Monthly Archives: December 2010

hunting land

Choosing the Hunting Land That’s Right For Your Trip

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When you’re ready to plan that special hunting trip for the year, it’s important that you find the right hunting land. Where you do your hunting is probably the most important aspect of the trip, particularly if your goal is a good catch. There are many different types of hunting land to choose from; each with advantages and disadvantages.

The most commonly used hunting land is public hunting land. It’s used most commonly because there’s usually no fee for hunting there and because, in many states, it’s plentiful. Hunting on public hunting lands is fairly simple, as well. When you obtain your hunting license for the season, you can usually pick up a map of the lands and a list of any restrictions at the same time. Public hunting lands may be maintained by the state, county or federal government. Some lands will have restrictions on catch; others will not. The main two disadvantages of using public hunting land are that they are often very crowded during hunting season and that stock is often low because so much hunting has taken place on these lands.

Private hunting lands come in several forms. First are land owned by individuals. These lands are often not designed specifically for hunting, but the landowner may allow hunting on his land with permission. Often the best way to learn about such lands is through word of mouth. You may find that your hunting friends know several people who allow hunting on their property. Some land owners will charge a fee, but most will allow you to hunt for free so long as populations are good. Be certain to respect any restrictions they put on you, in order to keep your hunting privilege. In many cases, if you can find a private land owner who will allow you to hunt on his land, but who does not allow an abundance of hunters, you’ll have the best chances at a good catch.

Some private hunting lands are owned by businesses such as hunting lodges or guide companies. These lands are managed solely as hunting sites, and will charge a fee for you to hunt. Depending upon the services offered, the fee may be larger or smaller. For example, some private hunting land businesses simply charge a small fee for you to have access to their land for camping and hunting. They may supply you a map of the land, but typically offer little else in the way of services. Other companies, however, may offer full serving hunting facilities, including lodging, guides and food. Their fees, of course, will be much larger. Most businesses of this nature limit the number of hunters or the total amount of catch on their lands in a season. This helps to ensure that the stock is plentiful. If you’re considering a trip on this type of private land, be certain to ensure that they do impose yearly limits of some sort.

hunting dogs

Looking for Good Hunting Dogs

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How does one choose good hunting dogs without getting stung? Many dog breeders are like horse traders—you get what you get, and that isn’t what was listed. So a dog breeder’s reputation, letters of reputation or phone calls, and looking at siblings or mother and father of the dog means a lot when looking for good hunting dogs. Make sure they have some form of guarantee and for how long they guarantee the puppy or dog.

But what is good for one hunter may not mean the same for another, so make sure you know what you want before going out and looking. Do you want versatile good hunting dogs for all-purpose hunting, or one that is excellent at squirrel hunting or coon hunting? Look at where they will be living the remaining time—will it it he be a family member? Make sure the breed you want is one you have information on and have done your homework on. Just because grandpa had one doesn’t mean you know what you need to know regarding the purchase of good hunting dogs.

Good hunting dogs need to be disease from and have clean genetic lines, regardless the breed. Make sure routine worming has been done as a puppy—which has usually been done from two weeks. Also, look at their shot records—did they receive a two-week puppy shot series with only two weeks between them, beginning around five or six weeks? Once the puppy is weaned from its mother, its immune system becomes compromised, and it is up to the breeder to maintain that system up to eight weeks of age when it leaves the next. A breeder who sells before then is not worth his/her weight in salt. Good hunting dogs mean that—a good hunting dog, not one that is haphazardly bred to make a quick buck. Georgia is famous for good hunting dogs, as most Georgia hunters think more of their dogs than anywhere else, but make sure you don’t get a bad breeder anyway.

Different breeds have different health risks—with the popular German Short

deer hunting

Deer Hunting Texas Regulations

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When you decide to go deer hunting, Texas has regulations just like all other areas of the country. Before you strike out on the path to bag a buck or two, you should be familiar with the regulations for deer hunting. Texas is quite strict, and though hunting is a popular sport and a way of life in the state, violation of laws can really put you in a fix.

Firearms: In deer hunting, there are a few regulations as to what firearms you can use. Rimfire ammunition of any caliber is not allowed in hunting whitetail, mule deer, or antelope of any kind. Pellet guns, air guns, fully automatic firearms, and silencers are illegal in Texas for deer hunting.

Hunting Hours: During open season shooting hours for all game begins half an hour before sunrise and ends half an hour after sunset. For more exact information on these time periods for deer hunting, Texas has its published sunrise/sunset times on the internet.

Hunting Season: For various types of deer hunting, Texas has separate seasons. For example, pronghorn antelope may be hunted (by permit only) for one week, usually the first of October (in the 2006-2007 season this was between September 30 and October 8). Whitetail deer ranged, depending upon location in Texas, between the end of October and the middle to end of January. Mule deer season was also varied by region, with archery allowed from the end of September to the end of October, and open season lasting between the middle of November and the first part of December.

County Restrictions: Because there are areas in which it is illegal to discharge a firearm or even shoot an arrow, even when deer hunting, Texas counties should be researched for distinct restrictions. For example, you cannot possess, shoot or hunt with a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow in land or water in the Aransas and Poesta Rivers in Bee County or in the state-owned riverbeds of McMullen and La Salle counties. These are just a few locations that are restricted; you should research further for a full list.

Public Areas: When deer hunting, Texas has regulations regarding certain public areas. In designated Public Hunting Areas, all hunters must have a permit. Hunting is also illegal in any wildlife sanctuary, national, state, or Federal Park or refuge, discharge a firearm or hunt on a public road, or any area designated as a propagation or nesting area.

Harvest Rules: In deer hunting, Texas hunters are required to immediately log in ink the kill of a whitetail on the back of the hunting license for purpose of report. However, completion of such paperwork is not required for mule deer or whitetail taken under special permits (such as MLD permits). Some counties require a specific sized antler in order to harvest a deer, and these regulations are firm regarding the distance between the points of the antlers. Check regulations in each county in which you will be participating in hunting season.

pheasant hunting

Pheasant Hunting Dog

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A good hunting dog is more than man’s best friend, especially if that good hunting dog hunts pheasants. And the quality of the pheasant hunting dog will make your pheasant hunting trip one of joy or misery, depending on the dog. But usually the pheasant hunting dog is invaluable for those who enjoy hunting pheasants and upland game birds, as compared to big game—wild boar, bear, or deer.

There are many types of bird hunting dogs, such as Labradors, German Short-Hairs, Retrievers, Spaniels, and many others. With a soft mouth and a strong desire to please, these dogs are capable of forming bonds that go beyond the dog-master relationship of most domesticated dogs. The pheasant hunting dog can be any of these breeds of hunting dogs, depending on what type of dog the hunter desires.

Any pheasant hunting dog also is capable of hunting ducks, turkeys, or dove. Choosing a trained hunting and gun dog is not a quickly-made decision, or rather, it should not be, unless it is something that a person grows up with and has some training in the field. Otherwise, it may be best to borrow the hunting dogs when hunting at a pheasant hunting lodge, which are already trained and will make your trip a success. Regardless if the dogs are yours or are borrowed, once the pheasants are close by the tension of the hunting dogs will begin to increase. The scent begins to be picked up by one dog and once the bird is located–the dog will lock firmly in place. If the mate is close by, she also will lock in position simply to honor her mate’s point, even if she has not been able to pick up on the scent herself. After that, the hunt is up to you.

The breed of a pheasant hunting dog is a personal preference, depending on what characteristics are important to you—but the basic commands should be taught to all dogs, especially all hunting dogs. Once that pheasant breaks away and takes off—a dog who takes off and does not understand what it means to stop or come back, may provide an interesting day of hunting, indeed. Teach your hunting dog obedience. Once that is done, teach it again and again. Make it second nature to you and the dog until they almost can read your mind and respond just as quick.

Once the obedience has become second nature, take the pheasant hunting dog to a pheasant reserve as compared to wild birds out in a field of waist high grass. There are several thoughts on this—with the main one being once that dog hunts in the same area, again and again, it will not be as apt to go off and explore new grounds and territory, instead of exploring on his own for pheasants.