2020: A HuntWise Hunting App Year in Review

From the highest highs to the lowest lows, 2020 was a year unlike anything we've ever experienced. As it comes to an end, there is much to look forward to, reflect on, and celebrate.

Filled with uncertainty, success, and joy, here are the stories from 2020 that we are thrilled to tell – and we're thankful for each of you who used HuntWise to find land, mark hunting areas, and improve your hunting success this season.

A Hunting Resurgence

Long before the pandemic, national hunting participation had been trending down. While the U.S. population has grown, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recorded a steady loss of hunters from 1996 to 2019.

However, in 2020, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported an increase from 35,900,913 total hunting licenses, tags, permits, and stamps in 2019 to 38,854,259 in 2020. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoorsmen and women resurgence has occurred.

More hunters than ever are taking to the woods. With rising interest in new demographics, such as women hunters and young hunters, newcomers share their experiences and learn from mentors. At HuntWise, we hope to generate a strong community of hunters by emphasizing the alliance between hunters, nature, and conservation.

The Outdoor Space is Trending with HuntWise and You

HuntWise users are leading the way to being outdoors! Check out these statistics below.

Your Stories from the Field

From the seasoned hunter with years upon years logged in the woods to the nervous beginner finding their footing in a new hobby, HuntWise is designed with all users in mind. Here are a few of our favorite stories from HuntWise hunters this year. 

HuntWise PRO Staff, Allie D'Andrea, Pennsylvania

"I killed this deer on a 100% day, according to HuntWise's HuntCast.

I remember Jeff Sturgis told me it usually takes him 6-7 sits in great conditions for it to come together. This hunt was from a saddle with my bow and a 40-yard shot on public land – all that fun stuff.

One of the coolest parts was watching him make a scrape under a hemlock tree before walking my way. I watched him for nearly two minutes, smiling as I observed this beautiful animal do his thing.

Then I shot, watched him die, and cried. I felt relief, then joy. I field-dressed him and struggled to drag his heavy body out of the woods. If it weren't for Nick, I would still be dragging.

I hung, skinned, and butchered, then packaged and prepared. Hunting is a long process of learning, exploring, failing, and growing. And it's fun. Every single time." (@outdoorsallie)

Emily Engvall, Pennsylvania

"It's all because of you guys that I killed my first archery buck. Predictions were high in my area, so I made sure to be in my tree stand all day that day.

Sure enough, this guy came in right at 4 pm when my app said to predict even more activity. I can't hunt without you guys now!" (@emilyengvall)

Jason Boots, Illinois

"HuntWise helped determine where to sit from the wind indicator. We got in the woods around 1:30. We sat for about two hours and didn't see anything.

But then, at 3:30, I looked to my right and saw the buck. I said, "Oh my god, it's him." He came into about 20 yards, and I dropped him in his tracks." (@boots_jason12) 

Arrows North Outdoors, Wisconsin

"Much bigger than simply taking a life. It's about providing, and for that, we always embrace the moment." (@arrows_north)

Grant White, Texas

"Thank you all very much for everything you have done. It means a lot to me. I never could have done it without the app." (@grantwhite06) 

Matthew Stephen Hughes, Kentucky

"HuntWise told me this morning that 6-8:30 was the prime time. Then this happened! The wind predictions are insane! HuntWise helped me guide my 16-year-old son William Wade Hughes on a buck of a lifetime!"

A Year for Growth

In 2020, we took the ultimate hunting toolset to the next level. To help hunters improve their success in the outdoors, we combined tech, science, and 30 years of insight, knowledge, and experience to uncover the when and where of hunting.

Here are a few of the exciting things that happened in the HuntWise app:

• Launch of HuntCast 2.0: You spoke, we listened. With an improved algorithm offering better weather predictions and more data points to inform your hunts, the launch of HuntCast 2.0 changed the course of our 2020 season. In partnership with Jeff Sturgis of Whitetail Habitat Solutions, HuntCast 2.0 is the most powerful deer prediction algorithm the market has ever seen. 
   
• The Ultimate Scouting Advantage: In 2020, HuntWise introduced a new standard of maps built for hunting. We took the ultimate hunting toolset and added more, new, and better mapping features to give you a year-round scouting advantage for every place and species you hunt. 
   
• 5 Deer Down. Hundreds of Great Memories: In early October, the HuntWise team headed down Deer Camp 2020 at Salt River Outfitters in Kentucky for a week of deer hunting, bourbon, and late nights by the fire. The camaraderie and tradition of deer camp left us with stories to tell.

While these were exciting app improvements, we're not done yet! We're always working to improve your hunting experience, and there's much more to come with HuntWise.

What were your favorite tools in HuntWise? We hope you continue using them in 2021 and beyond!

The Best Stories Are Yet to Come! Get the Best Hunting App Before Your Next Hunt

Have these hunting stories encouraged you? There are many more where these came from; the next great hunting story could be yours!

If you've never tried HuntWise before, we hope you'll take a cue from these hunter stories and give it a try this season! No matter what game animal you hunt, HuntWise can help you plan the ideal hunt and mark out a hunting area to maximize your time (and success) in the field).

Download the app before your next hunt and explore it – free – for your first week!

Content reviewed and updated July 22, 2024.