportsmen have demanded for so long: A Hoppe's No. 9 air freshener!
Let's celebrate its release by naming our other all-time favorite outdoor smells. I've listed my top 10 below. I look forward to reading some of yours.
Is hunting becoming "cool" again? In an era when America’s top podcaster and cage-fighting commentator, Joe Rogan, talking hunting with Yellowstone superstar Luke Grimes seems almost commonplace, you'd have to think that the popularity of hunting is on the ascendency. How can we help it along? Read on, for Frank Miniter's thoughts on breaking hunting back into the mainstream.
The 7x57mm Mauser and the .308 Winchester are two of the most versatile and popular cartridges to make the jump from military to field use. Which makes the more sensible choice for the big game hunter? Follow along as Phil Massaro takes a dive into this pair of classics.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) recently awarded a $400,000 grant to the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) to fund three state-led projects aimed at conserving, restoring and enhancing big game seasonal habitat and migration corridors in Nevada, Washington and Wyoming.
If you legally can use a suppressor, is it becoming rude not to? A recent hunt in New Zealand, where suppressors are almost required equipment, got Brad Fenson thinking about the question. Follow along for the pros and cons of cans, as well as a discussion of the changing cultural norms surrounding their use.