Gearing Up for Hunting Equipment

When taking up the sport of hunting it doesn’t take long for one to become well versed in the necessary and required hunting equipment. Depending on the type of hunt clothing, decoys, calls and ammunition can all vary. Aside from the basics, there are times when some will swear that a certain piece of equipment is vital to a hunt while others find it is something they very rarely use. It is not uncommon for a hunter to make adjustments and formulate his or her own personalized required hunting equipment over a period of time. This allows a person to hunt with not only confidence but a feeling of stability and security.

When it comes to hunting equipment, the debate between buying gear at a department store versus a sporting goods store is the center of great debate. In a store that specializes in outdoor sporting goods, one can find a greater variety and quality of items not found anywhere else. The sporting good section of a department store offers a general selection of items but does so in a much more affordable fashion. For those who hunt on a budget, department store prices can be a good option, especially when the same item found in the specialty store can be found for less at the department store. However, for more specialized or high quality equipment, it is often necessary to make the purchase from a specialty store.

While some companies stick to only making one type of hunting equipment item, there are those who create numerous lines of gear, from clothing to tree stands. At times, choosing a piece of equipment can be like choosing a new TV or coffeemaker. There are so many different types and brands, it can sometimes be confusing as to which one will be the right choice. Luckily, one of the most trusted tools available for hunters are hunting equipment reviews. Websites dedicated to hunting often have sections where one can get the opinion of other hunters who have used a certain product or piece of equipment. The honest and open opinions of others can help to at least narrow down the available choices.

Hunting equipment is not just for the hunters anymore. There is also equipment made just for hunting dogs. A blaze orange hunting vest can keep Fido safe when flushing pheasants in the field and dog booties can help keep the pads of his feet from getting frostbite on those cold wintry hunts. One important piece of gear for a hunter to have is a canine first aid kit. Any number of accidents can happen for a dog during hunting just as it can for a hunter. There can be nothing worse than having one’s best hunting buddy injured with no way to help. Many of these kits come complete with not only first aid items but booklets that show how to effectively deal with different types of injuries.

Hunting Safely

The thrill of chasing down a twelve-point buck or bagging a prize-winning turkey sends millions of hunters into the woods every year in search of that prize kill. Hunting is exciting, but it can also be dangerous and even deadly if hunters are not educated and religiously exercise good hunting safety techniques.

The Basics

Before leaving on your hunting trip, prepare yourself well. Never go to an unplanned location or take off on a spontaneous hunting trip. Let others know where you are planning to hunt and when you will be returning. If necessary, leave detailed directions to your hunting grounds with friends or family that will be staying home in case an emergency arises and they need to direct medical personnel to your location. Try to return home as close to your planned time as possible. If you are late checking in, your contact person can then know to set out using your directions to see if you need assistance.

Take the time to prepare your weapon. If using a rifle or shotgun, clean and inspect the weapon after every use and after any time the weapon has spent in storage. Prepare a small first aid kit to carry with you while you are hunting. Consider bringing your cell phone. You can always keep it turned off while you are hunting, and a phone can be the difference between life and death in a medical emergency. Always be prepared to give detailed directions to your exact location as you move through the woods.

In The Woods

Once arriving at your chosen hunting spot, be sure to don your safety gear along with orange-colored clothing on your head and/or chest to help other hunters in the area determine you from the game. While camouflaged gear is great to help you remain undetected by the animals, it can also confuse other hunters if they see movement from a distance without recognizing the orange color. If you are hunting in a group, try to keep the location of those around you in your mind as you change positions to help avoid accidents.

If you are using a decoy such as a doe decoy, be sure to use orange safety tape around the perimeter of the area you will be in, to help other hunters recognize your decoy. You can also observe the area from an elevated position to further protect yourself from any stray shots directed at your decoy.

During The Hunt

If you are hunting deer and find yourself tracking a wounded animal, always use extreme caution. Other animals in the area may become panicked at the smell of one of their own running wounded near them. An injured animal is very unpredictable and may likely be desperate to get away if it senses that you are pursuing. Never approach a wounded animal head-on. Never allow yourself to be corned between a solid object and a wounded animal. Always have a way of escape in mind should the animal attack. If attacked, try to protect your head and chest as much as possible to limit damage to your vital organs and increase your chance of survival.

It is also important to be aware of and on the lookout for other animals like bears and snakes that may be encountered while hunting. Being aware of your surroundings is an important step in staying safe while hunting. Use some caution and common sense to ensure many more years of happy hunting yet to come.

Quail Hunting

Quail hunting is one of the top sports for those on the upper crust of society. It is considered the top game or hunt of the aristocracy and is practiced by vice presidents and world leaders to this day. Quail hunting is typically considered this way because it demands a lot less of the hunter in comparison to other hunts. It does not take place in the morning, for example, or in the shivering cold. Instead, quail hunting can be done in relative comfort and can actually be quite stylish. For this reason, many people in the upper class of society try quail hunting.

Quail hunting typically involves two hunters and a pair of dogs, typically called bird dogs. These dogs chase down the quail and retrieve the bird after the kill has been made. Often times, quail hunts are attended by spectators and watchers. There can be large crowds at quail hunts, gathering to watch the majesty of the sport unfold before their very eyes. There is something surreal and beautiful about quail hunting and watching the bird dogs do their work, making it one of the most interesting human experiences to be had.

Proper gear is recommended when quail hunting. This includes having the proper boots for the fields and the marshlands. The right pants are also required, preferably pants that are called “brush pants” because they are of a color that matches the color of the brush. These pants also work to prevent thorns and briars from penetrating the pants, which is a common downfall to hunting quail in the brushes of North America. It is also recommended that the hunter wears a proper vest or a coat so that ammunition and other immediate supplies can be stored in it. The best option is something of a bright color so that the hunters will be obvious in the field and not confused with the quail.

There is a certain formation and strategy to quail hunting that is very important. First, the dogs are sent to flush out the birds. As this is happening, the hunters are preparing their guns to be mounted on their shoulders. The safety of the gun should be kept on at all times until the gun is ready to be fired and mounted on the shoulder of the hunter. The gun barrels should be pointed to the sky, towards the prey, and away from any other hunter or from the ground. The two hunters should then follow the line of the dogs and maintain a straight line themselves, one hunter after the other. This formation is very important because of safety issues. The reasoning behind the straight line formation is to keep the hunters away from firing unpredictably upon one another’s personal space.

Each hunter should have a mental note of where the other hunter is. The dogs should also be noted. This is to identify locations as to where the hunter should not point or swing his or her firearm. This should be also a way to divide the field up into sides. One side belongs to one hunter and so on. Once the sides are determined, the dogs will flush the quail into the air and the shooting begins. Hunters should stick to firing on their side of the range, so as to avoid danger and poor form.

It should also be noted that low flying quail should be avoided at all costs. This is not only dangerous, but it has led to the unfortunate demise of many bird dogs because of the low shots. Keeping the guns high during a quail hunt is of vital importance so as to protect all of those involved in the hunt.

With these safety precautions and gun etiquette tips in mind, quail hunting should be a remarkable and fun sporting event to take in. Bring some friends and get set for a lovely day in a field with the dogs. Quail hunting can be a peaceful time as well, leading to plenty of reflection and quiet in the middle of America’s most beautiful marshlands.

Tips For Bow Hunting Turkey

Turkey hunting can be difficult enough. Add a bow into the mix and the sport can become downright impossible to excel at. This is the reason why so many skilled sportsman and women actually prefer bow hunting turkey. When a hunt is successful, the rewards tend to be even sweeter.

While there is no way to guarantee bow hunting turkey trips will turn out with a bagged gobbler, there are things hunters can do to increase their chances. Let’s examine some of the top bow hunting turkey tips.

• Select positioning carefully. Bow hunting turkey is not at all like using a shotgun. This weapon will need to be pulled. Unfortunately, doing so can often give a hunter’s position away. With this in mind, it’s very wise for those who want to go bow hunting turkey to choose their cover well. A spot that offers some concealment during the pull can be very helpful. Large trees that enable full coverage from behind can be ideal. Some portable, commercial blinds also work wonders, as well.
• Reset the bow. While it’s not the most macho of things to do, adjusting the pull weight on a bow can be very helpful. This bow hunting turkey trick enables a hunter to pull and wait for a duration of time. This can very much help increase the chances of getting a bird into the sights. The idea here is to pull and wait for a gobbler to come into range. Pull while cover can be used and hold.
• Select arrows wisely. Arrows themselves can give hunters away. Make sure the shafts are as well camouflaged as the hunter himself or herself. Take care to avoid using red, white and blue colors on the shafts or veins. It is never a good idea to choose arrows that bear the colors of a gobbler. Other hunters might catch sight of a single arrow and mistake it for a bird. Woods or field colored camouflage is the best idea to help ensure a gobbler also doesn’t spot the arrow as it’s being notched. Lightweight arrows are also generally a good idea. It doesn’t take a hard hit to take a gobbler down. It takes a fast and accurate one.
• Use camouflage to one’s advantage. Try to make sure clothing and gear help add to the camouflage effect. Position alone might not be enough to hide from a gobbler’s keen eyesight.

Bow hunting turkey might be one of the most challenging ways to go after this already challenging quarry. Using equipment and gear to one’s advantage can help give an edge. This can mean the difference between a bagged gobbler and going home empty handed.