turkey hunting

Wild turkey – plucked or skinned?

Leave a comment

The first question many novice turkey hunters ask is: do I pluck it or should I skin it? The answer depends on what you plan to do with the meat. If you want to fry or grill individual pieces of the bird, skinning is the way to go; whereas, if you plan to cook the turkey whole, you’ll need to pluck it to get the best results.

With a sharp knife, you can skin the bird, fillet the breasts and slice as much other meat from the carcass as you wish to harvest. Do this by first making a cut along one side of the breastbone, then working the skin over the breast halves, down the back and finally over the legs. Then, remove the meat – be aware of local regulations when doing this as some areas prohibit you from removing just the turkey’s breast meat.

Experts recommend that the best way to pluck the bird is by dipping it in hot water first. Some recommend boiling water, others say any hot water will do. Plucking the bird will take more time than skinning it, but keeping the skin on will help preserve the flavor. Once it’s plucked, make a small incision from the V of the breast to the tail vent, and carefully remove the innards.

hunting

First Aid For Hunting Safety

Leave a comment

Hunting can provide opportunities for many types of injuries. Being prepared is your best defense against disabling injuries or even life-threatening accidents. Knowing some basic first aid and using common sense when in the wild can save both life and limb.

CPR

If you don’t know CPR, learn it. Call your local hospital, EMS, or fire department to find out when and where you can attend a community CPR class. You never know when you may need to perform CPR on a friend, family member, or even a stranger. A few hours of your time could save a life someday.

Many CPR classes offer basic first aid classes as well. Check with your local provider to see if this option is available before registering for a class.

Safety Rules during A Crisis

The first rule of safety during a crisis may sound selfish but it is important. Take care of yourself first. Check the scene of an accident for unsafe conditions. Make the area safe for yourself and bystanders before beginning first aid. The reasoning behind this rule is that if you become injured or incapacitated, you can’t help anyone else. If you become injured, rescue workers arriving on the scene will then have you as an added victim to care for. Seconds make a difference in a crisis, but take a few beforehand to ensure that you will be able to provide the help that is needed.

Basic First Aid

Healthcare personnel are taught the ABC’s of first aid: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. Your first concern is whether the accident victim has a clear airway. If the mouth or throat is blocked by blood, water, or objects, tend to this matter first. Next, see if the victim is breathing or is in danger of ceasing to breathe. The brain and vital organs cannot last long without oxygen. Provide rescue breathing if necessary.

Then, check for a heart beat and any injuries that may be seeping blood. Apply pressure to any areas that are bleeding with a clean cloth if possible. Don’t be afraid to press hard! If there are others present who are able to assist you, ask for their help in applying pressure to a wound. If the bleeding is profuse and the wound in located on an arm or leg, you can use your belt or a section of rope to wrap around the limb and secure tightly to restrict blood flow to the injured area and slow the bleeding. This is called a tourniquet.

Call for help! After you have controlled breathing and provided an initial round of CPR, call for help and then continue CPR until rescue workers arrive. Performing CPR can be exhausting. If others are available to help, perform two-person CPR or trade off tasks frequently to prevent rescuer exhaustion.

If you or another hunter falls from a tree stand or other elevated area, do NOT move until you are sure there have been no spinal injuries. Moving a person who has spinal injuries can cause shattered bone to cut through the spinal cord and result in paralysis. Ask the fall victim to move their fingers and toes only. If they are unable to, they have injured their spinal column and need special care in moving. If they are breathing and not bleeding profusely, leave them in the position they are in and get help.

If they are able to move fingers and toes, gently turn them over onto their back if they are not already positioned so. Try to turn them as if they were a log; keep the head, legs and torso aligned and stiff as you roll them. This will prevent any compression on the spinal cord should the vertebra protecting the cord be compromised.

Some falls and spinal injuries that affect the neck area can result in a person not being able to breathe on their own. If this happens, you must provide rescue breathing for them until help arrives.

Using firearm safety and common sense like avoiding aggressive animals can go a long way to prevent hunting accidents. Educate yourself, hunt with others, and always tell someone where you will be hunting and when you will return. Keeping safe in the woods is everyone’s responsibility. Be sure to do your part.

hunting land

Watch those fences

Leave a comment

When you’re hunting, particularly in an area you’re not familiar with, it’s important to stick to territory you’re allowed to hunt on. Everyone has lined up a shot and caught the glint of a thin wire fence through the scope at one point in their hunting life. But the a great catch can turn into a miserable day quite quickly if you misjudge things

Sometimes it’s not a big deal, the fence is just a marker for the rancher whose land you’re hunting on – other times, it’s a property division. The trouble with property dividers is you don’t know whose land is on the other side.

Taking game without permission from someone else’s land can cause you trouble – but if the other land is across a county or state line you could find yourself in real hot water. Avoiding trouble is a matter of knowing the land you’re hunting – scout it in advance and know the boundary. Another top tip for avoiding problems is to remember the number one rule of hunting: never take a shot unless you know what lies beyond it!

elk hunting

Out in the Open with Montana Elk Hunting

Leave a comment

With its incredible beauty and high population of elk, Montana elk hunting is a popular choice for big game hunters. Wide open spaces and consistently applied conservation practices make this one of the best states for hunting elk. Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts come from miles around for their chance at bagging the five or six point bull that haunts their dreams. Both public and private hunting grounds have been known to yield excellent results during the fall hunting season. The seasoned hunter can return year after year to their favorite spot or one can opt for any one of the Montana elk hunting guide services available.

Montana’s plentiful natural resource of elk has provided the state with a boost to its economy through tourism for big game hunts. Montana elk hunting has gained a solid reputation for being a hunter’s paradise of unspoiled lands and vast landscapes. Many of the state’s conservation efforts not only meet the average satisfactory standards but exceed them, yielding high numbers in mature elk herd populations. This results in the increased chances for a highly successful hunt whether on private or public hunting grounds. While it’s anybody’s guess if one will actually bag their quarry, it is likely that nearly every hunter will at least catch a glimpse of this majestic animal in the wild.

When it comes to Montana elk hunting, hunters have a variety of options to choose from. Hunting on a horseback guided tour is a popular choice for many hunters. This type of excursion allows one to get deeper into the wilds of nature and come face to face with any number of possibilities. Others prefer the idea of a drop camp where a hunting party is flown out to a remote hunting location. Some guided tours provide tents, equipment and other amenities for hunters. Wall tents, showers and a high quality meal service can make for a comfortable and relaxing hunting experience.

There are a good number of outfitters that can provide the best in Montana elk hunting. A reputable outfitter is one that prominently displays a current license for prospective clients. Guides who work for an outfitter should be personable and have experience with hunters of all skill levels. A competent guide will also have a firm grasp of not only hunting elk but the area the hunt will take place in. Most importantly, he or she should demonstrate good hunting ethics. A trip that is well planned and safe and secure from the beginning allows hunters to focus on the more important aspects of bagging their massive quarry.

deer hunting

Deer Hunting Stand Plans for Your Needs

Leave a comment

For many hunters, it is essential to have their own hideaways with which to work, meaning they have to search through various deer hunting stand plans to find one that is suitable for their own purposes. Knowing what sorts of plans are available and how simple each plan can be to assemble and disassemble in the field can make all the difference in your choice of type of deer hunting stand plans.

Whether you are shooting a rifle, a crossbow, or a simple bow and arrow, you’ll find that being elevated is essential to the ability to seek out deer without being readily detected. While ground blinds can work in some instances, you have a better view from atop a stand and are less likely to be seen, heard, or smelled by prospective targets. Therefore, deer hunting stand plans are key elements for your hunting trip’s success.

Probably the most common choice among deer hunting stand plans is the fixed stand. When you find a favorite location within your hunting ground, it makes sense to simply erect a stagnant stand and leave it for your hunting purposes. These are also often the most stable choice of stands, being that they are made to stand in place and support anywhere from two to four large men. While more portable stands are not quite as sturdy in order to be more easily disassembled and moved, deer hunting stand plans for a fixed position stand are probably the strongest available. In order to get to your stand, you may want to consider the use of tree steps, which can easily be nailed onto any existing tree trunk.

Some stands that are built like the fixed position stands are easily portable so that they can be carried from one location to another, geared to please hunters who hunt multiple grounds throughout the deer season. Of course, there are other alternatives as well. A climbing tree stand will give you the mobility you need on the ground to move about but also allow you to haul up into a tree in a hurry should the need arise as a nice doe comes near. A ladder tree stand is one of many deer hunting stand plans that can make you feel safe and secure. Via the support of the tree itself, this type of stand can be a failsafe mechanism that can hold the weight of one or two men and still be moved from place to place with ease.

Whatever deer hunting stand plans you study and choose, you’ll find that they will make a world of difference in the field, allowing you to target your prospect without spooking it.

hunting land

Preparing for Your Georgia Hunting Land Lease

Leave a comment

If you’ve located a Georgia hunting land lease for your hunt club, congratulations! You’re on your way to many great hunting seasons with your buddies, so long as you prepare well. Here are some things to keep in mind when setting up your Georgia hunting land lease.

Get it in writing – Be certain that you have a written lease from the land owner. Their word is not enough to ensure that the terms you’ve agreed upon will be honored. Take the time to put together a detailed lease for both of you to sign. It’s worth paying an attorney to help you ensure that all the details are spelled out and that your document is legal.

Make the lease for several years – It’s likely that you’ll be doing some work on your lease property to make it best for hunting. You may clear some small areas to attract deer or to provide for hunting. It’s a shame to go to such work only to have your lease run out after one year and your landowner be unwilling to renew. You should make your Georgia hunting land lease for a minimum of three years; five is better.

Spell out your hunting club requirements – It’s imperative that you know that your hunting club members are serious. You need their fees in order to pay for the lease. Have written agreements with each member specifying the amount they will pay per year and when the money is due. Have remedies in place in the event of default. Many hunting clubs lock each member into a contract for the duration of the hunting land lease with the landowner. If a member wishes to leave the club before the lease period is up, he must find a member to replace him.

Investigate previous hunting on your Georgia hunting land lease. Be certain you’re not leasing land that has already been over hunted. If a hunting club has previously used the land you’re leasing, find out the catch rates for the last several years.

Spell out your privileges and responsibilities – As mentioned earlier, you may want to make some improvements on the property. You may want to store supplies there and you may want to use the land for activities other than hunting – like camping or four wheeling. Make sure these privileges are spelled out in your Georgia hunting land lease agreement with the land owner. In addition, make sure that any expectations that your land owner has of your club, such as that tree stands are removed at the end of hunting season, be spelled out, too.

hunting

Surgeons Have Scalpels, Hunters Have Hunting Knives

Leave a comment

Ask any outdoor enthusiast what tools are necessary for a successful hunt and hunting knives will always make the top of the list. While some hunting knives are great for the heavy cutting that comes with cleaning a kill, there are times when a small compact knife is best for performing the little, menial tasks while out in the field. There are a number of options to consider when it comes to choosing a hunting knife that is right for the job. Contrary to popular opinion, a larger knife is not always the best bet for a hunt. It can be awkward to handle, require more time to care for and, seeing as most seasoned hunters prefer smaller blades, can say much about a hunter’s level of practical experience out in the field.

Hunting knives are often made of carbon or stainless steel. While they both have their benefits, stainless steel blades are the most common. Those who prefer to have a knife that is easy to keep sharp are likely to choose the carbon blade. However, it should be noted that a carbon blade is more likely to rust than a stainless steel blade. When out in the field, it is not uncommon for knives to come in contact with moisture. This is why many hunters opt for the stainless steel blade. Even though stainless steel is better at resisting moisture, it is also harder to keep sharp.

When it comes to hunting knives, one will find there is a choice between a foldable blade and a fixed blade. A fixed blade will be sturdier and a more reliable choice for larger projects. These types of blades require a sheath and will need to be worn on a belt or carried in the hunter’s pack. While a foldable blade can be quite sturdy, it is not commonly used a primary hunting knife. A foldable blade, or pocket knife, is likely to have other handy tools that also fold out. Many hunters prefer to keep this type of compact knife with them at all times, whether out in the field or out at the grocery store.

Some other aspects to consider when looking at hunting knives might be the shape of the blade, the handle or grip, the butt, thumb spurs or locking liners. One of the most recommended methods for picking out a good knife is how it feels in one’s hand. A knife that is awkward and unwieldy is of no use out in the field. One should also consider the maintenance and care that will be required. There are some knives that come with free conditioning oil or sharpening tools upon purchase. On average, a guide for proper knife care is also included, showing essential care and sharpening procedures.

bow hunting

Hunting Cross Bow Style: Pros and Cons for “Outlaw” Bow Hunters

Leave a comment

Hunting Cross bow style has gotten a bad reputation among traditional bow hunters, who claim hunting cross bow style gives an unfair advantage to crossbow users over more traditional bow hunters. The debate had continued to fire heated debates throughout the hunting cross bow and traditional bow enthusiasts. When statistics concerning specific hunting cross bow and hunting traditional bow users have been checked, the results have some hunting cross bow enthusiasts singing a victory song. It seems there is an advantage for crossbow users, but that advantage is very small, and negligible.
Hunting cross bow users were evaluated over traditional bow hunters in the state of Ohio, where crossbow hunters, to the chagrin of traditional hunters, have been somewhat vindicated. In spite of the cries of ‘foul’ within the bow hunting community’s traditional bow users, the most current research, done by impartial parties, shows a 23% success rate for hunting cross bow users and a 21% success rate for bow hunters, leaving traditional bow users with just a bit of egg on their faces. While most people believe this research will do little to stop the controversy between the two opposing parties, it is interesting to note that:
• 155,000 registered hunters participated in bow season hunting.
• 70,000 of them practiced crossbow hunting exclusively.
• 55,000 registered hunters used a vertical bow
• 30,000 registered hunters used both a vertical bow practiced cross bow hunting.
Senior Citizen Hunters who received free hunting licenses:
• 4,000 used a cross bow
• 1,000 used a vertical bow
• 1,000 used both
From these statistics, it is clear that out of the 55,000 registered hunters who participated in vertical bow hunting, a whopping 30,000 used both bow and crossbow. From the 6,000 registered bow hunters who were senior citizens, a huge majority, 4,000 used a cross bow, and 1,000 used both traditional bows and crossbows. It is clear this is a preferred method for seniors.
With so many people enjoying crossbow hunting and the statistics in the single state with the most available statistics over a large block of time showing that there is little realistic difference in hunting cross bow style and traditional bow style as far as kill rates go, it seems that there is no conclusive evidence to support the traditionalists viewpoint on the positive effects of prohibiting crossbow use during bow season.

duck hunting

Great Duck Hunting Dogs are worth Their Weight in Gold

Leave a comment

Waterfowl hunting, also referred to as goose hunting and duck hunting, is an outdoor sporting activity enjoyed by people all over the world. Many hunters use duck hunting dogs to retrieve their downed ducks. Duck hunting dogs not only retrieve dead ducks from cold water and difficult terrain, where a hunter could possible be injured but duck hunting dogs also search for and recover wounded ducks. These wounded ducks could escape or die a slow, painful death. Because of their keen sense of smell, well-trained duck hunting dogs usually have no problem finding and retrieving ducks shot by the hunter.

Small game hunters using shotguns normally have gun dogs or duck hunting dogs, which primarily hunt waterfowl and small game. The three classes of gun dogs are pointing breeds, flushing spaniels, and retrievers, which are all good duck hunting dogs. They train pointers to locate their prey and stand motionless, pointing at the bird or small game. These duck hunting dogs point or freeze to keep from flushing the game until the hunter gets into position. Most pointing dogs will retrieve downed birds. Pointers are loyal, affectionate dogs that make wonderful pets and love to hunt. English pointers, German shorthair pointers, Irish setters, English setters and German wirehaired pointers are great duck hunting dogs.

Flushing spaniels or flushing dogs are duck hunting dogs that hunters have used for several hundred years. Hunters train them to stay close, usually within thirty-five or forty yards. Flushing spaniels work close, so the hunter gets great shots at the fast flying ducks the dog flushes out. English Springer spaniels are great flushing duck hunting dogs and make a great housedog. These dogs are loyal, compassionate, and extremely intelligent, with natural hunting abilities. English springer spaniel flushing duck hunting dogs work hard, are good tempered and love hunting.

Retrievers are duck hunting dogs that recover the ducks or other waterfowl without damage to the game, because of their soft mouths. They are quick to learn, easy to train, enjoy hunting, and love to please. A well-trained retriever can mark, follow hand signals, retrieve to hand and knows many more commands. The hunter commands his or her retriever to mark and the dog looks up for a falling bird. There are times when it is necessary for a retriever to follow hand signals. Hunters must be able to direct their dogs remotely, in some situations, so hand signals are extremely important. The “retrieve to hand” command is where a retriever puts the waterfowl directly into the hunter’s hand. Great duck hunting dogs are worth their weight in gold to a hunter.

deer hunting

Buying or Building Deer Hunting Blinds

Leave a comment

Traditionally, deer hunting blinds are used to spot and hunt deer in the wild, hidden among the trees of wooden areas where deer tend to feed and drink. However, most of these have been commercial products erected in specific deer hunting grounds that are highly commercialized and often part of a deer farm or preserve, where hunters pay to use the land, stay in a cabin or lodge, and make use of blinds on the property.

Of course, some people have long found that they can catch deer practically in their own backyards, hunting in woods near their homes. The problem has arisen with the inability to hide adequately and keep from spooking the deer by making noise or leaving scents down on the ground. However, there are ways to avoid both situations with prefabricated deer hunting blinds. No longer do you have to struggle to build your own blind or pay to use one elsewhere. Instead, you can use a prefabricated construction set and build your own blind.

These units simplify the angles and tower construction so that you can build a rock solid blind on your own, and best of all, they are often easily disassembled and reassembled so that you can transport them to other exciting deer hunting locations for use. Look for steel brackets on your prefabricated deer hunting blinds to assure their sturdiness upon construction, and look for units that offer custom sleeves into which leg posts and framing can easily slide for safety, security, and ease of assembly.

Ultimately, you should be sure that whatever deer hunting blinds you are looking at come with detailed assembly and disassembly instructions so that there are no questions and the safety of the unit is not compromised by guesswork. Also, don’t settle for an expensive setup when you can find something of the same quality for less money. There are plenty of inexpensive units available so that you don’t have to waste time and money. Keep in mind also that deer hunting blinds should assess the basic needs of a hunter and do not need to be luxurious or any particular beautiful color. Green and brown blend in with the woods, camouflaging the unit for deer, and your interior comfort is of no concern to wild animals.

If you’ve ever been involved in hunting deer and sat in a blind for hours on end, you’ll realize that the important elements are visibility – your ability to see the deer from all sides and their inability to see you – and sturdiness. Since these elements can easily be accomplished with a small amount of money by opting for one of many prefabricated deer hunting blinds, there is no reason to spend a lot of extra time on building your own or extra money either renting one from someone else or buying one with a lot of “fluff”.

all about hunting