North American Whitetail

WELCOME TO THE MARCH 2026 issue of North American Whitetail — our first issue of the year and one packed with exciting deer hunting content, land management info and new gear announcements. This month’s feature articles run the full spectrum of the whitetail lifestyle — from cutting-edge vertical bow technology to the unglamorous but essential work of keeping farming equipment running, to the kind of once-in-a-lifetime buck stories that remind us why we endure long seasons and longer odds. It’s a strong start to 2026, and I hope you enjoy this glimpse into what the NAW team has put together. ENGINEERING THE FUTURE: XPEDITION’S NEXLITE SERIES First, in this month’s “Gear Wise” column we dive into one of the most talked-about bow launches of the year. The heart of the…

IF YOU’RE A DIE-HARD DEER hunter (you probably are if you picked up this magazine), March and April are two months that don’t offer you much opportunity. Sure, you could go search for any remining shed antlers in the early spring woods, or even get a jumpstart on management projects. But as for hunting opportunities, it feels like we’re miles away from that! Still, have no fear! The NAW TV team is dedicated to helping you beat the off-season blues this spring. Although we also aren’t chasing whitetails, you can relive the action of last deer season by tuning into the Outdoor Channel to catch the latest episodes of NAW TV. Featured above is fan-favorite Stan Potts with a beautiful Illinois 10-pointer he took on-camera while his wife, Brenda, filmed…

IT TAKES EQUIPMENT to work the land, whether you’re using a tractor, oxen or a pot load of young’uns. And it doesn’t matter whether that equipment is a $20,000 low-till drill or a shovel — sooner or later, it’s going to break. That’s not bad luck. That’s farming. Anyone who manages land long enough learns that truth the hard way. Farming implements don’t fail when it’s convenient. They break on Sunday afternoons, the night before rain, or halfway through a job when you’re already behind. When that happens, progress stops cold. And in that moment, the difference between momentum and misery often comes down to one skill — the ability to weld. I didn’t grow up thinking welding was an optional hobby. On working farms and ranches, welding is not…

WHEN DR. JAMES C. KROLL SET OUT TO TACKLE multiple welding jobs on his ranch, he turned to a machine built for exactly that kind of versatility: the Miller Multimatic 215 Pro. This compact multiprocess welder punches far above its weight, offering MIG, flux‑cored, DC stick and DC TIG capabilities in a single 120/240‑volt unit, making it an ideal fit for land managers, DIY fabricators and serious outdoorsmen who demand reliability in the field. Weighing roughly 35 pounds, the Multimatic 215 Pro is highly portable, yet powerful enough to weld steel and aluminum up to 3/8 inch thick. Its Auto‑Set feature provides predefined weld settings across processes and materials, allowing users of any skill level to get started quickly and dial in clean, consistent results. Its Smooth‑Start technology eliminates popping…

XPEDITION ARCHERY is relentless in its quest to build better-engineered, high-end compound hunting bows. For 2026, the brand has doubled down on that reputation with the launch of its new NexLite series, available in the compact NexLite 30 and the longer, more forgiving NexLite 33. At first glance, these bows look like a continuation of Xpedition’s tradition of clean, muscular risers and precision-machined components. But make no mistake: the NexLite series represents a significant leap forward, not just another annual refresh. At the core of the line is a new material, a redesigned riser, a refined cam system and a modular design aimed directly at bowhunters who demand bulletproof performance with modern tunability. MAGNITE: THE HEART OF THE NEW NEXLITE Every few years, a bow manufacturer introduces a material that…

IT ALL STARTED ONE EVENING when my cousin Sean and I were out scouting, looking for a place to hang one of my trail cams. We were exploring some unlikely spots for elk — country that looked promising on Google Earth, with a couple of good water sources and high ground shaded by mature poplars. As I slowed my truck, we noticed a well-worn game trail disappearing into the bush. We hiked in and hadn’t gone far when we came across freshly dug anthills, with ants scrambling to recover from what looked like a recent bear attack. Sean and I exchanged a look that said “this could get interesting,” and kept going. The first water source we hit had multiple trails leading in. We followed one next to another torn-up…