Entries Tagged 'Hunting' ↓

How to Make Deer Hunting Videos

If you’ve ever thought of making your own deer hunting videos but wondered who would want to watch them, you should consider the enjoyment you’ll get from making them. You may be surprised at who would enjoy watching your videos. But even if no one did, you would have the videos to reflect back on and help you relive an exciting hunt.

One way to really capture the memory of a specific deer hunt, a trophy hunt or just a special day outdoors is with a video. You also never know where it may lead you. The late Steve Irwin, famous for running Australia Zoo and being The Crocodile Hunter on television, started out carrying a little hand-held camera when he went for outdoor adventures with his dog. But had he never become famous for it, he enjoyed making the videos and watching them as did his family. Your deer hunting videos will be a chronicle of where you’ve been and where you hope to get with your hunting so you should choose the proper equipment and enjoy the process.

You can take your videos and upload them to YouTube or other video hosting services to share them with other people interested in deer hunting. Doing such a thing can certainly attract many people to you and widen your circle of friends with an interest in hunting and outdoor sportsmanship. You’ll also learn things about hunting as you make the videos and surprise yourself by improving in certain areas because of them. Not to mention how you’ll get the chance to help other people learn things about hunting as people find your video and model themselves after you and your success.

Before you start making deer hunting videos, be sure that you are confident enough in your ability to display it in front of other people. If you’ve never hunted before, your first videos are going to be more for you, most likely. Unless you’re creating a video series to show people the process of learning to hunt and improving each time. If this is the case, be sure and discuss on the video how you chose things like your clothing, your weapon and your location as well as any other equipment that you use. Make it as interesting as possible and it’s sure to be popular among those with a hunting interest online.

Your deer hunting videos can be popular online if they’re clear enough for people to watch. So you need to get the right equipment to be sure that people aren’t annoyed by a fuzzy picture or bad sound. Get the best equipment you can find that can stand up to outdoor elements. A digital recorder is ideal for this type of filming. You can even get a video camera that advertises itself as YouTube compatible. That type of video equipment will let you download your deer hunting videos onto your computer and edit them in any video editing software before uploading them to YouTube or other video sharing sites.

Photo Credits: John Beagle

Originally posted 2010-04-13 03:07:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Choose Great Hunting Gifts

Whether you’re looking for hunting gifts for a hunting buddy or you’re someone who doesn’t hunt but you need a gift for someone who does, just keep in mind what the person loves and it’ll be hard to choose a gift that they don’t love. Gift giving for anyone is simplified if you keep in mind the things they love to do. Whether a man is a football fanatic or he likes model airplanes, a gift with some sort of relationship to those favorite things is going to be hit. So a man who hunts is going to love something related to the sport.

Outdoorsman hunting gifts can be anything they can use while hunting or anything that reminds them of hunting. While that might seem like a narrow field to choose from if you’re not a hunter, it’s really a wide-open area. Someone who hunts uses all types of gear. Hunting gifts could be any of those things that he regularly uses.

A duck hunter might enjoy duck calls or a new decoy. Someone who hunts deer or large animals like that might enjoy a new hunting knife or something specifically related to the animal that they hunt. If you can’t bring yourself to purchase a hunting knife for someone else, then consider things like a keychain that says deer or elk hunter. A bumper sticker or a decal for them to put on their vehicle that shows their love of hunting is also a good option.

Camouflaged items are popular hunting gifts. If you know the person’s size then camouflaged clothing is a good option as are things like camouflaged jackets. Many hunters also enjoy fishing or their hunting takes them out onto the water. So useful items like keychains that float and keep keys from sinking are a good idea. Most hunters can never have enough emergency flashlights so a flashlight it doesn’t require batteries like a hand crank flashlight is a thoughtful and practical gift.

If you already hunt and you’d like to buy hunting gifts for friends who also enjoy the sport, you can simply ask them what they need or go for something that’s a perennial favorite. Hunting DVDs and books that provide information and entertainment are sure to be appreciated.

Even if you are a duck hunter and your friend is a deer hunter, you can purchase them a book (Strategies for Whitetails) or DVD (Deer Masters Home Deer Processing) about white tailed deer hunting and that’s going to interest them. You don’t actually need to know anything about their type of hunting to give them a thoughtful gift about their sport. Also consider things like cookbooks for wild game (Dressing & Cooking Wild Game). Your deer hunting friend might appreciate a cookbook all about how to prepare venison, or your duck hunting friend might appreciate a cookbook that’s about different ways to cook ducks and geese.

Just think about the many things that hunting involves from preparation to safety to cooking, and you’ll come up with great hunting gifts for everyone on your list.

Photo Credits: telethon

Originally posted 2010-04-09 03:51:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Navigating Hunting Sites

There are thousands and thousands of hunting sites online. Someone who enjoys hunting and surfing the Internet could spend weeks just discovering new sites and evaluating them. Because so many new sites go up each day, it would be a never ending pursuit.

But because there are so many, that means that the majority of the hunting sites probably aren’t going to provide you with any new information. It’s best to find one or two or even a handful of hunting sites that you go to regularly for information and conversation in the form of forums and message boards.

Most of the popular hunting magazines have websites, and some of them have this type of user interaction. At the very least, you’ll find quality information on the sites that publish excerpts from their print magazine. To judge whether or not a site like this will be useful, look at the type of articles that are available on the site and whether or not the entire articles are there or if they offer just a paragraph or two. A trend in online sites that relate to certain types of magazines is to show only part of the article to hook the reader into wanting to finish it in the magazine. Sites like this can prove frustrating if you’re reading an article that has you very interested and you can’t finish it without going and finding a copy of the hunting magazine and purchasing it.

Some hunting sites instead condense the articles in their print magazine and give you a stripped-down version. This is far superior to only having the first part.

But by far the best hunting sites are those that are complete hunting portals online. Not only do they have original articles about hunting but they do have an active forum where people interested in hunting can meet to talk about a variety of topics. Look at the message board or forum and see how many members are registered. Scan the dates of the most recent posts to see how active it is. If you find a hunting site with several forum members but the last post was a couple of weeks ago, you’re probably not going to get very much out of the interaction there.

Active boards will have several replies to posts in the last couple of days and many posts that were started in the last couple of days. You can find hunting sites like this with active boards that are covering hunting in general or very specific to a certain game animal. Duck hunting sites may be very different from sites that deal with deer or elk hunting. And of course predator hunting like bear, coyote and big cats may have their own sites as well.

One of the best types of hunting sites covers all of these but have separate conversation areas for each type of hunter. The site will have sections for each type of hunting with its own articles and its own experts frequenting the forums.

Photo Credits: Rennett Stowe

Originally posted 2010-04-14 09:27:49. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Is a Hunting DVD Worth Watching?

People who don’t hunt or fish or participate in any outdoor sports often like to make fun of things like fishing programs or a hunting DVD. They can’t understand why anyone would want to watch something like someone else fishing or hunting. And while it’s true that many fishing and hunting videos aren’t action-packed, many hunters love them. Even if 20 minutes is spent just listening to the fishermen or the hunter talk about what they’re doing, the observant hunter is soaking up what they’re saying and figuring out how to put it to use on his own terms.

If you enjoy hunting and have never watched a hunting DVD, you’re really missing out on an educational experience. You can find a hunting DVD for every type of game from bison and bear to ducks and quail. Not only do these DVDs let you see beautiful outdoor areas that you might not be able to visit in person, you get the commentary from the experienced sportsmen who are making the DVDs.

Buy: The Modern Day Mountain Man Season 1, Brown Bear, Caribou, Dall Sheep, Wolf, Elk, and Mule Deer Hunting from Alaska and Idaho

Listening to them talk about what they’re doing, how they’re doing it, how they planned it and what they expect can be a very educational especially for someone new to hunting. If guided hunts aren’t for you and you don’t have any close friends that you can regularly go hunting with, a hunting DVD can really fill in that gap of knowledge and experience. Just don’t make the mistake of thinking that since you’ve watched one of those DVDs that you actually have that experience. Be sure and don’t become overconfident, especially since you’re using a weapon.

If you do have friends that you hunt with or you’re not against the idea of a guided hunt, you can still really enjoy a hunting DVD. Some are designed just to show you a special hunt where they’d bagged a trophy winning animal or made an impressive kill. Other hunting DVDs are set up in a certain way to convey specific information.

You might find a white tailed deer hunting DVD that gives you several specific pointers about how to have your first white tailed deer hunt. Another deer hunting DVD may simply be scenes from several of the sportsman’s most impressive hunting trips. Duck hunting DVDs may demonstrate the best calls for certain types of ducks or how to locate a spot and build a blind. Other DVDs may take you on a guided hunt and help to advertise a specific hunting lodge or line of hunting products and gear.

Buy: Majestic Whitetails

Regardless of the focus of the hunting DVD, you can mine it for the information that you really want. Just watching the sportsman’s technique, whether they’re shooting or using a compound bow, can give you a point of reference to compare your own techniques you. And even if you doubt whether or not you’ll get anything educational from the DVD, you still may enjoy following along with the professional hunter and just seeing a different style and technique than your own.

Photo Credits: boboroshi

Originally posted 2010-04-13 09:14:58. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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

Maximize Your Chance of a Hunting Trophy

Everyone who hunts would like a hunting trophy at some point. It’s the same principle that makes everyone who bowls want that big bowling trophy or every runner want that first-place medal. Some people are more prone to winning hunting trophies and seem to have a wall full of them. If you want your own hunting trophy then study your sport and keep some things in mind when you’re ready to go deer hunting.

The best time for trophy hunting is during the rut season. Deer are completely preoccupied with mating at this time. They act differently than they do at other times of the year. Their natural instinct to propagate
takes over during the rut.

Male deer, or the bucks, will mark their territory and claim dominance over an area by scraping the ground. They make these marks and other males see them and realized that a dominant male is in the area and prepared to claim the females. The deer will also rub their noses on trees near the scraping to mark the territory further, but you’ll only be able to notice the scrape marks.

Where deer scrapings are found is a good place to find deer and bag one for a hunting trophy. Other deer come along and smell the deer sent, and rub their own in the same area as well as urinate in the area to mark it as theirs. Trees may be scraped up from where the bucks rubbed their antlers against the bark. Their antlers are covered in something called velvet during this time of year and they’ll scrape it off on trees to leave their sent. Because they’re so preoccupied with mating and marking their territory it’s naturally easier to get a deer during this time.

And because the dominant deer are usually the ones with impressive racks they use to challenge other males with during the mating season, it’s a good time to get a 10 or 12 point buck and get a hunting trophy. Does will also come in the area where you can find scrapings because they’ll urinate there to signify that they are ready to breed.

One thing you need to be careful of during the mating season is that the deer may be more aggressive than at any other time. If you should be spotted or a dominant male should feel threatened by you, you could get charged. It’s still not likely even during the rut but that’s the most likely time of year for it to happen. During the mating season you may be able to get away with less worry about your scent, as well. When you deer hunt, you want to go without wearing cologne or aftershave, using unscented soap and unscented detergent on your clothes. If you get a little sweaty or have a slight scent during the rut, the deer are less likely to pick up on it because they’re so preoccupied with their own scents and marking their own territory.

Photo Credits: equality

Originally posted 2010-04-12 09:03:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Buying Hunting Gear Online

huntinggearThanks to the internet, now you can successfully buy just about anything including the types of hunting gear and outdoor equipment that you could ever possibly need, and you never need to leave your home in order for you to make this happen. The internet has quickly come an outstanding place for you to find some of the best hunting gear prices available, though you may initially be hesitant to spend money on hunting gear over the internet if you have not actually seen the desired items in person. With only a couple of simple steps, however, you can make purchases for the most sought after hunting equipment online and you can be confident in the decision that you have made as well.

The first step that you should be taking in this process is to hop onto the internet and begin to do some research. Let us say for example that you are looking for a brand new set of binoculars. You go to a search engine of your choosing such as Google.com and punch in an appropriate keyword, such as “binocular reviews” for example. Find a website that is reputable for your reviews, or if you are not sure about the reputation for a specific review site then what you can do is go to numerous different review sites to sort of average out what everyone is saying about the products that you are attempting to buy. If you read multiple different reviews on the product of your choice, you will get the best possible idea about what you are looking for. Once you know what product you should go for, you can better narrow down your search until you have one that you are adequately satisfied with.

Buying the right hunting gear can mean spending a pretty penny, and if you are going to be spending a lot of money on the right gear, then it is vitally important that you do choose the right gear, especially when it comes to online shopping when making returns is a little more difficult. You should know exactly what you are getting if you shop online. If you can, visit a local store to test the product out, to get a feel for its quality, its weight and other characteristics, and then try to find it online to see if you can get a better deal on the product of your choosing.

This is because finding the best pricing for the product you are looking for is important. You should be searching on websites like Froogle in order to see what different people are asking for the products that you seek in order to make sure that you get the best possible price. The more you shop around, the better the results will be, so make sure to use due diligence in searching for the best products at the best prices and you will surely enjoy your next hunting outing.

Photo Credit: bsdubois00

Originally posted 2009-08-17 03:23:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Badlands 2200 Day Pack Review

Features:

  • T6 Internal Aluminum Frame
  • Evenly Distributed Weight
  • Upgraded Suspension
  • Batwing Construction for Accessories
  • Split Waist Belt Promotes Maximum Comfort
  • Nylon Compression Straps

Review:

The Badlands 2200 Day Pack boasts durable Aramid thread with triple stitching for extra durability and bar-tracking with DuPont Kevlar and hypalon panels at all of the major stress points. These newly redesigned packs from Badlands are engineered to suit hunters and fishermen that need equipment capable of handling everything they have to put it through.

This particular pack is made out of ultra strong KX032 nylon fabric that has a urethane shell for superior waterproof protection, protecting all of your gear from the wettest of weather without making a lot of noise in the process. The Badlands brand stands behind their products so completely that they offer an unconditional lifetime warranty on their Badlands 2200 Day Pack. This unique day pack features a T6 internal aluminum frame and it distributes the weight evenly across both hips and shoulders for a comfortable load.

The Badlands 2200 Day Pack also features a suspension system that has been upgraded, allowing for it to offer completely silent shock absorption, offering an unparalleled level of comfort on long stalks and even longer hikes. There is a split waist belt that surrounds your hips comfortably, allowing for maximum comfort by evenly distributing the weight of the pack across your entire body rather than resting everything uncomfortably on your back.

This day pack features batwing construction that allows you to hold a tripod, spotting scope or shooting sticks securely. There are also nylon compression straps that make it incredibly easy for you to lash even a bow right to the back of your day pack. There are also two new features that make this recently designed day pack even more useful:

  • There is an additional pouch on the back of this day pack, featuring a zipper, that allows for quick access to the more critical items that you have with you.
  • There is another additional pocket added for more storage of your most vital gear.

There is also a blaze orange compression pod that is hiding in a pocket in the Badlands 2200 Day Pack, meaning that you can easily double your loading capabilities without difficulty.

This pack also happens to be hydration-system compatible, which makes it excellent for long hikes and overnight hunting trips because you will never be without necessary hydration capabilities.

The capacity of this day pack is 2,200 cubic inches, and it has a weight of 4lbs and 1 oz.

If you are looking for a day pack that is as rugged as you are, and that can withstand the abuse of hikes, fishing and hunting trips and everything that they entail, then the Badlands 2200 Day Pack is a solid option for you to consider.

Buy: Badlands: Classic Packs, 2200

Originally posted 2009-08-13 05:44:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Packing for Hunting and Fishing Trips

huntingfishingtripIf you want to avoid looking like a complete rookie when it comes to going hunting or fishing, then you need to know how to prepare and pack. You should start to prepare for a big hunting or fishing trip well before hand so that you can avoid any embarrassment. Nobody wants to have to admit that they forgot something vitally important when it’s too late to go back.

1 – First and foremost, you need to know your destination and your itinerary.
Make sure that you are leaving your itinerary and a detailed plan behind with someone responsible, especially if you are going out alone. This way, if you do not return on time, somebody knows that you may need help.

2 – Verify where your final destination is going to be, and how you intend to get there. Will you be hiking or will you be driving? Do you need a backpack? If you need a backpack and specific supplies, make sure that you have enough space for all your gear and that your backpack is comfortable. You should have a backpack with a large and padded belt around the waist so that some of the load is transferred away from your back and to your hips instead.

3 – Divide all of your gear into smaller batches that can be stored separately. Cooking gear can go into one bag, fishing implements in another, camping gear in a third, and so on and so forth. This makes finding your gear quicker and easier, and ensures that nothing is forgotten when packing and preparing for the trip.

4 – If you are fishing or shooting, invest in a hard case. These are available at most hunting and fishing stores, and they are excellent for fishing rods and rifles. Hard cases go for $100 to $400 depending on the case, but they are well worth the investment because they keep all of your supplies together and keep them safe and secure at the same time.

5 -Make sure that you assess the specific maintenance needs of your hunting or fishing equipment beforehand. Always carry your repair tools with you, including screwdriver, cleaning supplies, pliers and oil so that you can repair and maintain your equipment as needed.

6 – Make sure that you have a GPS implement. Handheld GPS elements are a little pricey, but the $125 or so you will spend on a basic one will be well worth the investment the first time you lose your way during a hunting or fishing trip. Make sure that you practice using your GPS instrument before you go out, and make sure that you also have a map and a compass on hand.

7 – Get good boots if you do not already have a good pair, and make sure that you are packing extra socks. Medium weight socks are a good choice, especially if they are wool or a wool and synthetic blend. You may end up spending a little bit of money per pair, but your feet will end up loving you for it.

8 – Finally, make sure to plan for dressing in layers because then you will be able to add and remove layers as needed depending on the weather and climate. You will need to add and to remove insulation as you encounter different situations, so dressing in layers makes this a lot easier.

Photo Credits: PauerKorde

Originally posted 2009-08-10 05:38:56. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Plan a Safe Archery Hunt

An archery hunt makes a hunter feel like part of the natural world. Archery is an ancient practice and hunting with a bow and arrow can make man feel more connected with his natural environment. Whether someone is an experienced archer or about to go on their first archery hunt, probably the most important consideration is safety. Archery hunting is far safer than hunting with ammunition. But that doesn’t mean accidents can happen. Be aware of yourself and your surrounding environment to keep your archery hunt safe at all times.

One of the most important safety considerations is that your bow is in good shape. A compound bow that is fired improperly such as being pulled back and released without an arrow, will sustain damage over time. The pulleys can loosen from having to absorb the shock repeatedly. If the compound bow wasn’t stored properly, it can be warped or have other problems that can cause it to release an arrow improperly and send it in the direction you don’t expect. When hunting season is out, you should store your compound bow in a temperature controlled area and treat with care.

In fact, if you love to archery hunt then there’s no reason your bow should be stored for a long period of time at all. The best way to get a trophy kill during hunting season is to practice when hunting season is out. Regular target practice is one of the best ways to improve your hunting. It will also keep your bow from suffering from neglect and the problems it causes. If you haven’t used your bow in some time, you may want to go ahead and change the string just as a precaution. On the other hand, if you’ve been practicing heavily, putting a fresh string on before hunting season may also be a good idea.

Accidents can happen when you’re not even using your compound bow. Just carrying the arrows and accidentally falling can be disastrous. That’s why you need a quiver that holds them firmly and shields the tips. It needs to be a sealed quiver that completely covers those tips to avoid accidental pokes. You’ll also want to make sure the quiver has cushioning in the bottom or you put cushioning in to keep the arrows from rubbing together and chipping or wearing down the tips.

In archery hunting there are few mistakes where the hunter actually thinks they’re aiming at an animal but it’s another person. Because 20 to 25 yards is about the average distance between you and the animal, that doesn’t leave much room for mistaking people as the game. But that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. You can’t assume that everyone takes the precautions you do as far as making themselves known to other hunters. Never loose the arrow unless you’re absolutely sure of what you’re shooting at.

Also, a first aid kit, extra water and a compass to help you in case you get turned around in the woods are good safety precautions whether you’re on an archery hunt or you have ammunition.

Photo Credits: erix!

Originally posted 2010-04-14 03:20:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

ammunition animals antlers arrow arrows best time big game Binoculars Birds bow hunting camouflage compound bow Decoys deer deer hunters deer hunting deer season duck hunter duck hunting ducks going hunting guided hunts horns Hunting hunting deer hunting dog hunting equipment hunting gear hunting knife Hunting Season little bit local area predators prey quail risk Shotgun target trees trophy vegetation weapons weather what this means white tailed deer