This guide walks through pre‑season maintenance, cold‑weather setup, safe operation, and carbon‑monoxide precautions for portable and standby generators so they’ll run reliably through winter storms. It includes model‑specific service tips, placement and fueling guidance, a CO detector and emergency action plan, and a concise pre‑start checklist for use during outages.
January has a way of stripping things down to what really works outside. The easy days are gone; what’s left are short windows of daylight, crusted snow, and cold that settles deep into metal and bone. For many of us, it’s also when the calendar opens up—deer tags to fill where seasons stretch on, predators to run, and hard-water fishing finally coming into its own.
This month we lean into that reality with a heavy mix of late-season hunting and serious winter fishing. We look at deer season extensions and post-season regulations, how to read late-winter food sources for whitetails, and where the predator opportunities are when other seasons close. We also dig into gear that truly matters when the mercury drops: shotguns and rifles that run in the cold, boots and clothing systems that actually keep you moving, and the licenses and frameworks that govern your time afield.
On the ice and winter rivers, we take a practical approach to yellow perch, walleye, pike, crappie, trout, and panfish. That means safe ice access and thickness checks, drilling holes with the right auger, picking line and leaders built for freezing guides, and keeping bait lively when the air hurts to breathe. We match that with checklists for essential ice fishing gear, sled builds to haul it all, and straight talk on staying warm enough to fish from dawn to dark.
For those camping or traveling in this weather, we cover hot tent versus cold tent decisions, sleeping systems for subzero nights, cooking and melting snow in camp, and reading snowpack and avalanche terrain before you stake a spot. Around all of it runs a strong thread of winter survival and preparedness—from storm-ready homes and vehicles, to bug-out bags, to cold-weather layering that prevents frostbite and hypothermia whether you’re on a First Day Hike, a national park road trip, or just knocking the rust off with a local snowshoe.
However you meet January, these stories are built to help you stay safe, stay warm, and still get the most out of the hardest days of the year.
– Jeff Bilbrey, Editor-In-Chief
Winter bird behavior funnels ducks and geese into narrow open-water seams and sheltered spots, so reading the cues lets you hunt faster and more safely.
Cold weather changes duck and goose behavior, pushing birds toward open water and conserving energy. The article lays out tighter, more precise calling and close-range
Late November bowhunting requires adapting to post-rut deer behavior, focusing on predictable feeding patterns near food sources. Hunters should dress in layered, scent-controlled gear and
Deer hunting is a popular outdoor activity that offers a chance to connect with nature and contribute to wildlife management. This beginner’s guide provides essential
Field-tested, practical advice for keeping live minnows alive during cold, windy midwinter ice-fishing. Covers pre-trip preparation (totes, batteries, pre-chilling), on-ice handling and rigs to protect
This article compares ice fishing and open-water winter angling in the Midwest, highlighting who is showing up, how gear and tech have evolved, and the
A tight, field‑tested checklist for one‑day January ice trips on Midwest lakes that focuses on safety, shelter, tools, electronics, and clothing. The article prioritizes practical,
This practical how-to walks weekend anglers through choosing spots, rigging reliable tip-ups, designing effective spreads, and keeping safe on midwinter Midwest lakes. It covers depth
This guide explains how to find and register for America250-linked 250-mile challenges, what different state programs typically require for verification, and where to look for
This field-tested checklist helps you plan and pack for a 2–3 night stay in a simple winter cabin with limited or intermittent power. It outlines
This article explains how R‑value and insulation determine how effectively sleeping pads keep you warm in cold, windy, or icy conditions, and shows how R-values
Five short, low‑stress winter‑camp activities and skill drills designed to keep bodies warm, build confidence, and lift spirits during cold, wet weekends. Each activity includes
This guide walks through pre‑season maintenance, cold‑weather setup, safe operation, and carbon‑monoxide precautions for portable and standby generators so they’ll run reliably through winter storms.
This guide walks you through calculating and assembling a two-week winter food and water reserve, plus where and how to store it for cold-weather conditions.
A concise field guide with plain, tested rules to prevent, recognize, and treat hypothermia and frostbite during Midwest hunting, ice-fishing, skiing, or hiking. It covers
A concise, photo-friendly checklist of seven tasks to reduce damage and downtime from winter storms on a small homestead. The guide covers securing structures and
