Entries Tagged 'Hunting Season' ↓

Bow Prep Pre Season

windingcrossbowboltWhen the air begins to get crisp, when the leaves begin to change, that is when you know the season for bow hunting is on us again. Bow season is coming, and it is not far off now. By this time, you should hopefully already have a game plan figured out regarding what your bow hunting season is going to entail. It is generally a good idea for you to have a bow checklist that will help to prepare you ahead of time for the season. Preparing your bow for the upcoming season is not going to be a unique task, because bow hunters tend to be creatures of habit after all. Check out this bow checklist to see what you should do in order to prepare yourself, and your gear, for the upcoming season.

Bow Maintenance

There is nothing wrong with spending time shooting your bow even during the offseason. On the bright side, when you shoot your bow during the off season it will make it easier for you to keep up with regular maintenance for your bow, such as making sure that the strings are waxed, making sure that the strings are in good condition, making sure that there are no frays on the strings, making sure the limbs have no stress cracks, making sure that the noise dampeners and the vibration dampeners are in good condition, making sure the cams are all in tune and so on.

Bow Practice

It is important that you ensure that you get plenty of practicing time with your bow before you climb in the stand, and this is especially important if you are using new arrows, new sights or new broad heads that you are not used to. This is one of the most important steps in the prep for your bow before the season. There is nothing worse than stretching out the string for a one-in-a-lifetime kind of trophy only to see your arrow cruise beneath him because you didn’t zero in before the season opener. After all, if you’re spending a lot of money on your bow hunting gear, then why not make sure that you are justifying the investment by getting your practice in long before the real shots come into play.

It is important that you take the time to become re-familiarized with your pins and the yardage that you have them set for. If your pins are in need of adjustment, then make sure that you get all of the zeroing in and the adjusting before hand. Make sure that you are taking the time to get yourself acquainted with your bow all over again in order to achieve the best possible results. The preparation that you make pre season can be all the difference when it comes to catching that trophy buck you have always been waiting for, or going home empty handed.

Photo Credits: unforth

Originally posted 2009-09-17 03:18:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Differences Between a Spring and Fall Turkey Hunt

If you’ve ever been on a spring turkey hunt or you’ve ever wanted to, you should consider turkey hunting in the fall, too. Most people think of spring but it’s a fall activity as well. There are some differences between a spring and the fall turkey hunt that the hunter should be aware of to be able to enjoy himself as much as possible.

First of all, the turkeys are different in the fall than in the spring. Spring time is mating season for the turkeys and they’re going to have a very different behavior. There going to be more restless and more animated because they’re trying to attract and find a mate. In the fall, turkeys have passed the mating season and are more interested in feeding and socializing.

So while in the spring you look for turkeys where they mate, in the fall you want to look for them where they eat. Where they nest is also a place to look in the fall not because they’re mating but because they’re going to be sleeping more with the change of the season.

In the fall, there’s a turkey hunting technique known as flock busting. A hunter finds a flock of turkeys and rushes toward them to break them up or sends a hunting dog toward them. This scatters the flock so that a turkey call like a young turkeys “kee kee” call can be used to attract them back. As the turkeys come back you’ve got a prime hunting situation.

Finding where the turkeys eat in the fall is really the key to a good autumn turkey hunt. To find this space simply look for turkey droppings and tracks. Very often these areas are close to water sources.

The time of day you plan your fall turkey hunt makes a difference, too. Before the sun goes down in the late afternoon turkeys will typically be apart but working toward gathering together. By the time the sun comes up, they should be flocked together. It’s a good time for flock busting if you choose to turkey hunt in the morning. Hunting in the evening means the flocks going to be broken up a bit and you’re going to be finding smaller flocks or individual turkeys.

One way to make your fall turkey hunt successful is to learn a few different turkey calls. The “kee kee” of the young turkey is a good option after flock busting because that’s the call that would be answered by a turkey’s mother. But other calls could also work like the gobbler call or hen call, depending on the turkeys you see when you rush the flock.

A fall turkey hunt might not be quite as easy as a spring hunt because they are not mating and not quite as reckless as when they are looking for a mate and driven by instinct to mate. But if you scout out their food and water sources and find where they rest, you’ll have a good turkey hunt.

Photo Credits: gerrybuckel

Originally posted 2010-04-10 03:26:58. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Cold Weather Deer Hunting Tips

If you’re serious about hunting, you’re going to end up out in the woods before dawn more often that most people care to think about! And you’ll be out there scouting for deer in weather that would send most of us running into our dens with fuzzy slippers and hot cocoa, wishing for a roaring fire. You need to keep certain things in mind when hunting in cold weather, and you’ll want to be sure you have the right hunting equipment and hunting clothes to make it a more enjoyable experience, and to keep yourself safe from the elements.

Wear wool.

Wool hunting clothing provides excellent insulation against the cold. You won’t want to wear it against your skin, of course, but make one of your layers wool. And you should have at least 2 or 3 layers of clothing on, including long underwear. You won’t want to trek out into the woods wearing the clothing of 4 men, and getting your innermost layer wet with sweat—that defeats the purpose of trying to stay warm. But do take the heaviest layers of your hunting clothes with you. Then once you’re in the deer stand, you can put them on and stay warm. (Make sure your outermost layer is orange and reflective or whatever type of hunting clothing is required in your area.)

Cover your head.

Most of our body heat leaves us though the soles of our feet and the tops of our heads. Just wear a regular cap while you’re exerting yourself getting there and getting set up, then wear a thermal cap. If it’s really cold, you might want a thermal face mask to protect your nose and keep your skin from getting chapped. Be sure your ears are covered, and make sure you’ve got a decent seal around the neck opening of your hunting clothes (as well as at the wrists and ankles) to keep the cold air out as much as possible.

If it’s a wise choice in your particular area, get waterproof hunting gear like waterproof gloves and outerwear. And don’t scrimp on hunting boots. You might want to carry these, too, until you get in place rather than risk getting the insides wet where they will keep your feet cold, and you miserable. Rubber soled and rubber-outer-wear boots do an excellent job of keeping your feet dry. Be sure they’re insulated or the cold will seep right through your hunting boots and drive you to leave before you’ve spotted that trophy deer. Invest in the small heat producing packs that can go in mittens and boots as needed. These can make all the difference between an enjoyable day of winter-time hunting, and coming home stiff and frozen and wondering why you went hunting in the first place.

Finally, be sure your family or friends know where you’ll be, and carry a cell phone or other means of communication. While this is a good rule to follow all the time, it’s especially important when hunting in the winter.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-12-08 19:29:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Which Type of Hunting is Right for You?

squirrelCamping, fishing and hunting are popular outdoor sports. What makes someone want to do any of those instead of just taking a hike through the woods and going home, or taking a stroll through a field to do some bird watching?  Many people prefer the sense of them against nature; living in the wild and fishing and hunting like we used to have to do to survive. Sleeping under the stars and cooking what you caught or killed for dinner is almost a primal need for some people, even though we have comfy beds to sleep in and grocery stores where we can buy meat.

Hunting might be more technological today than ever with laser scopes and precision weapons, thermal underwear and heat packs, but people still want to hunt because of that primal urge that has never seemed to go away-man against nature, struggling to survive. If you want to hunt, but you’re undecided about exactly how to go about it or what you’d like to hunt, here are some basics to help you decide.

Can you tolerate cold weather? A great deal of hunting is done during the winter season.  Even more passive methods of catching game like trapping are often done when the temperatures dip. If you’re deer hunting or trapping, for instance, you might need to be out before dawn in extremely cold weather.  Are you well-suited for this or do you think you would be miserable doing this as a hobby?  At the very least, consider the cost of the equipment you’ll need.  You have to have protective clothing and you must dress in layers, with one of them preferably wool. Warm boots that will keep your feet from getting wet, proper headgear and excellent gloves will all be necessary.

Can you climb a tree and sit perched in one for hours?  Deer hunting will involve you setting up a deer stand in a tree–often not the easiest of tasks, especially if you’ve never done it before.  Do you have someone to help you set up the stand originally?  Do you like the idea of climbing up into the stand in the dark and sitting there for a prolonged period of time?  If that doesn’t appeal, you might choose to hunt something other than deer.

Do you want to go after big game? Some people enjoy the challenge of squirrel hunting.  Squirrels are small, they move quickly and it can be difficult to bag one or the several required for a good meal. But some people dream of taking down the giants like bear, moose and elk. First, consider that just because you want to hunt bear or other large game doesn’t mean you’ll be allowed to.  Often areas where you can hunt have draws and only those who draw the tags are allowed to even try. And consider the cost.  Often its necessary to travel, and you might need a large gauge (and more expensive) gun as well as other specialized equipment.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2009-01-08 15:07:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Guidelines for Safe Hunting

Hunting, by nature, is a dangerous and risky sport because it involves firearms, and shooting those firearms. Hunting accidents occur all year long in different parts of the world, which only proves the importance of safe hunting guidelines and why you should uphold them. Deer hunting safety is a truly essential part of the sport at its very core. No matter how long you have been hunting deer, and no matter how much experience you have under your belt, it is still absolutely vital that you practice good deer hunting safety guidelines all the time. Not only are you protecting yourself by practicing good safety when going out deer hunting, but you are also protecting those in your group, and the other people out hunting that may not be aware of your presence.

The best time to go deer hunting, although it is a year long hunting experience, is during the fall in the beautiful autumn atmosphere when everything seems perfect. Unfortunately, this perfect season for hunting absolutely does not rule out the chance that something could go wrong. For this reason, practicing the guidelines for safe hunting during this season is absolutely vital. Keep the following guidelines in mind and everyone around you, including yourself, will be safe.

1 – Make sure that any firearm you are working with is treated as if it is ready to fire and loaded. Keep the safety on at all times, with no exception, and do not take the safety off unless you are actually about to fire. By treating every firearm as a loaded weapon, you will take better care not to accidentally fire.

2 – Make sure that you are always in complete control of your weapon, as you are the only one responsible for your weapon when you are out in the woods hunting for deer.
You should only ever aim your gun at something that you are intending to shoot, which means you should never aim your gun at people, windows, homes or other things that you can cause harm to if your gun accidentally discharges.

3 – Make sure that when you are hunting, you only are targeting an area where no one is in close range. Make sure you are the only one aiming for that game, otherwise you may find yourself harming another hunter close by. You should also absolutely never put your finger on the trigger until you are actually ready to pull it!

4 – Always make sure to wear a blaze orange outer layer, or a neon bright outer layer. This way, other hunters in your vicinity will be able to distinguish you from the wildlife, since deer have not yet figured out how to wear bright orange.

5 – In order to make sure that you are never targeted as game while in the woods, make sure that you are always equipped with a flashlight, especially at night when your colors are harder to see in the thickness of the woods.

6 – You could possibly be a danger to your own self as well as others if you do not remain alert while you are hunting. Proper deer hunting safety absolutely depends on your ability to observe and react. If you are impaired in any way because you are sleepy, then bow out and do not participate!

Photo Credit: 1

Originally posted 2008-12-11 05:15:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Prepare for Elk Season

Hunters who enjoy hunting big game get excited when elk season approaches. One way that you can help yourself if you’re aiming for a trophy elk or any elk at all is by practicing a great deal long before the season starts. Too many hunters leave the guns and bows and arrows in cabinets when hunting season is out. What they need to be doing is setting up targets and practicing.

Not only is it important practice with the weight of the arrows that you’ll be using when you hunt, it is important to practice hitting the target. Do you think you have a better chance of getting a trophy elk if you’ve been practicing for a few months or if the first time you shoot at an elk is the first time you’ve shot in a few months?

Just like an athlete or any type of sportsmen, hunters should train and that includes target practice. It makes you more familiar with your weapon and how to use it in different weather. And that will help you when elk season starts. Vary your practice schedule, as well. Practice shooting at targets from a variety of positions and angles so that you’re better prepared for the actual hunt. Try crouching or shooting from a low position just as you might in a natural elk hunt.

Stake your claim on land as early as possible. You should go out and scout the area that you’ll be hunting in if at all possible to look for elk. Make sure that you know who owns the land you’re on and if it’s privately owned that you have permission from the landowner. Walk the land carefully before elk season starts. Become familiar with it and scout out areas where elk may be once you’re ready to hunt.

Don’t wait for elk season to inspect all of your equipment and make sure everything is in working order. If you discover something as soon as the season starts you could end up waiting too long while it’s being fixed and miss part of the season.

And scent is an important step that some hunters don’t think is necessary. Just because some hunters somewhere managed to get a trophy elk or deer without worrying about his scent doesn’t mean that it will work for you. Do everything you can to minimize your scent in the area. Always be aware of which direction the wind’s blowing in so that you won’t get downwind from any animals. You can buy a little spray bottle designed just for this or simply wet day fingertip and gauge the direction of the wind.

Elk actually have very heightened sense of smell, more than many other game, so do everything you can to minimize your natural scents like soap smells and smells from shampoo. Use unscented products as well as unscented laundry detergent. And make sure that your clothing isn’t exposed to anything with a strong scent like a campfire. Also consider purchasing a product designed to hide your scent from the animals.

Photo Credits: gavinrobinson

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Open Season

With fall coming, it is soon to be open season for many different animals for hunting. Seasoned and new amateur hunters will be out in force and will be scouring designated areas for live game in the hopes of a good kill that they will be able to bring home and show off as a trophy or provide as a meal to their families. Hunting has been a long standing tradition in many countries and is looked upon as an honorable skill and a much needed service, provided the game is not in any way endangered and actually needs population control.

There are many different types of hunting an individual can choose, ranging in game from elk, deer, to smaller game like turkey or duck, and many others. In addition, hunting these games comes with hunters who have their personal preference in the weapons they use, which range from shotguns to bows. Many hunters prefer hunting through scopes at a distance, while others believe it is more respectful to the animal and a sign of a seasoned hunter if they are up close by using a bow. Regardless of which weapon a hunter chooses, he or she will use it to hunt his or her chosen game.

Every weapon used is considered a lethal weapon and the hunter must not only register the firearm, he or she must purchase a hunting license and prove that he or she has gone through a legal firearm safety course in order to qualify for the license. Some individuals find this frustrating due to the expense of the course, but some states offer them free of charge in order to help protect the hunter and anyone in the vicinity who might be in danger if the proper safety precautions are not being followed by the hunter. In addition, every store or firearm dealer has the right and responsibility to refuse selling a gun to any individual whom he or she does not think is safe to have that weapon, and to then inform the police of the decision.

Firearm safety courses are important for individuals as it teaches them how to properly care for and handle their chosen weapon. Shotguns in particularly are very dangerous, and are typically able to kill an individual in one hit depending on the range. During hunting season, there may be innocent people out in the area where hunters are hunting, and may not be wearing bright orange to protect his or herself. Firearm safety courses are very important as it teaches the hunter to hesitate and to be certain of his or her kill before firing.

When a hunter purchases a weapon, he should carefully select one based on his/her needs while being certain the weapon is properly fitted. An ill-fitting shotgun can damage a person’s hand or even dislocate his or her shoulder. If you are uncertain over which weapon is right for you, it is best to consult an experience hunter or gun shop owner.

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Originally posted 2008-11-10 14:04:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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