The MeatEater

I watched my buzzbait disappear in an explosion of water when one of the biggest largemouths I’d seen surged out from under a tangle of hyacinths. My heart skipped several beats as I set the hook, and the fish immediately made a run for deeper water. For a few seconds, that fish peeled line off my spinning reel before it turned back toward the boat.

I remember thinking, “don’t screw this up.” That’s about the time my line snapped. The sudden loss of tension nearly pitched me overboard. The fish was gone. I said a few colorful words and spent the next ten minutes blaming everything under the sun. Maybe the fish was smarter than me. Maybe I tied a bad knot. Maybe it was just bad luck. But the real culprit was the fishing line.

Line failure is one of the most overlooked problems in fishing. We sharpen hooks, obsess over spinner bait colors, and spend hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars on rods and reels. But we’ll keep using the same fishing line year after year and expect it to work just like new. Sunlight, heat, abrasion, salt, and simple wear slowly take their toll on your fishing line, even when you aren’t using it.

Fishing line doesn’t fail overnight. It starts weakening long before you realize it. And you don’t have to fish with it for it to weaken, either. It can collect dust in the garage, ride around in the bed of your truck, or slowly degrade on a boat deck. Here is the lineup of the usual suspects when it comes to the death of fishing line.

Every trip across a dock post, laydown, oyster bed, or underwater rock leaves tiny nicks and scratches in your line. Every rub against a boat deck or a truck bed does the same thing. All of those tiny little wounds add up over time.

Monofilament line and UV exposure don’t play well together. Ultraviolet rays gradually break down the polymers that give mono its strength and flexibility, turning perfectly good line brittle over time. Once that happens, the line is more prone to breaking, even if it looks perfectly good to the naked eye.

When it comes to fishing line, heat rapidly speeds up the aging process. A fishing rod that spends the summer in a hot garage, truck cab, or boat locker is baking under temperatures far hotter than most people realize. Heat weakens fishing line and also increases line memory, particularly in monofilament and fluorocarbon.

Speaking of line memory, when line spends a lot of time coiled up on a reel, it starts to mold to that shape. Some line memory is normal, but when it gets out of hand (think line rolling off your reel looking like a 1970s Slinky), it can cause a whole host of problems, including tangles, casting issues, missed strikes, and crappy lure action.

Briny water is extra hard on fishing line. Salt crystals form along the line as water evaporates. This not only corrodes reels and other hardware, but acts like sandpaper on your fishing line.

You don’t have to abuse your line for it to degrade. Every cast, snag, hook set, and fish puts a little bit of stress on your line. That damage adds up after a while.

Every knot creates a stress point. Repeated tightening, retieing, and fighting fish gradually weaken the line near the knot, which is one reason many break-offs occur surprisingly close to the lure.

There isn’t a fishing line on the market that’s invincible. Think of fishing line like truck tires. Some wear out faster than others, but eventually they all need replacing.

Mono is tough, cheap, and will catch plenty of fish. But it’s also quick to show wear. Sunlight and heat will work a number on this type of line.

Fluorocarbon is a little pricier, but generally holds up to sun exposure better than mono. Things like dock pylons, rocks, shell beds, and hard structure will put a beating on this type of line. It also develops some solid memory over time. Just because fluorocarbon costs more doesn’t mean it will last forever.

Braided fishing line has a well-earned tough guy reputation. It shrugs off UV rays, has little memory, and can last for years under good conditions. That doesn’t mean braid is bulletproof. It can fray after scraping rocks, docks, and wood. When it starts to look fuzzy, swap it out.

The answer to that question: It depends.

Monofilament that sees heavy use should probably be replaced once per season. You may want to swap it out sooner if it does a lot of sunbathing. Fluorocarbon can sometimes last longer, but if you fish around rocks, shell beds, or heavy structure, you may want to swap it out more often.

Braid generally lasts longer than its mono and fluorocarbon cousins. But wear matters more than age when it comes to braid.

A better habit than circling a date on the calendar to change your line is to check it regularly. Run your fingers over it. Look for rough spots, fraying, discoloration, or excessive memory. If it feels off, it’s better to replace it than gamble by fishing with it and break off on a lunker. Fishing line is one of the cheapest pieces of gear most anglers own. It’s also one of the most expensive to ignore, especially when you have a big fish on the line.

Changing out fishing line is boring but necessary maintenance. It isn’t flashy, nobody brags about it, and it definitely won’t impress your buddies. But if a bad line is the only thing between you and a big fish, you’re gambling big time.

Antonin Scalia, whether you agreed or disagreed with him, was inarguably one of the most influential Americans in modern history due to his position as supreme court Justice for almost 30 years. However, in this part 1 of this series we will get the rare opportunity to see this man in way you may have never seen him before. Come along as we journey down to the place where Scalia first found his love for the outdoors and hunting, and see how that same love became used a connective tissue for even the most distant of ideologies.

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This week, Cal covers Washington D.C. rat control efforts, the conservation status of the world's smallest rabbit, a surprising firearm accident, and a whole lot more.

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Steven Rinella talks with author Isaac Fitzgerald.

Topics discussed: Isaac's new book, American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed; the true story of Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman) versus the mythologized version; land speculation, westward expansion, and environmental impact; Appleseed's religious influence; the role of storytelling in shaping national legends; the role of apples and cider in American history; John's role in the War of 1812; and more.

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It isn’t true, as Colonel Townsend Whelen famously wrote, that “only accurate rifles are interesting.” However, a rifle that can shoot a dime at 100 yards is always more interesting than one that can’t, which is why I’m excited to tell you more about the new Heatseeker rifle from Springfield Armory.

The Illinois gunmaker has been quickly expanding the Model 2020 line over the last few years, and the latest iteration hit the shelves in the latter half of 2025. The Heatseeker uses the popular Model 2020 action but marries it to a Sharps Bros. Heatseeker Chassis. The combination promises the modularity of an AR-platform rifle and the precision of a bolt-action—and on that second score, I gotta say, this rifle delivers.

Calibers Offered: 6.5 Creedmoor (tested), 308 Winchester

Color: Coyote Brown

Barrel: 20" Carbon Fiber, 1:8, 5/8x24, Coyote Brown Cerakote® H-250

Receiver: Model 2020 Stainless Steel, Coyote Brown Cerakote® H-250

Optic Mounting: Picatinny Mount, Rem 700 SA Pattern, 6-48 Screws

Bolt: Fluted 4140 Tool Steel, Nitride

Stock: Sharps Bros Heatseeker M-Lok Chassis; B5 Systems Collapsible Precision Stock - Large; B5 Systems P-Grip 23

Trigger: TriggerTech Adjustable, 2.5 - 5 lbs

Muzzle Device: Thread Protector

Magazines: 5-Round AICS

Weight: 7 lbs 10 oz

Length: 40.5" - 41.75"

MSRP: $2,355

Springfield’s pitch for the Model 2020 has always been that it’s the ultimate modern rifle. Springfield Armory—not to be confused with the historic government arsenal of the same name—has been making bolt-action long guns for only six years. Getting into the game so late, they say, gives them fresh eyes and allows them to adopt all the best ideas from previous designs.

The Model 2020 action features a 90-degree bolt throw, removable bolt head, dual locking lugs, and a fluted bolt. New gun designs almost always experience growing pains, but the 2020 has been around long enough that if there were any major design flaws, they would have been exposed.

This iteration of the Model 2020 features a Sharps Bros. Heatseeker Chassis, which offers the rigidity of a competition system without quite as much weight. The chassis proper (the portion that bolts onto the receiver) clocks in at 19 ounces while the removable handguard weighs a scant 10 ounces. Both are constructed from aluminum, and the chassis is crafted from billet (solid block) high-strength 6061-T6. That gives it excellent rigidity, which contributes to accuracy and repeatability. It also accepts standard AICS magazines (one included), so you won’t have any trouble feeding your new rifle.

The only downside of this chassis system is that you have to remove the handguard before taking the barreled action out of the rifle. That can be accomplished easily enough by loosening two screws on the bottom of the handguard and sliding it off the barrel. But it adds an extra step to the process, so it’s worth noting.

The Heatseeker chassis looks like many other modern chassis systems, but it offers one (relatively) unique advantage: It accepts AR-15 furniture. The pistol grip can be swapped out for any standard AR grip, and the rear of the chassis can be fitted with an AR-style buffer tube and corresponding stock. In this case, the rifle comes with a B5 Systems Collapsible Precision Stock. The B5 Precision Stock uses two rotating wheels that quickly and securely adjust the comb height and length of pull (LOP). I especially liked the cheek riser. It uses soft, rubbery padding, and I appreciated being able to adjust it to precisely the right height.

The system works as intended, but you can decide for yourself whether it’s useful. It does allow you to easily swap stocks to fit your needs. This B5 stock is comfortable but bulky, so you might want a more streamlined stock for walking through the woods or climbing into a tree stand. But I don’t see many people needing the six-position buffer system. Most scopes can’t be mounted far enough to the rear to use any but the shortest and next-to-shortest stock position. Plus, the B5 stock can already adjust for LOP, so the six-position tube is redundant.

The pistol version of the Heatseeker uses a picatinny rail instead of a buffer tube, which I think is a much more useful option. Unfortunately, Springfield only offers the pistol in .308 Win. with a 12-inch barrel. It’s a slick little setup–especially with a suppressor–but not ideal for all hunts or applications. I’m hoping they expand the pistol lineup in the near future.

Springfield uses all aftermarket parts on its new rifle, allowing product developers to pick and choose high-quality components. Many rifle makers these days have adopted this strategy. They produce barreled actions in-house but source the stock, trigger, and associated parts from other companies. On this rifle, the chassis is from Sharps Bros., the stock and grip are from B5 Systems, and the trigger is from TriggerTech.

This begs the question: why would you pay Springfield to assemble the Model 2020 Heatseeker if you can just do it yourself using the company’s standalone action? Installing a trigger in a receiver and fitting the receiver to a chassis is easy, especially with the right tools and a little know-how. If you plan to swap out the stock, it seems like you could save some money by making a Model 2020 Heatseeker yourself.

Here’s how the costs break down:

As you can see, Springfield’s MSRP of $2,355 is fair enough, and I’m seeing these rifles online for closer to $2,100.

My build-it-yourself total also doesn’t include the cost of paying a gunsmith to install a barrel (~$150), and a carbon fiber unit will likely cost more than $500. I’m also not sure Sharps. Bros even offers the Heatseeker in the Model 2020 platform. They list various actions on their website, but as of this writing, I don’t see Springfield’s among them.

You might not be able to construct exactly the same rifle for a lower price, but it’s still worth looking closely at how these modern rifles are put together—and deciding whether for any particular model, the benefits outweigh the cost.

After digging into this rifle’s components, I was excited to take the Heatseeker to the range and start pulling the trigger. I wasn’t expecting it to perform all that much better than the Model 2020 Boundary rifle I tested in 2024. It’s the same action and barrel, and I’ve never seen massive accuracy gains by swapping one modern stock or chassis for another.

Turns out, I was wrong. This thing really shoots. And not just for one or two groups, but for group after group after group. It obviously didn’t prefer those 120-grain all-copper projectiles, but it shot lights-out with match bullets and Sig Sauer’s Marksman Hunter loads.

As you can see, Springfield delivers on its 0.75 MOA promise--and then some. I'm usually skeptical about accuracy guarantees because most modern rifles can shoot at least one good group. To be truly sub-MOA--or 0.75 or 0.5 MOA--the rifle has to deliver group after group. This rifle does, and it even performed with multiple bullet weights and styles. I honestly can't recall the last time I've tested a factory rifle that averages a half-inch group at 100 yards. That's some exceptional performance, and it speaks to the quality of Springfield's manufacturing.

It's possible I received a particularly well-made sample. I've seen other reviews that report less impressive accuracy results, though none used exactly the same ammunition. Still, I think my results show what's possible with good ammo, and I have no doubt that each and every Model 2020 Heatseeker will post good groups with a little trial and error.

Plus, fitted with a MeatEater Banish suppressor, I could shoot this thing all day with zero discomfort. I also never experienced any malfunctions or jams as the Model 2020 action cycled smoothly shot after shot.

The Model 2020 Heatseeker obviously fits within–and is trying to capitalize on–a larger trend in the hunting rifle world. While traditional lines remain popular, many hunters are hitting the woods with modular, AR-like bolt guns that offer far greater levels of customizability. You might get some odd looks from the old-timers if you take the Heatseeker to deer camp, but you’ll get far fewer of those looks today than you would have 10 years ago.

That’s partly because many have recognized the benefits of customizing your rifle to maximize comfort. Using a stock and pistol grip that can be adjusted to your body makes the Heatseeker easier to shoot even from awkward positions. Adding your favorite muzzle device to the threaded barrel helps as well, and the detachable magazine aids in loading and unloading.

A clean, crisp trigger–which certainly describes this TriggerTech model–rounds out the ergonomic picture, making the Heatseeker a pleasure to shoot at the range or in the blind.

And yet, there are better options for both applications. First, Springfield only offers the Model 2020 Heatseeker in two chamberings: 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester. Other Model 2020s are available in long-action cartridges, but it looks like Sharps Bros. only makes a short-action version of their chassis. That short action keeps the rifle’s weight down, but at over 7.5 pounds, it still ain’t light. And while the stock is adjustable, it makes the rifle overly long at any but the shortest positions. All those factors combined, the Heatseeker might not be a good fit for some hunters.

In that case, you might say, the Heatseeker would make a good competition gun. You could certainly shoot it competitively–and depending on your skill, you might have success. But dedicated competition chassis systems offer even greater levels of customization. They can be fitted with weights at different locations to adjust the rifle’s balance, and many utilize an ARCA attachment system for bipods and tripods. And while the 6.5 Creedmoor has won its share of competitions, the lack of cartridge options will be a turn off for many competitors.

The most natural way to think about the Heatseeker is as a crossover gun–something you can take to the field but also use in your local Saturday-morning rifle competition. That entails some compromise, as a rifle dedicated to a single application will always be better at that task than a Jack of All Trades. But do-it-all guns have an appeal of their own, and I think the Heatseeker plays that role well.

I might amend Col. Whelen’s maxim to read, “Some interesting rifles aren’t accurate, but all accurate rifles are useful.”

You, like me, might quibble with some of the Heatseeker's features and question whether they have real appeal. But at the end of the day, a gun that puts a bullet where you want it to go will always be more useful than a rifle that doesn’t–even if that rifle has all the right features. The Heatseeker might be a little cumbersome to carry into the tree stand, but once you get it there, it’ll hit what you’re aiming at as long as you do your part. Same goes for a competition. It might not serve your needs perfectly in each and every scenario, but you can trust it to perform where it counts.

As far as I’m concerned, there’s no higher praise.

Summer is just heating up and Brent's talking about duck hunting. Actually he attended an event in the Rice and Duck Capitol of the World in Stuttgart, Arkansas. He's gonna share how that event, "The Callapalooza", was started and detail his involvement. He's also sharing a listener story about an old tractor that'll warm your heart. All that and more on this week's "This Country Life" podcast.

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Along the upper Texas coast, about 50 miles southeast of Houston, sits Galveston Island, a barrier island better known for its beaches, marshes, and migratory birds than large predators. Yet for years, residents reported sightings of unusual wild canids roaming the island.

It wasn't until 2008 that local resident and former fisheries biologist Ron Wooten took a closer interest in the island's canids. After one of the animals killed his pet dog, Wooten began documenting sightings and asking neighbors to report encounters. While most people assumed the animals were simply coyotes, Wooten couldn't shake the feeling that something was different about them.

“They just didn’t look right,” Wooten told the New York Times. “I thought at first that they must have bred with Marmaduke or something because they had super-long legs, super-long noses.”

The more animals Wooten observed, the more he began to suspect they were not typical coyotes. Their unusual size and appearance led him to wonder whether they could be red wolf-coyote hybrids, or perhaps descendants of the red wolves that once roamed the Texas coast.

So what are red wolves? Once found throughout much of the southeastern United States, the red wolf is one of North America's most endangered canids. By the 1970s, habitat loss, predator control programs, and hybridization with coyotes had pushed the species to the brink of extinction.

Between 1973 and 1980, scientists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service captured what were believed to be the last surviving wild red wolves from coastal areas of southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana in an effort to save the species from extinction. In 1980, the red wolf was officially declared extinct in the wild. Of the 17 animals captured, 14 ultimately became the founders of a captive breeding program that still exists today.

Conservationists achieved a major milestone in 1987 when captive-born red wolves were reintroduced into the wild at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. While the population eventually grew to more than 100 animals, the species has experienced significant declines in recent years due to vehicle strikes, illegal shootings, and continued hybridization with coyotes. Today, it’s estimated that fewer than 25 red wolves remain in the wild, all within a closely managed population in coastal North Carolina.

Despite his suspicions, Wooten struggled for years to find researchers willing to investigate the island's unusual canids. The idea that red wolf genetics could still persist on the Texas coast decades after the species had been declared extinct in the wild seemed far-fetched to many experts.

Eventually, Wooten connected with Bridgett vonHoldt, then a researcher at Princeton University. Wooten provided tissue samples from two road-killed canids collected on Galveston Island, giving researchers their first opportunity to test whether the animals were truly different from ordinary coyotes.

The results were surprising. After comparing DNA from the Galveston canids to that of coyotes, red wolves, gray wolves, and eastern wolves, vonHoldt and her colleagues found that while the animals were primarily coyotes, they also carried substantial red wolf ancestry. Roughly 30% of their genetic material could be traced back to red wolves, suggesting that genetic remnants of the species had persisted on the Texas coast long after scientists believed they had disappeared from the wild.

Researchers also discovered something unexpected. The Galveston canids carried unique traces of red wolf DNA that were not found in the other wolf and coyote populations included in the study. The finding suggested that genetic material from the original Gulf Coast red wolves may have survived in these animals, despite the species having been declared extinct in the wild decades earlier.

“They harbor ancestral genetic variation, this ghost variation, which we thought was extinct from the landscape,” vonHoldt said. Hence the name “ghost wolves.”

The Galveston discovery was not the only evidence suggesting red wolf genetics had survived along the Gulf Coast. In 2018, a separate study examining wild canids in southwest Louisiana found several animals carrying significant red wolf ancestry, including one individual whose genetic makeup was estimated to be between 78 and 100% red wolf. Together, the findings suggested that remnants of the species may have persisted in wild Gulf Coast canid populations long after red wolves were believed to have disappeared from the region.

So what does this mean for red wolf recovery? One of the biggest challenges facing the species today is a lack of genetic diversity. With the entire captive population descending from just 14 founding animals and fewer than 25 red wolves remaining in the wild, maintaining healthy levels of genetic variation has become a major concern for conservationists.

The discovery of red wolf ancestry in the Galveston canids and other Gulf Coast populations could provide a potential solution. Researchers believe these animals may harbor genetic variation that no longer exists within the modern red wolf population. If those genes can be safely incorporated into future recovery efforts, they could help increase genetic diversity and improve the long-term health of the species.

Scientists have proposed several possibilities, including carefully breeding red wolves with canids carrying high levels of red wolf ancestry or using advanced reproductive and genetic technologies to reintroduce lost genetic material into the population. While such efforts remain largely theoretical, the discovery of the Gulf Coast "ghost wolves" has given conservationists something they thought was gone forever: another source of red wolf genetics.

The Gulf Coast Canine Project notes, "Hybridization was once thought to be the greatest conservation threat to the red wolf, but now historic admixture may be key to their recovery."

Feature image of red wolf in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge via USFWS.

This week on In Pursuit, Rich and Angelo sit down with Jeff Helm, a Michigan native turned Texas hunter, guide, entrepreneur, and all-around outdoorsman.

Jeff shares how a kid shooting birds out of the backyard bird feeder became a bowhunter who has now taken more than 30 bulls, including four elk in a single season. From DIY backcountry elk hunts to guiding free-range Axis deer in Texas, Jeff breaks down the lessons learned from decades of chasing animals across the country.

The conversation goes far beyond hunting. Jeff opens up about fatherhood, raising his son Jake in the outdoors, the value of shared suffering, and why some of life's most important conversations happen on the drive home from a hunt. They also discuss building community through archery, launching Arrowheads Bowhunting Company, and how hunting has a way of revealing what truly matters.

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In January 2019, retired archeologist Dr. Jon Young was found dead in the smoldering ruins of the adobe home he'd built by hand outside Taos, New Mexico. The fire marshal found evidence of accelerants in five locations. The autopsy flagged a suspicious hole in his skull. A neighbor saw unfamiliar men outside the house minutes before the blaze. And yet, no one has ever been charged — because, incredibly, no law enforcement agency ever opened a homicide investigation. Host Jordan Sillars traces the cold trail left by a fascinating man whose life's work may have gotten him killed, and asks the question his family has been asking for seven years: what really happened on Mirlo Road?

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